Tobacco & Vaping Information for Families

Protect yourself and your family from the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke and vapour by keeping your home and vehicle smoke and vapour free. It is against the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act to smoke or use vapour products in a vehicle with a child under the age of 16.

The best thing you can do is model a tobacco and vape free lifestyle.

• Ensure that the spaces where your children live, learn and play are free of tobacco smoke and vapour
• Create a smoke and vape free home and vehicle, and make sure that your child’s other caregivers do the same
• Keep all tobacco and vaping products away from the reach of children to avoid accidental poisoning. Nicotine is toxic and can cause serious health harms, especially to young children
• Support smoke and vape free schools, playgrounds and playing fields in your community
• If you use tobacco, consider quitting. If it is not time for you to quit yet, talk with your child about your experience with smoking. Parents and caretakers who smoke can still make a difference by talking about how difficult it is to quit and that you hope they will not start

Help is available for your child if they use tobacco or vape products through their health-care professional and other services such as QuitNow.

Empowered Parents: Conversations about drugs and decisions with your child

Babies breathe faster and have less developed immune systems than adults, so they are more affected by tobacco smoke and vaping aerosols. Babies exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to have:

• Severe asthma and allergy attacks leading to hospitalization
• Ear and chest infections
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Learning and behaviour difficulties in later years

Take these actions if someone in your household smokes:

• Smoke/vape outside, away from your baby
• Do not let anyone else smoke/vape around your baby
• Breastfeeding still provides many benefits to you and your baby even if you are unable to quit smoking/vaping. Breastfeed first before smoking/vaping or using nicotine gum, lozenges or an inhaler.
• Wear a “smoke-free” shirt after smoking to reduce the transfer of chemicals to your baby.

For more information, see the Babies Need Breathing Space brochure and Safe Sleep for Your Baby