A baby was seen in an alarming series of video footage coughing as his mother let him suck on a vape and laughing while doing so.
The footage was tagged as "disturbing" and has since gone viral, with the public slamming the mother and expressing disappointment. Others even strongly demanded to remove the baby from the mother's custody after seeing how the child was coughing helplessly as he inhaled the toxic vapor, the Daily Mail reported.
In one video, a woman asked the baby if he wanted to try as she held up the vape before him. She then pressed it on the baby's lips. The child can be seen wriggling his body, coughing, and spitting while his mother and other women in the video were laughing, amused by his reaction.
Expressed regrets after a 'foul-mouthed tirade'
A "concern-for-welfare report" reached the New South Wales (NSW) authorities, and Mid North Coast police officers were dispatched to a home in Kempsey Tuesday to check on the baby in the controversial video.
They discovered that the baby boy was still ten months old, and his mom was 16. The video was taken with "a bunch of friends," according to the young mom's aunt, who also expressed that the incident was a "stupid mistake."
The teen mom initially lashed out via her Facebook account when several negative comments were thrown at her parenting. People questioned how as a mother, she could do something so "disgusting." Some mothers commented that they could not imagine a mother harming her own child.
She defended her action in a "foul-mouthed tirade," stating that no one is perfect.
However, just today, in an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, she expressed remorse over what she had done and how she had reacted.
"I wish I didn't do it, but I never meant to hurt him. I would never hurt him. It was just a silly joke," she proclaimed.
She further explained that she was trying to put the vape near her child and thought he would push it away instead of grabbing it. She added it was the first and last time she would bring a vape near her child.
The mother of the teenage mom acknowledged that her daughter made a huge mistake, yet stressed that she is a "good mom," trying her very best.
Parents warned of vapes despite 'nicotine-free' label
The NSW authorities announced that no further action would be taken after investigating the matter.
A police spokesperson stated that they had already talked to the child's family and reached out to medical professionals and other agencies in the government, and they are following their advice that no further police action will be taken.
Daily Mail Australia said the baby had been taken to the hospital for a checkup.
The NSW Poisons Information Centre reported that they have been receiving at least 213 calls about children four years old and below being exposed to e-cigarettes and liquids last year. The number almost doubled from the 127 calls received in 2021.
These "exposures," however, do not mean poisoning or intoxication. Most calls would come from parents asking for assistance on what to do as their children accidentally touched a vape or placed it in their mouths.
Symptoms gathered from the calls were minor throat irritation and coughing fits but also serious ones like vomiting, nausea, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness, and even seizures.
Parents were warned by the National Health and Medical Research Council last year that vapes can contain various dangerous chemicals for adults, and especially for young ones, despite it having the label "nicotine-free."
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