According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on The Health Consequences of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (2006), there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health. Children are especially hurt by secondhand smoke.

Exposing a baby to secondhand cigarette smoke all day is the same as the baby smoking 3 cigarettes.

Exposing a baby to secondhand smoke may:

• Increase a newborn’s risk of having colds, coughs or ear infections and may increase his or her risk of having asthma later.
• Cause pneumonia, bronchitis, and other lung diseases.
• Cause a baby to have more ear infections.
• Have more asthma attacks and the episodes can be more severe.

In addition, babies exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy and after birth are 2 times as likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

To reduce the effects of secondhand smoke you can:

• Choose not to smoke in your home and don’t permit others to do so.
• Choose not to smoke if children are present, especially infants and toddlers. They are particularly susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke.
• Don’t allow babysitters or others who work in your home to smoke in the house or near your children.
• Choose not to smoke in your car.