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Original poster

Drop of alcohol to help him sleep? What do you use?

234 replies

Martha91 · 01/09/2016 16:03

I have a 1 year-old who (like many I'm sure) is an absolute nightmare with sleeping. Not often but occasionally I've popped a few small drops of brandy (he seems to quite like the taste(!)) to help him off. It was something my nan used to do to me.

I wondered if this was something others did and which alcohol they tended to use?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:28

I am drowning under thousands of scholarly articles about fetal alcohol syndrome and need to make dinner. So, yer on yer own, pictish! Grin

WellErrr · 01/09/2016 17:27

Basset I was prescribed Phenergan for morning sickness. When my mum saw it she said brightly 'oh, the GP gave us that to make you sleep when you were a toddler!'

I'm an 80s baby...!

SeaEagleFeather · 01/09/2016 17:26

I knew someone who gave a drop of whiskey to any children she babysat .... it still goes on.

It really is bad for their tiny brains though; changes the wiring either permanently or temporarily, so I'm told.

Stick to gritting your teeth and stocking up on wine for yourself!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 01/09/2016 17:23

OP why is this in "Home Childcare/nannies/childminders"? Is this your own child or (dear God) or someone else's?

Koan · 01/09/2016 17:23

Just something I saw a lot of greatbigwho, but I did used to wonder if it worked for those parents. Never tried it though (on DC not ourselves).

Bassetfeet · 01/09/2016 17:21

Using Phenergan to get toddlers to sleep was used a lot in the late seventies by a lot of mothers I knew with nocturnal children . Kind of accepted Shock . Behind closed doors goodness only knows what was given to babies and toddlers . Thank goodness education has moved on .

WellErrr · 01/09/2016 17:21

Mine snort ketamine.

PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:20

The truth is nobody knows for certain what a 'safe' limit of alcohol is for a developing brain, and it very likely depends on individual (there might be a genetic basis - clever people are trying to figure this out).
Because there is no known safe limit current advice about NO alcohol in pregnancy was brought in.

I'll try and find you something more scientific, pictish - what I linked too was admittedly one of the first hits on google Grin (Scientist, moi? I don't think so...)

pictish · 01/09/2016 17:18

Thanks Pacific - it was a genuine ask of mine.
That chap's reply is his own theoretical opinion though and is generally geared towards consumption in larger amounts than is being discussed here.
I'm not actually trying to be obstructive or argumentative, I'm just wondering what actual knowledge people have here to be so outraged by the OP.

Goingtobeawesome · 01/09/2016 17:17

Seriously, OP? You think it's okay to give a baby alcohol?

Bloody hell.

MammaTJ · 01/09/2016 17:16

Well yes, greatbig, the likelyhood is that pain is what is keeping a child this age awake!

PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:13

Ye gawds, the persisting myth that Calpol helps babies sleep - no it doesn't! Unless they were in pain of course.

I should really not be surprised by OP - the number of people I know taking painkillers to help them sleep... Hmm

PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:11

Phenergan like many antihistamines can be a bit sedative in susceptible individual.
It can be used in very high doses as a premedication before anaesthetics (disclaimer: I am not an anaesthetist).

I tried Phenergan once with DS2 - it did nothing. Turns out he had to stop teething and he slept ok.

greatbigwho · 01/09/2016 17:11

Koan calpol won't help a child sleep unless they're awake because they're in pain though.

FellOutOfBed2wice · 01/09/2016 17:11

My mum was horrified when the older wife of my Dads friend suggested this.... In the late 1970s. Who would be daft enough to do it now?!

Imgrr · 01/09/2016 17:10

Don't waste good alcohol on babies, they don't appreciate it, use cheap cider.

DarklyDreamingDexter · 01/09/2016 17:10

Try Jäger Bombs!

Seriously though, I know people did used to do this back in the day. They also used to send kids of 5 down coal mines. We've moved on since then.

PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:10

More info here pictish if you are interested.

PacificDogwod · 01/09/2016 17:09

pictish, I suspect that most of hose babies were absolutely fine.

In the same way that most of us who grew up before seat belts in cars were the norm are 'fine'. The ones that were not fine are not here to tell the tale.

digitalpaintartist · 01/09/2016 17:07

This thread has made my day! I'm properly laughing!

Dizzydodo · 01/09/2016 17:07

Jeez, alcohol isn't good for an adults liver let alone a tiny, underdevoped liver! I can't believe someone is arguing with the fact that alcohol is bad for children - alcohol is bad for everyone!

hollyisalovelyname · 01/09/2016 17:07

What's in Phenergan?
I knew a mum who regularly gave her dc Phenergan so they'd sleep.
I was sorely tempted with DS1but resisted.

AmserGwin · 01/09/2016 17:06

Try milk of the poppy, works for everything in GOT

lady2016 · 01/09/2016 17:05

Was this ever normal my grandmother used to tell my mum to do it with us she never did mind you

Koan · 01/09/2016 17:05

This thread can't be for real btw, but responses have made me laugh.

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