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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to let four year old DS drink some of my Koppaburg?

106 replies

MyScaryHairyMary · 25/03/2017 13:34

I know this sounds so unreasonable, but I feel so sleep deprived and I think I'm going crazy. My DS has been up for three nights now, he just doesn't sleep for more than four hours and never naps. My mum says to give him a little tipple to help him. Eyeing up my bottle of Koppaburg and wondering if I should give him a little sip? I literally don't know what else to do to get him to sleep

OP posts:
Vegansnake · 25/03/2017 15:43

Really? Really? You need to ask this question..NO,you can't give him booze..

Iamastonished · 25/03/2017 15:46

I didn't think doctors could prescribe melatonin in the UK.

The poster who advised buying it online is irresponsible.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 25/03/2017 15:46

On another thread you are saying women shouldn't go back to work but here you are advocating alcohol for babies . . .
Make up a parking thread and draw a diagram. At least put some effort in to entertain us on a dull Saturday Hmm

LizB62A · 25/03/2017 15:50

DON'T let your mum take him for the night - she's bound to "give him a little tipple to help him"
FFS
Of course you don't give alcohol to young children - I'm amazed you even have to ask

luckylucky24 · 25/03/2017 15:51

Surely this is a joke?

Pencilvester · 25/03/2017 15:52

Not sure about Koppaberg... Maybe a jagerbomb would be more suitable?

Justaboy · 25/03/2017 15:55

My gran used to fill me up almost with brandy to make me sleep it did seem i was somewhat hyperactive but this was back around 1952 so;!

Seemed it was common practice back then.

Never ended up an alcoholic in fact I'm almost allergic to the stuff!

Sister was treated likewise and shes fine too.

Wouldn't think of giving children drugs obtained of the internet at all!

Never had the problem though with my three children.

pinkopal · 25/03/2017 16:00

Doctors do prescribe melatonin in the UK. It's a naturally occurring hormone.

Go to the Doctor. Try everything. Don't give your child cider Hmm

southall · 25/03/2017 16:06

Doctors do prescribe melatonin in the UK. It's a naturally occurring hormone

I dont think its a good idea to give it to kids. Infact my bottle of tablet says dont give to children.

www.news-medical.net/news/20150226/Researchers-warn-doctors-parents-not-to-give-melatonin-drug-to-control-sleep-problems-in-children.aspx

Klaphat · 25/03/2017 16:07

Can't believe at least one person is suggesting giving unprescribed melatonin to a small child. How do you know that's not going to fuck up his natural melatonin production in the long term and make everything worse? Testosterone and oestrogen are also naturally produced by the body, do you think it's safe to give your child those without medical input?

Artus · 25/03/2017 16:11

I feel the need to point out in defence of grandmothers that it was not common practice when my children were small (1980s) to give alcohol to babies, nor would my own mother aged 82 have dreamt of giving it to me. It might have been possible to purchase gripe water with alcohol in it but it certainly wasn't common place to use it or to give children a nip of brandy.

southall · 25/03/2017 16:11

I dont recommend melatonin to kids, but it occurs naturally in food, although the amounts are tiny compared to tablet form.

Pineapples.Bananas.Oranges.Oats.Sweet corn.Rice.Tomatoes.Barley.

Im not sure if Testosterone and oestrogen occur in food.

RebelRogue · 25/03/2017 16:22

Has he been sleeping well before this OP? How is he during the day? Cranky,tired,moody etc.?
Go see your GP as 4 hours out of 24 is not normal or healthy(for no reason) for either of you.

Pencilvester · 25/03/2017 16:30

My mother used to give me a glass of sherry before bed to make me sleep when I was wee. I am an alcoholic. Not sure if the two are related: draw your own conclusions.

FriendofBill · 25/03/2017 16:33

I thought melatonin is naturally occurring and safe.

user1485196412 · 25/03/2017 16:33

Doctors definitely can prescribe it for children.

BumbumMcTumtum · 25/03/2017 16:33

There's too much sugar in kopparberg. It may have the opposite effect.

Don't think there's going to be a quick fix to get your child to sleep

BumbumMcTumtum · 25/03/2017 16:36

Melatonin IS naturally occurring but 1) it should be prescribed
2) it's not routinely prescribed in the U.K.

3) it is not safe to give unprescribed drugs of any kind to anyone.

IloveBanff · 25/03/2017 16:37

All the people suggesting the OP's mum has him overnight - you do realise it her who suggested "a little tipple" don't you? If she agreed to have him, have a guess at what she'd do to get him to sleep, it's obvious surely!

Mummyoflittledragon · 25/03/2017 16:37

Medised has been discontinued. A pp suggested it exactly because some parents were drugging their children with it every night.

Melatonin is not something I would think good for long term use because it can disrupt hormones I would imagine this particularly true in puberty. Definitely something to discuss with the gp.

ICancelledTheCheque · 25/03/2017 16:37

Do NOT give him alcohol - do you even have to ask?? It's illegal and dangerous.

Melatonin is fine for adults (I take it) but not for children. ANYTHING that isn't prescribed by a GP will be bad for your kids - what if he had a reaction to it and you'd have to admit to drugging him? He'd be carted straight off by SS.

IIRC even Medised is banned in the U.K. now and I used to give it to my children as babies to help them sleep when they had fever!

Sleep deprivation is awful but speak to your GP/HV - don't self prescribe!!

ICancelledTheCheque · 25/03/2017 16:38

Pencilvester Flowers

Hope you're on the road to recovery now.

dementedpixie · 25/03/2017 16:40

Medised got changed to over 6 years old too. It wasnt discontinued due to drugging children and the age guide was changed due to it and other medicines causing side effects and hallucinations in children

dementedpixie · 25/03/2017 16:40

Medised is not banned, just not made any more

Iamastonished · 25/03/2017 18:17

When OH used to travel long haul all the time he had terrible jetlag. The doctor wouldn't prescribe melatonin. He gave him sleeping tablets instead.