Thirdhand Smoke at Childcare: How Safe Is Your Child?

You choose a childcare provider with great care. You look at safety, atmosphere, and educational vision. But what if there's a risk you don't immediately think about during a tour: thirdhand smoke. This issue recently came into sharp focus in Brabant, where several parents raised the alarm after it emerged that staff were smoking during work hours near the building. It raised the question: how safe is my child really when there's smoking on or around the childcare premises?

What exactly is thirdhand smoke?

You're probably familiar with secondhand smoke: the smoke you directly inhale when someone smokes next to you. Thirdhand smoke is less visible, but no less harmful. It refers to the toxic residues from tobacco smoke that remain on surfaces, in fabrics, carpets, and even in dust. These residues can stay active for months and are continuously re-released. For babies and toddlers, who spend a lot of time crawling on the floor, put objects in their mouths, and have a higher breathing rate, this is especially risky.

Research shows that thirdhand smoke residue contains harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, and cancer-causing chemicals. In young children, this can lead to breathing problems, ear infections, asthma, and even an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In short: it's no light matter.

What does the law say about smoking at childcare?

Here's where it gets interesting — and surprising for many parents. Since 2020, the Netherlands has had a smoking ban in all publicly accessible buildings, including childcare locations. But that ban applies indoors. Outside, on the childcare premises, there is no nationwide legal regulation prohibiting staff from smoking.

The Childcare Act (Wet kinderopvang) does require that childcare must be safe and healthy, but concrete smoking rules for outside the building are often voluntary. Some municipalities have stricter local regulations, and more and more childcare organizations are choosing to implement a smoke-free premises policy themselves. But it is not a legal requirement. This means that smoking policies can vary by location — sometimes even by branch within the same chain.

In Brabant, where the issue recently escalated, it emerged that staff were smoking during breaks on the childcare premises, sometimes even visibly close to windows and doors. Parents were shocked, not only because of the direct exposure, but also because of what this said about the organization's professional attitude.

What can you expect as a parent?

Although the law doesn't prescribe everything, you as a parent are absolutely entitled to expect that a childcare provider takes the health risk of smoking seriously. A professional organization should at minimum offer:

• A completely smoke-free indoor and outdoor premises, with no exceptions for breaks
• Staff who don't smell of smoke during work hours — smoke odor on clothing also contains harmful particles that are transferred to children
• A smoking policy that is transparent and communicated with parents
• Measures for outings and events, where parents sometimes also smoke

If a location says "we only smoke outside," that is legally correct but pedagogically and health-wise insufficient. Smoking on the premises means thirdhand smoke in the building, via shoe soles, clothing, and air currents.

What questions do you ask during a tour?

The tour is your moment to gauge this. Ask questions that aren't obvious:

• "How does your smoking policy relate to the Childcare Act and GGD requirements?"
• "Are staff allowed to smoke during work hours, including breaks?"
• "How do you check that staff don't smell of smoke when entering the building?"
• "What is your policy for outings where parents are present?"
• "Can you show me the smoking policy, for example in the educational policy plan?"

Also pay attention to signals that aren't directly related to smoking but do indicate overall professionalism. A location that takes safety and health seriously will discuss this topic openly without becoming defensive.

Checklist: how to evaluate the smoking policy

Use this practical checklist during your orientation:

1. Visual inspection: Do you see cigarette butts, ashtrays, or smoking spots on the premises? Even empty ashtrays are a sign that smoking is tolerated.
2. Smell test: Do you smell smoke upon entering or in the hallways? This indicates recent smoke exposure.
3. Documentation: Is the smoking policy clearly stated in black and white in the parent handbook or policy plan?
4. GGD report: Check the inspection report for remarks about health and safety. Although the GGD doesn't specifically check for smoking, the overall assessment says a lot about how a location manages risks.
5. Conversation with other parents: Have they noticed any signals? Sometimes parents know more than management suspects.
6. Questions about personnel policy: Are staff asked not to smoke during work hours, including breaks?

What if you pick up on signals?

If you have suspicions, first speak with the location manager. Be specific about what you've seen or smelled. A good childcare provider will take this seriously and investigate. If you get insufficient response, you can contact the GGD or the municipality, which oversee compliance with the Childcare Act.

In extreme cases, such as at the Brabant locations, parents chose to collectively go public via social media and local news outlets. This ultimately led to changes, but it's not a route any parent wants to take. It's better to get clarity on this topic before enrollment.

What is Kiddie.nl's position on this?

On Kiddie.nl, you can compare childcare locations on more than just price and location. For each location, you'll find information about safety, hygiene, and the educational climate. Use this to specifically filter for locations that are explicitly smoke-free — or ask your questions directly during a scheduled tour via the platform.

Just as with contagious illnesses or illness policies, transparency about health risks is essential. You have the right to know what environment your child is in.

Conclusion: your child deserves smoke-free air

Thirdhand smoke is not an abstract risk — it is a concrete threat to your child's developing lungs and immune system. Current legislation offers insufficient protection, which means responsibility partly lies with you as a parent. Ask the right questions, trust your powers of observation, and consciously choose a location that doesn't see health as a luxury, but as a basic requirement.

Because ultimately, childcare is about one thing: that you leave your child with peace of mind, knowing that every breath they take is as clean as possible.