I’m an 18-year-old mother – I vape around my baby and I won’t stop even if other mums judge me

A young mother has hit back at critics who took issue with her vaping around her baby. 

Phoebe, who is from Caerphilly in Wales, said she would continue to vape while her daughter was in her pram, saying ‘it’s not like I’m gonna blow it in her face’. 

The 18-year-old said, unlike her critics, she supports other mothers and will ‘listen and not judge’. 

Taking to her TikTok account, she said: ‘Yes I’m a mum. Yes I vape but at the end of the day if my daughter is in the pram I’m gonna be vaping.

‘It’s not like I’m gonna blow it in her face. I support mums not judge!’ 

The young mother, who became pregnant with her daughter at 16 years old, has been with her boyfriend Dylan for three years. 

However, people were shocked that she would vape in such close proximity to her daughter. 

One person wrote: ‘Vaping is bad for you, vaping around your children is bad for them. You should be judging yourself and doing what’s best for your child.’

Others added: ‘As a smoker, I’d never smoke around my children. Or in the buggy. We all know smoke travels!’;

‘It’s trashy to smoke while pushing a pram.’

However, others agreed with Phoebe and argued that people should stay out of their business.

They said: ‘Couldn’t agree more. I don’t get why people judge other mums, like it doesn’t affect you so why you caring’;

‘I don’t think ppl realise we blow the smoke AWAY! I always push my pram far infornt of my and blow the smoke behind me not at her’;

‘Ppl should mind their business and concentrate on their own lives!! Car fumes what shall we do about them then?’;

‘I have a no pushing whilst smoking/vaping rule, it just doesn’t feel right to me BUT thats me, idc what anyone else does and won’t sit and judge, people find the tiniest thing to pick at dont they.’

Last July, a groundbreaking study revealed that children exposed to second-hand vape clouds may have five times the level of nicotine in their bodies compared to normal. 

However, youngsters exposed to e-cigarette vapour had 84 per cent less of the addictive substance in their systems compared to those exposed to traditional second-hand smoking from cigarettes. 

The British researchers behind the study said their findings, based on a cohort of nearly 1,800 American children suggested switching to vapes from traditional cigarettes could reduce the risk children’s second-hand nicotine exposure.

But, in the same breath, they warned that reduce does not mean eliminate and vaping around children ‘should be avoided.

In the study University of College London researchers compared levels of cotinine in blood samples taken from children in various US households divided by smoking and vaping status. 

Originally marketed as a way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes, studies are starting to suggest vapes are no less dangerous, citing a mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals in the toxic smoke.

People can also puff on the devices hundreds of times per day, raising their risk of conditions including cancers and high levels of inflammation in the lungs — which can damage the organs.

About one in ten high schoolers now vape, with many drawn to the habit by the fruity flavors available in brands and teen-centric advertising. Half of these become addicted, figures suggest.

And more are predicted to pick up the habit, with analysts suggesting the market will nearly double from $22.45billion in 2022 to as much as $39.1billion by 2032. 

School children as young as 11 are becoming addicted to vaping and smuggling disposable e-cigarettes into class disguised as items of stationery.

Almost one million 11 to 17-year-olds vaped in 2024, data shows as schools across Britain struggle to cope with a surge in students skipping class to secretly smoke.

Headteachers are turning to technology to try and stem the flood of the devices making their way into schools by installing advanced sensors which can detect the vapours.

The device allows people to inhale nicotine in a vapour — produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, they don’t contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon – two of the most dangerous elements.

Cancer Research UK says there is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer.

Previous studies have also found vapers experienced a similar pattern of changes within their genes as smokers, although the changes are more extensive in people who smoke.

Other studies have highlighted the risk posed by the chemical reactions that occur in the vaping process.

Metal components of the devices which heat the liquid containing the nicotine and flavourings — creating the vapour — can also release of a plume of toxic metals.

These include arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead, known carcinogens.

Studies have suggested exposure to these metals could also contribute to dreaded ‘popcorn lung’ — dangerous inflammation of the respiratory organs which leads to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

Popcorn lung is caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air.

Although Cancer Research UK denies this and states an additive in e-cig liquids that was linked to the condition was banned in 2016.

In extreme cases, vaping-induced inflammation has even been linked to holes forming in the lung itself.

Inflammation from vaping usually takes a month to form as nanoparticles from the vapour progressively become embedded in lung tissue.This inflammation also increases the risk of a person suffering respiratory infections, including Covid, experts say.

Some specific chemicals like cinnamaldehyde, diacetyl and acetylpropionyl added to certain vapes and vape liquid flavours provoke stronger responses.

One study found people who vaped for at least six months had high levels of inflammation, mouth wounds and up to a 100-fold increase in oral fungi.