Five-month-old baby given vape in shocking video

Disturbing video showing a vaping teen offering a five-month-old Queensland baby a taste can be revealed amid escalating public health fears about the exposure of children to the devices.

A shocking video has emerged showing a young woman offering a toddler a vape as a joke.

In the video, which this publication understands shows a 15-year-old Bundaberg girl with a five-month-old baby on her lap, the girl is puffing on a vape device in close proximity to the infant.

She is recorded saying “do you want a turn?” as she holds the device out to her, moving it close to the baby’s mouth.

When the baby moves to put her mouth on the device, the girl laughs and quickly moves it away from the baby’s face. The baby’s mouth does not make contact with the device.

A reader, who asked to remain anonymous and is familiar with the family, said the toddler’s mother recorded the interaction on her phone.

The video shows a girl offering a vape device to a 5-month-old baby, and quickly withdrawing it when the baby moves to put her mouth on the device.

It comes as Queensland Health data shows exposing and habituating children to e-cigarette and vaping devices can have dire consequences.

A recent Queensland Health submission to a $28.4m landmark government inquiry into vaping reported 102 calls were received in 2022 regarding babies and toddlers aged 0 to 4 with suspected nicotine or other chemical poisonings.

This was “more than double” the calls received for the age group compared to the previous five years, the submission said.

A Queensland Health spokesman said, beyond the potentially deadly effects of ingesting the highly concentrated liquid nicotine used in vaping devices, the fumes can be harmful to the child’s development.

Research suggests toxic chemicals found in vaping fumes including formaldehyde, heavy metals and propylene glycol can harm a child’s developing brain.

“Despite vaping being a relatively new trend, we already know from the advice of health experts how dangerous these devices are and unfortunately their growing popularity among young people,” the spokesman said.

“Exposure to the liquid and fumes from these devices can be very harmful to children, so it’s important parents and carers remain vigilant and do not store or leave e-cigarettes and vaping devices in places where children may have access to them.”

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