Children and passive smoking
"Breathing in secondhand smoke is particularly harmful for children. Children who breathe in secondhand smoke have an increased risk of:
cot death (sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS) - this is twice as likely in babies whose mothers smoke
developing asthma - smoking can also trigger asthma attacks in children who already have the condition
serious respiratory (breathing) conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia - younger children are also much more likely to be admitted to hospital for a serious respiratory infection
meningitis
coughs and colds
middle ear disease, such as otitis media (a middle ear infection), which can cause hearing loss
Children who grow up with a parent or family member who smokes are also about twice as likely to start smoking later in life.
If you’re a parent who smokes, it will be hard to explain to your children why they shouldn’t start smoking. Try to lead by example and quit. As well as improving your heath and theirs, your children may be less likely to start smoking later in life. "
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2289.asp...categoryid=536
