to be angry that my dad thinks its no big deal to let my 14 month dd share his beer

[biskybat]

Ok, so he only gave her a sip but when I pointed out that I wasn't happy with this. He didn't apologise, he just looked surprised and said that it wouldn't harm her

I was really angry, not because I think she will be permanently damaged by this ( I think she will survive as it was only a sip) but I find it really annoying that he doesn't realise that I am her parent and not him...he seemed to think I was over reacting which made me even more

I told him that I will find it really hard to let him babysit her by himself if he is going to do things like this. He genuinely didn't seem to understand why I was angry so it got me thinking that maybe I was being a bit PFB about this, so am I? BTW he is not an alcoholic or anything. He and my mum are practically teatotal most of the time, he just thought she might like to try some as it was some kind of honey beer and tasted nice and sweet.

the people who wrote it probably didnt think they needed to state the fecking bleedin obvious .... "it's not a good idea to give your newborn baby alcohol..... or unprescribed medicines / electric shocks / class a drugs / fags / caffeine..... etc" do you think that may be why it's not spelt out for you?

It is ridiculous to equate giving a baby a sip of beer with giving a baby "a little puff on a fag / a small snort of cocaine / a teensy bit of valium".

why?

surely tiny amounts of poisons wouldn't hurt?

that's a well argued response then.

OP - "Am more annoyed at his attitude to grandparenting..."

I think we are all a bit hung up and 'health and safety' these days.
I'm betting he's never heard the term 'grandparenting'.
In his day beer was reckoned to be good for you.
However, I would have been annoyed too in your situation...because I am of the same generation and a MNer

lol at gracie 101
one sip of beer may not be the best idea in the world, but neither is being rude to grandad and babysitter.
we all need a little perspective, and the way our parents did things deserves a little respect.
imo

I'm not interested in arguing with you.
I just wanted to point out that I found your statement ridiculous.

you can find it whatever you like but that is not an answer to my ? is it?

why do you think it is illegal to sell children alcohol / cigarettes then?

Any child, but particularly under 5s, will be very vulnerable to alcohol intoxication. If a small child likes the taste of alcohol I would find that extremely worrying. A toddler simply won't be able to understand that a sip of alcohol is 'OK', but that a greater quantity could make them sick or even kill them. It is much easier to have a rule that children aren't allowed alcohol.

oh FGS! It was a sip. No harm done. Honestly, some people really do have very little to worry about it seems....

As an aside, the laws pertaining to alcohol are really quite arbitrary. Why is it illegal to give alcohol to a 5 year old, but fine on their 6th birthday?
And doesn't gripe water contain alcohol anyway?

I would brush it off, have a word if you want to (though it sounds like that's already happened from his wife!!) and don;t upset the applecart if you want future babysitting favours.

I think it's weird giving alcohol to babies. At my SIL wedding her mother kept dunking the 8 month old babies dummy into some sickly champagne/kir mix. I though that was a bit

Dont think youre being unreasonable, over reacting, maybe

Unless he force-fed her a whole pint I think YABU.

YANBU - I completely agree that he should not give your dd beer or curry without your permission.

My family always try to give dd 16months chocolate and rubbish behind my back, which I am not happy about and always ask them not to and say she is not allowed that stuff.

I do give her chocolate etc when I am eating it but not in such large amounts as they do. For some reason they think it is funny to fill her full of junk food.

I must be an awful mother, I allow ds2 to taste my wine, in fact discovered yesterday he doesn't like white only rose...

Ds1 is allowed a bacardi breezer if we are having a party.

Personally I don't want my kids growing up thinking alcohol is a taboo subject would rather they learnt that in moderation it is ok.