about giving alcohol to a toddler?

[ikeaismylocal]

My mum and stepdad are staying with us, they have put lots of effort into coming to see us and it is really nice to see them.

My stepdad and toddler ds were having a lovely time together playing outside, I went out and saw my stepdad giving ds a sip of beer () it is a pretty normal thing to do in my family, or it was when I was growing up, there is a photo of me sipping my grandpa's beer at about 5 months old I just assumed it wasn't something people did anymore.

What should I say? At the time I said "I'll get him some water instead" I think I'll have a word with my mum andask her to firmly but nicely say that ds must not be given beer.

As an aside do you think ds is ok? He seems normal and I don't imagine he'd have had more than a couple of sips.

I think it's unnecessary but I doubt it's done him any harm. How most children really hate the taste of alcohol so would have tried probably enough to wet his lips. Don't worry but have a word so that they don't do it again.

Why not just say to your stepdad - don't give him beer please?

How could that be even the slightest bit unreasonable?

Your LO will be fine, but I understand why you are so worried. Don't feel bad about shouting a firm 'NO!' in the direction of whoever wafts alcohol his way.

My DM allowed my DD2 (2yo) to sip from her Pimms glass a couple of months ago. Dd was as sick as a dog few hours later. It could have been a total coincidence, but DH was livid and I couldn't pass it off. If you are not happy, say so.

Say directly to your stepdad that under NO circumstances is he to give alcohol to your child again.

Don't do it via your mum.

Ours did this too, they like to sip the froth off the top of a pint, Its not like he got a half bottle of whiskey (which ironically my grandfather used to dip my dummy in to get me to sleep).

Sips of beer (and small glasses of babycham at new year!) were very common when I was a child; the adults were satisfying the children's curiosity / being friendly. Basically harmless... we children of the 70s didn't all become alkies.
Your SD I'm sure meant well and saw no wrong, in fact it seems he's doing his best to be good grandparent.
It's just that we don't want our children having booze these days! A very brief "I'd rather you didn't" with a smile, and at the right time, should suffice.

I wouldn't be happy about this and I can't really think of anyone I would tackle directly about it with a "STOP doing that please!"

It's just fucking stupid and unnecessary.

Saying that, I'm sure your DS will be fine

Wouldn't not would!

Maybe you could tell him that it is illegal to give alcohol to a child under 5, which it is.

However, I'm not sure it would make any difference if he is the type of person who does that anyway.

My parents gave me sips of beer and wine growing up. By 17 I knew my favorite type of wine. I didn't grow up to be an alcoholic or even have an unhealthy relationship with it

I was just curious, and my parents were just letting me try a taste. No biggie.

Some of DHs younger child free colleagues let DD1 have sips of Zinfandel at about 3.

It's been her wine of choice ever since (and at 16, she is finally legally allowed it with a restaurant meal)

It is illegal in the UK to give alcohol to a child under 4 although we let DS have a finger-dip or two when he was tiny

I let my boys have a sip of lager and a sip of red wine on separate occasions. They said it was disgusting and never want to taste it ever, ever again.
If only. My aversion tactics wont last I guess.

I'll be more direct next time. We don't live in the UK ( although stepdad is British) and it's actually illegal to give a child under 18 alcohol, if my dp's family saw theywwould freak out, I wouldn't be surprised if it was seen as a social services issue.

Ds seems to have had no effects from the alcohol luckily!

My rule was always wine and water at Christmas when you are five.....then I tip it down the sink after dinner! They feel grown up but don't like it.

I let my DD try things. She has a finger dip every now and again however after finger dipping guinness her curiosity has waned

I think I'd ne less worried after 5, he's not even 2 yet, I think I might still be in the pfb stage regarding what he consumes although he did eat goose poo a few weeks ago which is probably alot worse than some beer!

I drank alcohol and breastfed him, but I think the alcohol he would have got in my milk was minimal.

You're absolutely within your rights to tell him not to do it. It's unlikely to have done him any harm but, you know, your baby-your rules!