Babysitter - Jay,OK

Just come right out and ask her. Second hand smoke causes severe damage and can lead to emphasema, lung cancer and other horrible things. I assume you drop her off at the sitters house. You would know if she smoked because cigarette smoke clings to everything! You would smell it on her skin and clothing.

you are her employer and you have the right to ask if she smokes in the house.

Hi- I know you already updated but I have to respond to all the people talking about THIRD hand smoke. I do not know a whole lot about this but I have to say some of the comments are a bit extreme. I'm assuming the people who say fire her even if she only smokes outside are feeding their kids only organic foods, right? There are a ton of chemicals on our produce. Also, if your eating conventional meat and dairy your eating a whole lot of chemicals, antibiotics and hormones. Fire retardent PJ's and mattresses are downright dangerous too when you think about it. Don't get me started on that bug spray, bathroom cleanser, laundry detergent and that exterminator you had to call for the roly poly infestation. OK I made my point. If the sitter is great in everyway but she smokes, outside, is it fair to fire her for it? Seems pretty self righteous to me. Maybe you'll become good friends and you can tell how much you worry about what she's doing to herself. If not you can rest assured that there are a ton more awful toxic stuff in your baby's world than third hand smoke in a baby sitter's hair!

If you aren't smelling it on your baby's clothes, she's probably not smoking near him. Just comment casually about it--she won't be offended. We all know it's not healthy, and I'm sure she doesn't want to expose the baby.

If she smokes, my advice is to find another sitter pronto. Doesn't matter if she smokes around your baby or not, the harmful chemicals will be on her skin, clothing, hair.

I would be very upfront with her. If she is a good babbysitter she will not be offended since she should understand the harmful affects of second hand smoke on babies.

I would just say " I wanted to ask you a question. It looks like you smoke. I do not think you smoke around <XXX> but just wanted to make sure."

I would find a new sitter ASAP!! Do some research on 3rd hand smoke. Even if she smokes outside smoke residue will be on her skin, clothing and hair. Here is just one article that details the dangers to infants and children from the deadly chemicals left behind by cigarettes!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100208154651...
Good luck and God bless!

The studies about second hand smoke are inconclusive at best. However, if your child already has health problems such as asthma or allergies, I would be asking her to change shirts, wash her hands and pull her hair back before she touches the kid after smoking.

If she smoked inside, its not something you would miss. I can tell by just breathing if my BIL has smoked on the front porch... I have 2 kids and am working on #3. I have had life long breathing problems because of genetics. Not because my grandpa had a cigarette while he was watching me when I was little.

You don't want to lose a good babysitter because she has a habit you don't like. Be straight forward, but don't insult her intelligence. If you make her mad, she may just quit and you won't have to worry about it anymore.

If she smokes in the house, you'll know it! It stinks up the whole house! I smoke, but not in my home and never around my kids. When I babysit, my hands get washed before I handle their diaper changes, etc.
If you're wanting to leave your child with her, just ask. She shouldn't care. I'd make sure that she's washing her hands and using sanitizer. If your child is young, (requiring being held), also ask that she's changing her shirt after she smokes.