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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Toddler drank whiskey, what do I do?

37 replies

Changeableweather · 23/08/2022 07:51

It was just a tiny dribble left in the bottom of the glass, it was on the table and she grabbed it. She howled a bit, and asked for water, which she's drunk a lot of, and she seems totally fine now, but I'm having a bit of an anxiety spiral.

OP posts:
mrcow · 23/08/2022 07:56

My grandparents used to put brandy in their kids’ milk when they were ill. Imagine that now!

You say a dribble. Was it literally just a few drops?

Mrsuntidy · 23/08/2022 07:56

I honestly think she will be fine. Make sure she eats something. Remember years ago people used to dip dummies into whiskey.

Lockheart · 23/08/2022 07:57

Why would you need to do anything for stint dribble of whisky? My mum used to put whisky in my brother's bottle when he was an infant. And we're only in our 30s!

Lockheart · 23/08/2022 07:58
  • a tiny, not stint!
NiceTwin · 23/08/2022 07:59

She'll be fine, really, do not fret over it.

MolliciousIntent · 23/08/2022 07:59

@mrcow it was my glass from last night and as far as I remember I finished it completely, so it would be just a tiny dribble. But I can't be sure.

To everyone saying their parents etc used to give them spirits - that was to make you sleep, wasn't it? Do I need to keep an eye out for that?

Changeableweather · 23/08/2022 08:00

Name change fail, sorry

OP posts:
Polly99 · 23/08/2022 08:02

You don't need to worry or keep an eye out for anything. If she has drunk a noticeable amount she will just sleep it off, like anyone else. She probably hasn't though as neat whisky isn't a flavour many toddlers would enjoy.

ChunkyLegsandKinderEggs · 23/08/2022 08:04

I wouldn’t stress it unless she starts acting unusually!

When DS was 2 he came and announced to me that he’d drunk ‘the red triangle juice’. It transpired that this was a tiny bit of red wine (thimble full) at the bottom of a glass. He was fine.

Darkness22 · 23/08/2022 08:04

I would just do lots of fluids and some food. I wouldn’t worry. If there had been loads they would have probably just spat it out.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 23/08/2022 08:05

If your anxiety is this high then perhaps you need to speak to someone OP, either that or you're not being honest about how much was left in the glass.

Yes it's not good for them, but alcohol isn't really good for anyone. And the levels required to have long-term health implications are beyond a dribble. Like pps have said, basically treat it the way you would any person having had alcohol. Plenty of water and food, watch for any changes in her behaviour, chalk it up to experience and don't leave glasses out at toddler height that may have contained alcohol at 7am.

BobMortimersPocketMeat · 23/08/2022 08:05

When I was a baby, gripe water contained way more alcohol than that, and we were given that on purpose! I’m sure she’ll be fine, and as it’s been unpleasant for her, she might have learned not to do it again.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 23/08/2022 08:05

MolliciousIntent · 23/08/2022 07:59

@mrcow it was my glass from last night and as far as I remember I finished it completely, so it would be just a tiny dribble. But I can't be sure.

To everyone saying their parents etc used to give them spirits - that was to make you sleep, wasn't it? Do I need to keep an eye out for that?

Name change fail?

MarthanotMarfa · 23/08/2022 08:06

It’s a natural product not a chemical or medicine. It’s not an issue at all and you’re worrying too much. Don’t leave alcohol out!

mrcow · 23/08/2022 08:07

Well you’ve done the right thing making sure she’s had water. If you can’t see any change in her behaviour then honestly just carry on with your day.

It was an accident. Nothing more. If it’s any consolation, my one year old once drank contact lens solution in the split second my back was turned.

If however later on today she starts asking for more scotch with a tequila chaser, come back for advice…..

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 23/08/2022 08:12

I doubt you left much!! I also doubt she'd have chosen to drink much if it was neat.

yes, it was very common to put spirits in with the milk in babies bottles to 'help them sleep' (get them to sleep without hours of rocking!!). Even in the 80/90's it wasn't uncommon!

she'll be fine. Nice Carby breakfast.

RunAlongLoser · 23/08/2022 08:15

Honestly she will be absolutely fine x

Oysterbabe · 23/08/2022 08:16

You don't do anything, they will be fine.

alwaysmovingforwards · 23/08/2022 08:19

Changeableweather · 23/08/2022 07:51

It was just a tiny dribble left in the bottom of the glass, it was on the table and she grabbed it. She howled a bit, and asked for water, which she's drunk a lot of, and she seems totally fine now, but I'm having a bit of an anxiety spiral.

You're worrying over nothing.

NightTerrors · 23/08/2022 08:34

I once drank an entire glass of my mums JD and coke as a young child (around 4 I think), I was absolutely fine - obviously I do not recommend that anyone allows their child to do that, and actually I probably would seek advice for that much but a tiny dribble is unlikely to cause any harm. If they are acting normally after washing the taste away then you have nothing to worry about, just think of it as a reminder to keep everything out of reach of little hands. (No judgement by the way, we have all left something in reach that shouldn't have been).

WhiskerPatrol · 23/08/2022 08:36

Put her down for a nap and enjoy the peace - she will be absolutely fine. Given the taste of neat whisky (bleurgh) she can't have swallowed much.

Hillsidehigh · 23/08/2022 08:36

She’ll be fine, whisky used to be regularly rubbed on babies gums when teething

Miffee · 23/08/2022 08:44

I'm going to be that person.

I was given whiskey punch (warm water, sugar and whiskey) from being a toddler by my grandma every week before bed.

Also when I was growing up it was peak comedy to give a toddler a sip of beer at a party.

To clarify I am very glad this is is not socially acceptable anymore.

Suedomin · 23/08/2022 08:48

She will hardly have taken any. I would guess she spit it out as soon as she tasted it so only a small.amount will have gone down. She will.be fine.

NerrSnerr · 23/08/2022 09:31

Miffee · 23/08/2022 08:44

I'm going to be that person.

I was given whiskey punch (warm water, sugar and whiskey) from being a toddler by my grandma every week before bed.

Also when I was growing up it was peak comedy to give a toddler a sip of beer at a party.

To clarify I am very glad this is is not socially acceptable anymore.

I don't understand how this makes you 'that' person. No one is saying the OP should be giving her child a glass of wine with dinner from now on; they're just saying a couple of drops of whiskey almost certainly won't harm her.

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