Page 3 | Giving a toddler alcohol!

Cadburydelights · 2021-04-04T21:11:41+00:00

Well this isn't a Aibu really but today I witnessed my BIL giving my nephew who's 18 months a big swig of beer. He was about to give him another swig when I said did you just give him beer!! I can't remember what he said because I was just sat bemused! I don't think this is the first time either. I thought it was odd my nephew walking around calling every drink he saw beer. I just think he was mistaken but now I think has BIL given him many swigs! What would others do? I don't know if there's anything I can do really

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 09:07

@Jessbow

I am of the generation that had alcohol rubbed on our gums when we were teething. It didn't kill me, nor am I an alcoholic. Clearly its not the best idea but its not the end of the world either.

I Doubt SS would even be interested.

Good for you. People used to not wear seatbelts, it's unthinkable now.

Wobblesandchickuns · 05/04/2021 09:11

@cadburydelights same scenario here. Remember being 14 and being given pints in the pub by relatives and none of them tracking how many I'd had and then puking later.

I've only recently learned that it's not a good look to binge drink and pass out. Most people learn that far earlier but I've never had a mature relationship with alcohol. My mum thought she was doing the sensible thing by not demonising it but I just saw it as a free pass.

ExtraOnions · 05/04/2021 09:16

I had whiskey rubbed on my gums when teething (not that I remember), I do remember whiskey soaked in cotton will bring put on my teeth when I was in pain with my adult teeth coming through. It’s not done me any harm, didn’t use the same techniques on Jnr though

tcjotm · 05/04/2021 09:20

Giving it to a baby is terrible. A family friend’s daughter drank wine when she was 3, her mum thought it was funny and called my mum to laugh about it. My mum (a baby health centre nurse), was not impressed and told her to take her daughter to A&E immediately. Hospital took it very seriously (and this was late 70’s). Alcohol is a poison (a delicious, relaxing poison) and not suitable developing children FFS.

BurbageBrook · 05/04/2021 09:34

That is awful and disgusting parenting.

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 09:36

@ExtraOnions

I had whiskey rubbed on my gums when teething (not that I remember), I do remember whiskey soaked in cotton will bring put on my teeth when I was in pain with my adult teeth coming through. It’s not done me any harm, didn’t use the same techniques on Jnr though

Good for you. They used to put babies down to sleep on their fronts. Many babies did ok with this but science has shown that sleeping on their back is safer.

Science moves on.

Rainallnight · 05/04/2021 09:52

@inappropriateraspberry Jesus, why would you do that?

caringcarer · 05/04/2021 09:59

I'd just report him to SS. Once would be enough for me. Let them sort it out.

Sceptre86 · 05/04/2021 10:04

More likely than not your sister knows and she is the one who chose to have kids with the moron. I don't think you getting indignant (rightly so) will change anything. That being said I would stillemtion it to her and see what she says, if she gets defensive then they are a right pair.

Sceptre86 · 05/04/2021 10:05

*still mention it

inappropriateraspberry · 05/04/2021 10:15

I really think this is a huge overreaction to one sip of beer. Now, if they were forcing him to drink vodka I'd be extremely concerned and be reporting it. As an OP said, I doubt SS will be interested in a toddler having a taste of beer, there are worse things happening to children.

Bettysnow · 05/04/2021 10:21

I would be really concerned as to how alcohol affects a tiny child's liver particularly as they are so small.

GuildfordGal · 05/04/2021 11:35

I really think this is a huge overreaction to one sip of beer. Now, if they were forcing him to drink vodka I'd be extremely concerned and be reporting it. As an OP said, I doubt SS will be interested in a toddler having a taste of beer, there are worse things happening to children

Depending on your area, SS might be interested to know about other aspects of safeguarding and parental care if you are happy for your toddler to drink small amounts of alcohol.

You have read the almost universal comments on this thread condemning this and citing evidence about damage to the liver at that age, but you know best? Based on WHAT?

