Is Secondhand Smoke exposure Safe for Babies 0–12 months?
For babies 0–12 months, Secondhand Smoke exposure is best avoided. IARC classifies secondhand tobacco smoke as a Group 1 concern.
Why this rating?
IARC classifies secondhand tobacco smoke as a Group 1 concern. Associated with SIDS, asthma, recurrent ear infections, and respiratory illness in infants. AAP and CDC advise strict smoke-free environments.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the reviewed rating above. Ratings are unchanged.
At 0 to 12 months
Infants exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from SIDS, so the first year is when a smoke-free home and car matter most.
What the CDC says
The CDC states that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Infants exposed to it after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome than infants who are not exposed, and chemicals in smoke appear to affect the brain in ways that interfere with the regulation of an infant's breathing. Smoking during pregnancy also increases the risk of SIDS.
Other health effects in children
The CDC lists acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, middle ear disease, more frequent and more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms and slowed lung growth among the effects in children. Infants and young children are especially affected because their bodies are still growing, and the CDC reports that exposure is highest among nonsmokers aged 3 to 11 years.
What helps
A smoke-free home and car are the most important steps, and smoke-free also means that no one smokes in a room while a baby is elsewhere in the house. If someone in the household smokes, the most effective step for the baby is for that person to quit, and a pediatrician or the national quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW can help. Ask visitors and caregivers to keep smoking away from the baby, and wash hands and change clothes after smoking if quitting is not yet possible.
In short
In short, there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and a smoke-free home and car are the most effective protection for a baby. If a household member smokes, support to quit is available from your pediatrician and the national quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, and visitors can be asked to smoke outdoors and away from the baby.
How Secondhand Smoke exposure is rated by age
The same ingredient can carry a different rating as a child grows. These are the ratings for each age group that has a guide for Secondhand Smoke exposure.
| Age group | Rating |
|---|---|
| babies 0–12 months | Avoid |
| toddlers 12–24 months | Avoid |
Other age group
Is Secondhand Smoke exposure safe for toddlers 12–24 months?Sources
- IARC — regulatory_or_public_health_body
- CDC — regulatory_or_public_health_body
- AAP — regulatory_or_public_health_body
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 27, 2026.
This is general feeding information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about your child's allergies and needs.
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