What's Your Take on Smoking

[dEHmom]

I'm just curious what other peoples opinions are when they find out their daycare provider is a smoker!

Me personally I would find it alarming, and make me question not the quality of the care itself, nor the character of the provider, but the health of my child.

Are they smoking in the house?
Have my children seen them smoking?

[laundrymom]

well Im not a smoker, so I cant answer that, however If I was taking my child to a provider, I would choose one who was NOT a smoker. Just a personal preferance,....

however,... I hate when people lie about it. Im not dumb, I can smell, I know some of the parents smoke. They lie.

I'm just curious what other peoples opinions are when they find out their daycare provider is a smoker!

Me personally I would find it alarming, and make me question not the quality of the care itself, nor the character of the provider, but the health of my child.

Are they smoking in the house?
Have my children seen them smoking?

[dEHmom]

exactly!

I mean I used to once upon a time be a smoke. But I grew up, had kids, and truth is, if your children see you smoke they are much more likely to begin smoking. My uncle died a year ago from lung cancer. My dad is having an angiogram today, he had a heartattack on the surgery table for his gall bladder a few months ago. And they've decided to schedule a bypass for him. SCARY.

I'm not saying smokers are bad people, or can't take care of children. But it just bothers me to see smoke butts outside because I don't know if they are leaving kids unattended while they smoke. Or if they smoke inside when kids are there.

[dEHmom]

p.s. sorry I am a daycare provider. Once upon a time my kids went to daycare. Changed my mind, and decided to do it myself.

[safechner]

I will ask providers if she is a smoker or not before I put my kids in their daycare. I will choose non smoker daycare provider because I CANNOT STAND of smell. I do not want around my girls because it is gross.

I know it sounds mean but every time I passed people who are smoking and I cover my nose or hold my breath. My husband knows I hate it. One of my parent do smoke but I have to be patient whatever I can, ..

[Live and Learn]

I am not a smoker.
I think that it is 100% personal choice if any adult wants to smoke.
Just like it is 100% personal choice if a parent wants to leave their child with a smoker dc provider.

I was fortunate enough to stay home with all of my own kids before I started daycare birth to first grade.....if I had needed daycare there is just no way at all ever I would have used a daycare provider who smoked. I have a very sensitive nose and to be honest I can pick up THAT smell a mile away.....Give me the smell of diapers over cigarette smoke any day!::::::

[DCMomOf3]

I am a former smoker (before I had kids or a daycare). I would not want my kids at a home with a smoker. In a center where they take smoke breaks outside/off site, I can't control, but if I could I wouldn't want it. I think it's bad for the kids to see it, and breathe it.

[dEHmom]

agree totally.

i think if my kids were in daycare, and i found out the daycare provider was smoking and lied about it, i would pull the kids out.

but at the same time, to be fair, my father smokes, step father smokes, father in law used to, sister smokes, etc, and i wouldnt' think twice about leaving my kids in their care. I know they don't smoke in the house though, so i don't know, maybe thats an important factor.

[MyAngels]

agree totally.

i think if my kids were in daycare, and i found out the daycare provider was smoking and lied about it, i would pull the kids out.

but at the same time, to be fair, my father smokes, step father smokes, father in law used to, sister smokes, etc, and i wouldnt' think twice about leaving my kids in their care. I know they don't smoke in the house though, so i don't know, maybe thats an important factor.

It's a little different when it's your family, though. You can't choose family ::, but you can choose a daycare provider. My FIL smokes, too, and I would never have hesitated to leave my kids with him in a million years. His smoking was a non-issue. He would never have smoked around his grandchildren when they were small. Come to think of it, he doesn't smoke around them even now.

[dEHmom]

Very true, but essentially if you are trusting some person to care for your child, they sort of become like family. You wouldn't leave your child with just anybody. You wouldn't think twice about the majority of your family members, and you shouldn't think twice about your daycare provider. So that's the only reason I really brought up this issues as it has been on my mind several times. I mean being a former smoker, i can see how smoking is a choice any adult has. It doesn't make you a bad person, irresponsible, or incompetent of caring for children. It's a bad habit, and smells bad. And maybe you're just a casual smoker, or you have designated smoke breaks when lets say children are napping, or you only have before and after your work day. There's a lot to think about.
If I was still a smoker, I can understand and respect a parents choice not to choose me as a provider, but it would always bother me because it's discrimination in a sense. Assuming I do not smoke in my home, or around the kids.

[nikia]

I think as long as it is not done in the home, or in the car that they are transporting kids, done while kids are at their house then what do I care. So if they only smoke before kids get there and after kids leave its really none of my business.

[dEHmom]

Thanks Nikia.

Maybe my whole reason for posting was to prove a point? OR maybe I'm just that bored on my day off. LOL.

Basically, if it doesn't involve your child (no smoking around them, in front of them, in the home,etc) what they do on their time is their business and not mine.

Don't know, don't see, don't care?!

[KEG123]

I don't smoke anymore. However, my boyfriend does smoke but would never smoke near daycare kids.

[DanceMom]

What a person does OUTSIDE of daycare is their choice. As long as the provider is not smoking during daycare hours ( or in their house ever ) I could care less.

I actually had a parent ask me if I smoked ( which I dont ) but there was a receipt for cigarettes in a grocery bag I sent poopy clothes home in...It was my mom's as she is a smoker - when she is here she will smoke outside ( not during daycare hours though as she lives in another town and is here on weekends only )

Im pretty sure they think Im lying, but oh well.

[dEHmom]

my sister in law lived with us for a few months in the summer with her newborn, and she was a smoker. I constantly had to give her heck for flicking her butts on the walkway. I even put out a tin for her to butt into. I'd say " i don't want daycare parents, or prospective clients seeing that". I had to constantly go out and pick up the butts.

Just seeing them puts suspicion in their eyes, and I don't like that.