Parents' own conduct while in charge
What you each agree to do or avoid while responsible for your child, such as drinking alcohol or using drugs.
What are our rules for drinking, cannabis and phone use while looking after the child?
In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Never impaired while caring for the child; One designated sober parent; Moderate use is fine. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: around the birth.
- Evidence
- Your call
- Best settled
- Around the birth
- Part of
- Raising the child
Parents' own conduct while in charge: what are the options?
Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.
1. Never impaired while caring for the child
Neither of you drinks or uses cannabis while looking after the child.
2. One designated sober parent
One of you always stays sober.
3. Moderate use is fine
Moderate drinking or use is fine while caring for the child.
Parents' own conduct while in charge: what does the evidence say?
Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. (Values, with a safety floor)
Court templates include a no-alcohol-or-drugs clause during parenting time; no outcome evidence gathered
Sources
What else is worth knowing?
This is about alcohol, cannabis and anything else that affects your judgment while you are responsible for a child. It matters most with babies, especially for safe sleep and driving. Couples often have different assumptions and have never said them aloud.
Questions to ask each other
- What do we each think is okay when we are in charge of our child?
- What is our plan if one of us has had a drink?
- Who drives and who stays alert?
More in Safety, risk and independence
First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.