Parenting has always reflected the best knowledge of the time — even when practices later proved harmful. One example is the old custom of adding whiskey to baby bottles, common in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Whiskey was widely seen as medicine, used for sore throats, digestion, and pain relief. Parents believed a few drops could soothe colic, numb teething pain, or help babies sleep.

With limited medical care and few alternatives, many saw it as compassionate rather than dangerous.Doctors of the era sometimes endorsed alcohol for children, as pediatric science was still developing. Social acceptance of alcohol and lack of safer remedies made the practice widespread. By the mid-20th century, research showed alcohol could harm infant brain development, breathing, and long-term health.

Public health campaigns and new medical options ended the practice. Today, the idea shocks us — but it reminds us how parenting evolves with knowledge. Past generations acted with love, and their mistakes highlight the importance of evidence-based care and staying open to new discoveries.