Drop of alcohol to help him sleep? What do you use?

[Martha91]

I have a 1 year-old who (like many I'm sure) is an absolute nightmare with sleeping. Not often but occasionally I've popped a few small drops of brandy (he seems to quite like the taste(!)) to help him off. It was something my nan used to do to me.

I wondered if this was something others did and which alcohol they tended to use?

Thanks in advance!

I know someone who did this, fifty years ago. Their doctor was aghast then.

My parents did this with me when I was a baby and teething as they'd also heard the old wives tale.

They only did it once .

I may not have liked it.

I may have frightened the living daylights out of them.

They acknowledge it was a fucking stupid thing to do.

What on earth! This is horrendous OP.

Mine prefer vodka.

When I was struggling with v unsettled DS3 we had just had a house conversion done and workmen were in and out all day. One old boy, typical West of Scotland wee hard man, noticed me getting a bit frazzled and suggested a wee dram in DS3's bottle might just sort him out as it 'never did him any harm'.
He was diagnosed with cancer of the gullet a couple of week laster.
Nice man. 65. Smoked like a chimney and often arrived at work not overtly drunk, but smelling of stale alcohol, skinny as a whippet, hard as nails.

I put the theory forward that his early start did not do him any favours. RIP.

Apparently when I was a baby the teat of my bottle was dipped in sherry, as I didn't like milk. Now I'm an adult, I still don't like milk, but do like a good sherry in the afternoon. Trying to lose weight, so no sherry in the house atm, sob

mine sleeps really well

Holy fucking shit balls Martha no, you can't give your baby brandy! I'm saying this as a mother of two nocturnals, who didn't sleep through until 4.

Your 'Nan ' and her 'Nan ' did all sorts that are now deemed dangerous.

One argument for long term breastfeeding. Sipping sherry mid afternoon whilst the baby has a pre-nap feed. A friend swore by it.

Proper sniggered at the responses 😂

I went into the chemist to buy some gripe water when my baby was about 6 weeks old. He told me not to bother as it wasn't nearly as effective now it was alcohol free.

He was right

I prefer to just use a brick in a sock.
I've got quite a good aim now, knocks em right out!

This used to happen a lot. It was common practice in amongst our grandparents generation.

I've never done this but can anyone taking the piss/expressing outrage explain to me what actual harm, as in physical or mental harm is likely to be caused by a few drops of brandy?

I just about pissed at flaming sambuca 😂😂

Apparently tequila has fat burning properties too so, ya know, you won't be stuck with a fat baby

I've heard opium works really well, excellent once they're addicted too because you can use it for blackmail disciplinary consequences by withholding it when they're naughty...

Medised for the kids and diazepam/tramadol for me.

My dad who is over 80 was given poppy seeds in honey to aid sleep... this was Rumania, early 1930s

Just because it 'is what my nan did' does really, truly not make it a good thing.

Good Lord, the responses on this thread. I feel sad for your children.

I find champagne by far the most effective. Happily Ocado delivers it virtually to the nursery if you ask nicely.

isn't alcohol one of the main ingredients of teething gel?

yes, my dad's mum had a russian friend who apparently did it a lot - letting the baby chew on a cloth with vodka on it (!!!!). don't think she did it. but it's very much Not Done now, in case you were serious.

my dad's mum was also advised by her doctor to smoke while pregnant, to "calm her nerves". Not something you'd hear now, and for good reasons...

Their tiny systems aren't up to it
In what way would their tiny systems be damaged?

People used to do it because they did not understand the problems with it.
What are the problems with it? Can you elaborate please?

As long as you don't mind them shouting for kebabs at 2am.
Personally, I do mind that as I can't stand the smell of onions in the nappies next day, so we stick with Cow&Gate follow-on.

.

Only kidding, now what can I add to this discussion?

My mum swears by collis brownes mixture(for herself when she's ill)Could try that, its got a drop of morphine in it apparently.

This has to be a joke ?never ever ever would I give my children alcohol . My 2.5 year old still waked 4/5 times a night and I'm beyond exhausted but no way would I ever give her alcohol