London - Forget old wives’ home remedies... modern mums have some very inventive cures for their children’s ailments.
Their unorthodox tips – such as using vodka to treat head lice – have been taken from online forum Mumsnet and compiled in a book called How To Blitz Nits (And Other Nasties).
Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said the book "distils the best hard-won wisdom for parents fighting the urge to drown the entire house in bleach".
For nits, mothers swear by combing hair with vodka or vinegar, with a proviso: "Do it on a Friday, as your child will smell like a chip shop."
They advise starving verrucas of light – for example by painting them with black nail varnish. And for conjunctivitis, breast milk is said to help thanks to antibacterial properties, or cold tea as an anti-inflammatory.
The website stresses the tips should not be a substitute for talking to a GP.