Pregnant mothers are not the only ones impacted with health effects from smoking. The fetus and infants are also affected by tobacco use by their mother and others in their environment.

Low birth weight may be due to:
1. Low maternal weight gain
2. Vasoconstriction and/or decreased uterine blood flow
3. Carbon monoxide toxicity
4. Increased cyanide exposure from smoking
Other health risks include:
- Sudden infant death syndrome
- Respiratory illnesses, particularly pulmonary and ear infections, as well as asthma
- School problems, such as lower scores on spelling & reading tests, decreased attention and a risk for hyperactive behavior
- Finally, infants are at risk for increased hospitalizations due to passive exposure to tobacco smoke.