Have you ever...fed your toddler/babies alcohol?

[supercalifragi]

I ask because we had a neighborhood block party last night and I have a three month old daughter. The first instance of alcohol mentioned to us was through a grandmother-type who noticed that Evie was getting sleepy but couldn't nap because of all the stimulation. She offered to get us a bottle with water, sugar and whiskey. After all, she did it with all her kids and it worked wonders for knocking them out! WTF?!

Then her granddaughter came up and she swore by this method. I didn't know people actually did this, I almost thought it had to be some big joke.

THEN, there was a 11 month old boy there who was wanting some water. His mom had a margarita (mixed very strong) and started giving him sips of that. When he acted as if he didn't like the taste, she told him to just "get over it".

Seriously, what is up with these people?

Have you been in a situation where you have EVER fed your infant/toddler alcohol or allowed someone else to?

[Mum2my2boys]

wow, thats a little crazy. I have/would never ever everrrrr give my babies anything with alcohol in it.

[hackermd]

my fil swore up and down that whiskey on the gums would help older dd when she was a baby and went through serious teething...

yea over my dead body.

[faithsnana]

Unfortunately this happens and the grandmother you mention was offering your LO what is called a "hot totti." My mother used to give this drink to us upon doctor's orders when we had bad colds. It is true...doctors used to actually tell parents to do this...the same doc who told my mom told me to do it with m LO's. i switched docs! Anyway, it was very common back in the day, but I am surprised people are still doing it with all of the research that has been done. .My dear old mum also used to rub our gums with whiskey when we were teething. At 19 when I had my first child she told me to do this and I about flipped. No wonder most of my sibs are alcoholics!

[Indianamom*2]

Originally Posted by hackermd my fil swore up and down that whiskey on the gums would help older dd when she was a baby and went through serious teething... yea over my dead body.

My parents did that with me and my brother.

Now... I do have to say that while he was never actually given any.... DS did sneak a drink of DHs Bud light one night and I guarantee he will never do it again.

[gracelb]

No, not in that way. I've heard of people dabbing a little wiskey on babies gums during teething, but never just social drinking with kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One time my dad was spending the night and one of my lo woke in the middle of the night with a cough. He had some nyquil and just told her to take a little swig and go back to bed. The next day I found out when my kid asked me what kind of medicine grandpa gave her. She said "that stuff is great! I didn't even cough or wake up, you need to get some more of that!"

I also heard that watered down alcohol was good for colic. These are probably old remedies that people used before they knew the effects of alcohol. I would be scared to try them.

There are bad parents too! My sister had some wild friends who gave their baby beer bottles. Needless to say, they aren't friends anymore.

[Hopper Graphics]

My dad used to give my sister a little beer in her bottle, and he gave me sips of rum and coke.

Although I see alcohol in a bottle as a bit of an extreme, I'm not opposed to an older child having a sip of wine at dinner or something. Not sure how I feel about alcohol on teething gums, though. It has been done in my family for years (cousins my age did it with their kids), but I'm just not sure about it for my own kids.

[GrowingUpMad]

Never! My mom used to always say to rub whickey ont he gums for teething but I think a wet washcloth to chew on did the trick for my kids. She also used to give us shots of whiskey/lemon/honey before school when we had colds. No wonder I hate alcohol now and won't take anything for a cold unless I am near dying. Bad memories there

[sprout18]

This has been somewhat of an issue in my family as well. My MIL will ask if the boys want a sip of her beer but luckily I have always been there to say no. They act like I'm crazy because I say no but they will not give my children alcohol. I know they would never do it when I'm not there because if they are watching the boys they don't drink. Its only when we are like at parties or family gatherings. Their excuse is we use to do it to my boys and it never hurt them (my dh and his brother) and I say well times have changed and research says its not good for them. I just wish that they would understand that they are our children and we are going to raise them the way we want.

[daddyn4wisechix]

No, I have never given my DD's alcohol. I have not even had a drop of alcohol myself in about 3 years, because I have been pregnant or nursing. The last time was right before I got pregnant w/DD#2. IMO there are plenty of things out there for teething & to help a baby/toddler sleep that are homeopathic and/or are marketed specificaly for those issues, why use something that can have such serious side effects & cause long term damage? If we are @ a special event & my kids are tired but are fighting it, I just let them go 'til they drop then, which is usually no later than 10-11pm. They sleep extra late the next day, & I don't have to worry it is because they are feeling the lingering effects of liquor .