To ask to much you drink when in charge of your child?

[meow1989]

Just wondered as to what everyone's idea of a sensible limit is?

If DH is drinking a couple of beers I'll tend not to, but tonight fancied a glass of prosecco (home measure so about 200ml). Had poured myself another but then put it back as I didn't have dinner (big lunch) and we have a 7 month old DS.

My thinking is if I need to I'll be able drive if I absolutely needed to and I'll wake easily if DS does (still in our room, sleeps through except for dummy wakes, only cosleep in morning after 6.30 bottle).

DH doesn't necessarily think like this and didn't see anything wrong with us both having a second (absolutely amicable brief conversation as to why I put mine back) so I'm just curious as to what everyone else sets as their limit?

Just to point out this was only on the weekend as I've never been a weekday drinker. As PP have said, seems OTT to not drink just in case of needing to drive. The same could be said to couples without children, what if one partner took ill in the night and needed to go to hospital?

Oh I came on this thread just to read the comments and I was NOT disappointed. The first few pages of this thread are classic mumsnet!!!!!

I'm not sure I know any parents who don't drink.

Just had a few glasses of wine each this evening. Two kids in bed. If there was an emergency I would call an ambulance. This is also how all my friends and family are. I think mumsnet can be a very poor reflection of real life sometimes

No more than 1 drink normally as I want to be sure I can drive if there's an emergency. If it's a special occasion and we take baby e.g. staying over for a friend's birthday I may have 2 or 3 with the view i would get a taxi in emergency if needs be but never more as wouldn't drive a car when over the limit so not prepared to handle my most precious little human when I'm half cut either. Also wouldnt let anyone else half cut /tipsy hold my baby including dh. Sadly my inlaws seem to think this makes me boring!

I'm not sure I know any parents who don't drink.

Really? That's amazing.

Not that amazing. I can’t think of any that don’t drink because they have to maybe drive the child to a&e in the evening.

Nothing - feel like I need to be totally with it. But I am a massive lightweight and one glass would send me out of control, hence the nothing!

Nothing at all!! If I drink DP doesn't and vice verse.

Sometimes I think MN had a really good variety of people, then other times it's so far removed from reality - the furore over drinking on this site is something to behold! If you drink more than a thimble full of alcohol per month you're pegged as an alcoholic or "oh god won't somebody think of the car!!!" BTW I don't drink (unless it's a special occasion like a wedding and I'll have a glass of champagne). Nothing to do with 'a problem' - I just don't like the taste of alcohol. If I did I'd probably drink regularly because being drunk is superb

@GunpowderGelatine
I think we've been reading different threads.

The wedding one where the major "crime" a bride and groom can commit is to fail to provide enough alcohol and the one where the PIL didn't want to pay for other people's alcohol (when they hadn't drink any) and were called miserable and skinflints..... are two that spring to mind.

I tend to not drink if DH is drinking, or vice Versa.

If I do it would be a couple of glasses/bottles (cider).

So I may be a bit more talkative but not drunk. My kids are 3 and 5 and neither of us can drive anyway though so it's more so we can be responsible and keep the children safe/happy.

I don't think seeing your parents a bit drunk occasionally does any harm though provided they aren't aggressive or the child has to look after them.

Slcol - yes really! I think we must be living in parallel universes

To those suggesting you should always be completely sober when in charge of children in case you need to drive, what about people who don't have a car or can't drive? What about families with only one car and one parent is using it while the other is with the children? It's not a requirement to have immediate access to a car at all times when looking after children!

Do you all take turns with your partner to be sober for Christmas Day? Call me a lush but I'm horrified just at the thought.

I absolutely would never touch a drop. I avoid coffee too in case it gives me too much of a buzz and I lose all ability to function. I don't even drink orange squash in case I go into a frenzy with the artificial sweeteners or my children see me drink it and see it as a gateway to harder stuff

@Redcrayonisthebest maybe you're right, I posted recently that my mum visited and spent a small fortune on a totally unnecessary shop in M&S and tried to charge me half. Including for alcohol which I don't drink. I got my arse handed to me for not buying alcohol ahead of her visit, despite the fact DH and I never drink the stuff! Apparently, even if (like my mum) you visitor isn't even a regular drinker, you must spend £20 per bottle on a variety of booze just in case because no booze is a big faux pas

We drink a fair amount 3-4 glasses of wines 2-3 days a week. Still wake for the kids if needed as both light sleepers. And would use a taxi or ambulance if there was an emergency.

Kids are 6 & 8 now tho. Didn’t drink more than 1 glass while they were under 3.

I never drink any alcohol.

I'm a single mums and there is a whole different set of standards for what is acceptable behaviour for single mums (not dads, just mums). People are very, very quick to judge and want any excuse to not like us. Luckily I don't like alcohol or socialising.

@RandomUsernameHere

To those suggesting you should always be completely sober when in charge of children in case you need to drive, what about people who don't have a car or can't drive?

Parents who don't drive don't actually exist, it's a rumour spread on MN by anti-feminists to scare us all into not having a drink on a night time. Because if they did exist they'd be the most selfish people in Selfishtown, relying on lifts and probably never paying for petrol, and social services should immediately remove their children from them.

Apparently, even if (like my mum) you visitor isn't even a regular drinker, you must spend £20 per bottle on a variety of booze just in case because no booze is a big faux pas 

how very dare you!!

Namechanger - I drank as a single mum, turned out very well

More cos of being woken up so damn early so avoiding a hangover/headache!!

Don't know any non teetotalers in RL who dont drink in case of trip to A&E unless they've a sick child or something. Me n dh have a few on the w/e on our own or friends over. Or odd time we go out have a few & might come home bit tipsy n relieve the babysitter.