It sounds as though you'll carry on doing it. Why, for the love of God? Why potentially risk the health of your toddler so he can 'sip daddy's beer'? Absolutely astonishing.

WhatMattersMost · 05/04/2021 11:46

Giving a beer to a toddler is an absolute no-no, but reporting to social services is a step too far, imo. Sort it out yourself, with your sister in law.

JokeTheCoalman · 05/04/2021 11:58

All my children got dummy dipped in whisky to help sleep if having a bad night, they are fine. I would recommend it actually. This sounds fine although none of mine liked the taste of beer at that age

Sansaplans · 05/04/2021 12:00

@inappropriateraspberry

Letting him have a taste of beer is a bit different to giving him his own glass of it! My son loves tasting daddy's beer. A sip once a month isn't going to turn him into an alcoholic toddler!

Why though? Literally zero reason to give him a taste of 'daddys beer'. Vile.

INeedNewShoes · 05/04/2021 12:18

DD has had wine in cooking from being about 3 years old so I'm not completely excluding alcohol from her diet. Can anyone in the know shed light on whether I shouldn't be doing this?

The really worrying thing is that OP doesn't know how many sips the child would have had if she hadn't been there.

Steptoeshorse1965 · 05/04/2021 12:21

I was given brandy, tiny amount in my bottle as a toddler. My dad, God bless his memory, used to let me sip the froth from his beer. They were good, responsible people my grandmother and parents. Never did me or many of my generation any harm at all. Nothing at all to get uptight over.

But there will be those who want to inform the United Nations, Police, etc etc I will guarantee it.

GuildfordGal · 05/04/2021 12:29

DD has had wine in cooking from being about 3 years old so I'm not completely excluding alcohol from her diet. Can anyone in the know shed light on whether I shouldn't be doing this?

I've never excluded wine in cooking, but only in loooooong cooked, day-long ragu etc. where the alcohol content will be cooked out.

Never did me or many of my generation any harm at all

We know better now. We know much about how babies and toddlers bodies develop and how they react to early weaning etc.

Giving alcohol in small amounts to toddlers can be very harmful indeed. And it's illegal.

UrAWizHarry · 05/04/2021 12:35

"Never did me or many of my generation any harm at all"

FFS.

Giving alcohol to a child with a liver that can't cope with it is a fucking stupid idea. Justifying it by saying "oh, we just to do it and I turned out fine" is equally stupid.

GuildfordGal · 05/04/2021 12:37

I was given brandy, tiny amount in my bottle as a toddler. My dad, God bless his memory, used to let me sip the froth from his beer. They were good, responsible people my grandmother and parents. Never did me or many of my generation any harm at all

Incidentally, my parents weren't adverse to adding a drop of brandy in our milk bottles occasionally. But there's absolutely no way that they think it's acceptable now - they're embarrassed about it and would NEVER suggest it for their grandchildren.

SO yep. My parents too. I would not, however declare that the '..and WE'RE all alright' rubbish trumps decades of research and advancements in paediatric health.

And what exactly are posters hoping to defend so bravely? The right to give a toddler alcohol, ffs.

Heyahun · 05/04/2021 13:12

A sip?

AtrociousCircumstance · 05/04/2021 13:15

OP your BIL is a moron, absolutely.

Telling your sister will either mean you’re no longer invited or they hide it from you.

Report now.

AtrociousCircumstance · 05/04/2021 13:17

Steptoe surely you can see the difference between that and swigs of beer?

Maybe your health is iron-clad and if so I’m glad and you’re lucky, but you don’t know what the alcohol you had as an infant did to you or influenced later issues.

BloodyHellAudrey · 05/04/2021 13:31

I'd have gone straight into the garden where my sister was and said "he's giving the baby beer in there" and guaged the reaction.

If it wasn't something along the lines of "oh for fucks sake, I'm going to kill him" and going to give him shit for it then I'd be concerned.