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!

Having a horse gives me direct access to ketamine, which works a treat when they are bigger.

Pictish. For starters babies' livers can't process alcohol in the way that an adults liver can.

I've heard of people giving their kids a few drops of Rescue Remedy - which has always tasted like brandy to me - and I just checked - it is alcoholic :) My Mum used to give me a few drops of whiskey in hot milk when I was very young, but as someone said above, we know better now. It also put me off whiskey for a very long time.

OP, on the offchance you are serious, you are breaking the law and endangering your child's health. You really cannot give alcohol to your baby and should stop immediately. It's normal for them not to sleep through at this age, unfortunately you just have to learn to cope on less sleep.

Young livers cannot metabolise alcohol appropriately or quickly which can affect neurofunction and brain development. Apart from the fact that alcohol is also a respiratory suppressant and can lead to respiratory arrest.

Total just leave a menu and the phone on speed dial. If you leave the stairgates unlocked they can even answer the door to the delivery man alone.
I sleep right through.

I don't believe this is real for a minute

What happens as a result of the inability to process alcohol? bearing in mind we're discussing a few drops at a time.
People used to dip a dummy in whisky for the same purpose. What fate became those babies?

People did do this: MIL was quite open about brandy on DH's teething gums, so probably for sleep too. Caught her with some on her finger ready to apply to DD's gums, declaring, 'that child's teething' (She wasn't). I had a good relationship with her, but she would never have been left alone with DC.

When mine were younger, I got the impression that parents regularly using Calpol when not strictly necessary had become the modern 'socially acceptable' version of this.

This thread can't be for real btw, but responses have made me laugh.

Was this ever normal my grandmother used to tell my mum to do it with us she never did mind you

Try milk of the poppy, works for everything in GOT

What's in Phenergan?
I knew a mum who regularly gave her dc Phenergan so they'd sleep.
I was sorely tempted with DS1but resisted.

Jeez, alcohol isn't good for an adults liver let alone a tiny, underdevoped liver! I can't believe someone is arguing with the fact that alcohol is bad for children - alcohol is bad for everyone!

This thread has made my day! I'm properly laughing!

pictish, I suspect that most of hose babies were absolutely fine.

In the same way that most of us who grew up before seat belts in cars were the norm are 'fine'. The ones that were not fine are not here to tell the tale.

More info here pictish if you are interested.

Try Jäger Bombs!

Seriously though, I know people did used to do this back in the day. They also used to send kids of 5 down coal mines. We've moved on since then.

Don't waste good alcohol on babies, they don't appreciate it, use cheap cider.

My mum was horrified when the older wife of my Dads friend suggested this.... In the late 1970s. Who would be daft enough to do it now?!

Koan calpol won't help a child sleep unless they're awake because they're in pain though.

Phenergan like many antihistamines can be a bit sedative in susceptible individual.
It can be used in very high doses as a premedication before anaesthetics (disclaimer: I am not an anaesthetist).

I tried Phenergan once with DS2 - it did nothing. Turns out he had to stop teething and he slept ok.

Ye gawds, the persisting myth that Calpol helps babies sleep - no it doesn't! Unless they were in pain of course.

I should really not be surprised by OP - the number of people I know taking painkillers to help them sleep...

Well yes, greatbig, the likelyhood is that pain is what is keeping a child this age awake!

Seriously, OP? You think it's okay to give a baby alcohol?

Bloody hell.