Being a new parent can make you worried about everything your baby is exposed to.
It can be hard to try and get everyone else around you to understand why you are so fretful, but is it fair to ask your friends and family to change their behaviour even when they’re not around the baby?
A new mum has started a debate online by asking whether she was right to ask her husband’s sister not to smoke before coming over.
The sister-in-law agreed not to smoke but seemed to offended, the anonymous new mum wrote on Mumsnet.
“SIL (sister-in-law) is a smoker and myself and my husband aren’t,” she explained.
“I sent her a friendly message asking her to not smoke before coming over to visit DC (dear child).
“She seemed offended but obliged but my baby my rules right?”
The mum continued that her sister-in-law left the whole house smelling of cigarettes after her last visit.
“I just said if you don’t mind can you not smoke before you visit or change your clothes before coming over as last time DC smelt like cigarettes and we dont want her exposed to that.”
The mum’s post was met with a mixed response from fellow forum users.
“I’d feel the same but it’s very awkward, she probably doesn’t realize how bad the smell is,” wrote one.
“Completely reasonable. Prioritising your child’s health over your sister in law is totally right,” commented another.
“You can do whatever you want to do. It’s your baby.”
“I think it’s rude and overly uptight of you. But as you say…your baby your rules.”
“Honestly!? I mean it’s your right. But I can’t see you having a good relationship with her going forward.”
How would you handle this problem? Let us know in the Facebook comments or on Twitter.
