I am just curious what everyone's thoughts are on giving a young child small amounts of alcohol. I've heard grandmothers and mothers alike use it as a sleep aid on rare occasions, or to sooth teething gums - Could it be better than giving a cold medicine that has alcohol as well as other drugs in it if the child doesn't need all those drugs? How do you feel about giving a toddler a small sip of beer or wine on VERY RARE occasions. Do you see it as a moral sin, or a useful age-old remedy? If you've used it as a remedy - what did you use it for and how much did you give your child?
2007-03-12 11:12:57 · 15 answers · asked by Serendipity 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Back then, they did use it to soothe gums. My grandpa (a doctor!) used to tell my mom, "Put a little on their gums, and if that doesn't work, drink the rest yourself." (Jokingly, of course.) But they also smoked throughout pregnancy and did other things not exactly considered healthy today. My mom told me they even used to have x-rays in some shoe stores to x-ray your feet before you got shoes - and she would play in them as a kid!
I have always found Tylenol to be sufficient for my son when he is teething. As far as cold medicines go, just try to use the one that treats the symptoms they have, rather than a whole list of symptoms.
Even when I was a kid, I can remember taking sips of my dad's beer at parties (which we went to rarely). (Not as a remedy really, probably because I wouldn't stop bugging him) I have turned out fine, but it's obviously better not to chance it. (I don't, however, think it's a felony - like it is in some of these articles:)
Check these out:
http://life.familyeducation.com/toddler/safety/42326.html
http://www.wftv.com/news/2196071/detail.html
http://www.parenting.com/parenting/child/article/0,19840,647154,00.html
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/irresistible/10059907/detail.html
Hope this helps!
2007-03-12 13:27:52 · answer #1 · answered by Hilary M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My ex-father-in-law used to be given whiskey when he was little (he is like 70 now) to soothe his gums by his parents. This was during a time when whiskey was acceptable to be used in such a way, and it was often in the home. Medicines were too expensive, but whiskey was affordable. This was also a time when babies slept in drawers of dressers because the parents couldn't afford a crib. Children's medicines nowadays are made without significant amounts of alcohol in them because the negative effects of overdosing outweigh the benefits. Alcohol should not be given to children as a sleep aid, nor for any other purpose. Giving a child (of any age) alcohol is child endangerment, and can be prosecuted by CPS. I work with children with disabilities, and several of these children have FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) from when their mother drank excessively during pregnancy. The effects of this range from facial malformations to cognitive delays. Children should not be given alcohol in any form... it just isn't safe.
2007-03-12 18:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not true that they soothe teething gums. The alcohol numbs it, sure but it also dries it out and making it more painful.
No. Giving a child alcohol instead of cold medicine isn't going to help. Same with giving a child alcohol to aid sleep. That's to help YOU not your child. Give your child something to help his cough, fever, and sniffles but not alcohol just to take the edge off.
Just giving out alcohol because your kid is in pain isn't going to solve anything. That's not approaching what is wrong.
That's why we have tylenol.
Beer to a toddler? You must be kidding. That's not a remedy, that's poor parenting. Even a few tablespoons can get a toddler drunk.
2007-03-12 18:16:41 · answer #3 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
When my kids were teething a lot of people told me to use alcohol to sooth there gums but i said no way, i just couldnt give a tiny little baby a single drop! I mean you know how it makes us feel farout we pass out!!!!!!! I know your only talking about a little but i would be too scared and wouldnt be able to sleep knowing i have fed my baby alcohol!
2007-03-12 18:20:54 · answer #4 · answered by sweet redhead! 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been told by other parents, as well as a few family doctors that you can rub some rum on the gums with your finger of a teathing baby to help numb the gums but I never tried it just because it did not suit me but i don't think ill on parents who choose this method when it is just rubed onto the gums... I wouldn't say it is better then other methods but fromwhat I have been told it works just as well.
2007-03-12 18:32:52 · answer #5 · answered by candy w 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I never heard of giving booze to babies until I read an article in the paper about a child care provider who was apparently slipping it into their bottles to keep them sedated. Needless to say, she got in trouble.
I don't drink myself and don't see the point of introducing it at such a young age.
2007-03-12 18:43:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of dabing a small amount of rum on a towel or something to soothe a baby when it's teething but other than that I don't think it's appropriate to give alcohol to a child.
2007-03-12 18:17:36 · answer #7 · answered by ALt 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Bad idea, for the reason the first answerer said. If teething is a problem, use baby Anbesol or Hyland's teething tablets.
2007-03-12 18:22:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I spent a lot of my childhood in France. Children are brought up on alcohol, not literally, but wine and beer is available to them in small quantities and they learn to drink sensibly. My mother used to rub wine on my gums when I was teething apparently.
2007-03-12 18:18:56 · answer #9 · answered by snapdragon747 5 · 4⤊ 3⤋
So does that mean on rare occasions you should give your baby crack too wake it up ........Come on do you really have too ask if you can booze up your baby. Poor child.
2007-03-12 18:30:42 · answer #10 · answered by Mommyof3 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