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Original poster

Has anyone paid for a sleep consultant?

23 replies

ButAIBUtho · 23/09/2018 21:16

If so, did it work? How old was your child? Did it involve crying it out?

Our local one costs £350 and I'm more than willing to spend it, if it works.

I just wondered what other people's experiences were.

OP posts:

Pitapotamus · 23/09/2018 21:22

I paid for one at 6 months. It worked. She stayed overnight for three nights though. People I know who’ve had the telephone consultations / daytime visits etc have all found they didn’t work. I think the sleep consultant has to actually be there to help rather than feed you their theory and not be there to justify it if and when things go wrong.

Pitapotamus · 23/09/2018 21:24

Ours did controlled crying which some people aren’t open to. But we were desperate so had no other choice!

Overgrownyard · 23/09/2018 21:28

Yes we used a lady called fern bishop at 11 months and she really was an incredible source of support and whilst it didn't get fixed over night, we did have him sleeping through within a month and actually, he was so much happier in himself having really figured out what was going on with him. I really liked her actually so that helped during the difficult moments.

Find someone with really good references and it could make all the difference..good luck OP

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Ktay · 23/09/2018 21:30

We used Millpond when DD1 had just turned 2. It really helped, the consultant gave lots of helpful tips based on the sleep diary we completed. It was good having regular phone consultations as it made you stick with the plan strictly. We did gradual retreat - think the consultant was a bit sceptical that we would manage it without tears at that age but it did the trick. It took a little while but we started to see some progress within days.

WindyWednesday · 23/09/2018 21:31

We used Millpond. Amazing, very gentle and it worked. From no day naps and waking 10 times a night-two long day naps and sleeping all night in 4 weeks. I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

WindyWednesday · 23/09/2018 21:33

We did gradual retreat as well. No crying it was wonderful. DD was 8 months old.

ittakes2 · 23/09/2018 21:33

We paid £1,500 to have one in London spend three nights with him - didn't work. I then spent £35 for one of those help lines who suggested I do a mini controlled crying i.e. something like one minute in the room with your hand on their leg for reassurance and then one minute out of the room until they fell asleep, next night two minutes in the room followed by two minutes out. By the third night he was sleeping. I was so tired, I did the first night myself but then paid a baby sitter to do the 2nd night.

Original poster

ButAIBUtho · 23/09/2018 21:34

Millpond.
Ok I'm saving this thread.
I would prefer not to do CIO.

OP posts:

Lindah1 · 23/09/2018 21:37

Huge sums of money! We did the Dr ferber method ourselves.....it took 3 nights x

WindyWednesday · 23/09/2018 21:38

Millpond use whatever method you are happy with, I said no crying and they chose a method to suit us.

You fill in an assessment form first. Giving your family routine, how may bedrooms you have and other things, they only ask you to do what you are happy with,

cholka · 23/09/2018 21:38

I have friends who’ve used them and they work. I nicked the plan and it worked for us too.
To be honest it’s just about finding a sensible routine and sticking to it with the belief it will work and letting the baby learn to go to sleep without help. You could get all that from a book but if you have the money, paying someone to give you extra confidence and impetus is money well spent.

Oly5 · 23/09/2018 21:41

Just look up gradual retreat.. it takes time but works. But how old is your baby? They all sleep through eventually.
I agree with not leaving babies to cry.. it’s cruel. I’m on my third DC and have never left them to cry.
I just ride it out until they are 14/15 months then do gradual retreat.

SittHakim · 23/09/2018 21:43

Yes, but she was useless. DD was an appalling sleeper, sleep consultant stuck it out for one night and then said she couldn't do anything for us! A friend had the same thing with her DD2. Eventually (age 3.5) she slept through in her own bed all night. These days I can't get her out of bed in the morning for school...

JupiterDrops · 23/09/2018 21:43

Yes. Just a phone consultation and follow up support on whatsapp so it was cheaper, maybe £150-200 I think.
Best thing we did.

6.5 months and it involved a bit of controlled crying. In total- 12 minutes across two bedtimes, never more than 3 minutes in one go. Worked amazingly.

The baby who woke up every 20-30 minutes all night (screaming) until then started sleeping 4-5 your stretches straight away. A week later and we cut out the night feed with no issues and started getting 11 hour stints.

We were all better rested and happier. So, so worth it for us.

thedayismine · 23/09/2018 21:43

A few years ago I was recommended Ann Caird from nurturing sleep on here . She made a huge difference to my DS sleep and our sanity within a few weeks .
We did phone / Skype / email and it was maybe a couple of hundred pounds not thousands . Would highly recommend though I am sure other experts are just as effective
You have to be ready and you have to listen but we did a very gentle gradual retreat type Approach
Good luck

WindyWednesday · 23/09/2018 21:43

I could have read a book, however I was so sleep deprived I couldn’t even string a sentence together. No way I could have read a book, understood it.

Original poster

ButAIBUtho · 23/09/2018 21:46

Never more than 3 minutes in one go @JupiterDrops?

I could cope with that. What happens after 3 minutes?

OP posts:

FusionChefGeoff · 23/09/2018 21:53

I used Gemma from Baby Tech Support - she offers loads of phone / email support as well as a tailored plan depending on how old / what's the issue and what fits your family routine.

She was amazing!!

verite · 23/09/2018 22:06

Millpond didn’t work for us. Nicola Watson did. I know a few people who used her - she was amazing.

Dowser · 23/09/2018 23:00

Thought this was for adults
I need one

willisurvive3under2 · 23/09/2018 23:24

Yep, £70 for a daytime visit at 11 months. DS who was an appalling sleeper slept through from the first night. It did require CC. 40 mins first night, 15 second night, all fine from night 3. CC, not CIO - DH kept going in every few mins. I had to leave the house as I couldn't cope with the crying. Totally worth it and a very small amount of upset in the grand scheme of things. He's now 2 and a bit and has been sleeping through ever since.

However we got a bit too relaxed and got pregnant again as soon as he was sleep trained. We had twins. Needless to say, we're never sleeping again.

JupiterDrops · 24/09/2018 05:53

@ButAIBUtho we went in to comfort. That was the longest we built up to. One minute of crying, go in. Then two then three. Never needed to extend past 3 minutes as it worked so well. Hope that makes sense!

Original poster

ButAIBUtho · 24/09/2018 06:47

Thanks everyone this is really positive to hear.
I'm 6 months pregnant and my other two were hideous sleepers. DS slept through when he was 5 (years!) and DS2 when he was 6.
My life is very different to what it was with them and I absolutely need this one to be sleeping and not waking up every 10 minutes. So I need to plan ahead.

OP posts:

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