We are such big vanilla extract users and since Baker’s imitation has more vanillin than real vanilla extract, it’s a great alternative (and way less expensive). It’s also alcohol free so no more boozy whipped cream (unless you like it that way).

By definition, yes there is alcohol in vanilla extract. According to the FDA, vanilla extract is a mixture of vanilla scent and flavor characteristic, and alcohol. To be exact, the FDA requires an ethyl alcohol content of at least 35% for a product to be considered vanilla extract.

But it can also be incredibly pricey, and contains alcohol—a no-no for plenty of bakers and eaters for various reasons. That’s where imitation vanilla comes into play. Pure vanilla extract is made by steeping vanilla beans in ethyl alcohol and water.

Queen Finest pure vanilla beans are the only alcohol free vanilla in our range at this time. Queen Imitation Vanilla Flavour is another option for your baking but this is not a vanilla extract, only an imitation vanilla flavour and contains less alcohol.

The National Poison Control Center posted a warning on its website about the dangers of drinking vanilla extract, which contains the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine and hard liquor. Children who drink it could be at risk of alcohol poisoning, officials warn.

Years of grandmotherly wisdom suggest that home remedies might help with teething. Try rubbing clove oil, peeled ginger root, or vanilla extract onto your child’s gums. Although there isn’t scientific evidence to prove these remedies are effective, they may help your little one through the painful teething process.

If a baby gets too much, the throat can become numb and it may cause problems with swallowing. Finally, although past generations of parents have used brandy or whiskey to soothe teething pain, no amount of alcohol is thought to be safe for infants so resist any urges you may have to follow in that tradition.

Alcohol is unsafe for baby Not surprisingly, modern doctors strictly advise against it. Though it seems like such a small amount of alcohol, it is a lot when you consider the size of the baby. When an adult takes a shot of whiskey, you are consuming about an ounce of fluid, which is usually enough to start a buzz.

Moderate alcohol consumption is safe for mothers breast-feeding their infants. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as about one drink per day. At this level, research shows there are no known harmful effects to the infant. However, more than one drink per day is not recommended.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant has been shown to cause harm to a baby as it develops in the womb. Alcohol used during pregnancy may also lead to long-term medical problems and birth defects.

Putting it into practice Not very strong. Other studies suggest pregnant women who have an occasional drink don’t harm themselves or their baby. A 2012 Danish study, for example, found that low to moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy did not affect executive functioning among 5-year-olds.

Is the occasional glass of wine or beer OK for moms-to-be? According to a new study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, there doesn’t seem to be any measurable risk.

“No amount of alcohol at any point during pregnancy is safe. Once you find out you’re pregnant, you should stop drinking immediately. If you find you’re pregnant and have already had a couple of drinks, stop now.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Surgeon General all recommend abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy, including the occasional glass of wine, altogether.

There’s a general consensus that it’s risky to binge drink during pregnancy, defined as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting. But even heavy drinkers can have healthy babies. Only about 5 percent of alcoholic women give birth to babies who are later diagnosed with the syndrome.