Seriously £700 AIBU

[wakeupandsmellthecoffee]

Was I BU to tell my work collegue that I thought £700 was a bit much to pay a sleep specialist to sort a programme out for their 18 month old baby to get to sleep.
I truly believe this is madness. She has told me they cant afford this money but are desperate for sleep.
Im afraid I told her COD style (LOL) that they as a couple had caused this problem not the baby and to get a back bone and sort it out. That they didnt have to do controlled crying as she truly cant cope with the stress of it but to be strong and do it Tanya Byron style.
Has anyone got any further advice . ? As it now seems the husband wants to talk to me . They dont want to pay but they want sleep it seems.

fervently agrees with all the posters who point out that not all children give in quickly- or indeed at all- to controlled crying methods

otoh both my dcs were potty trained in 3 days flat and both were dry at night at the age of 2- so I could go around being very superior about my potty training techniques

There have definitely been times when I'd have paid someone £700 for ONE night's sleep....

I'd want cash back guarantee, though!

I've been there ds is 4 now and still up for hours on end at night. Night before last it was 10pm - 3am!!! He has autism and doesn't need much sleep, as a baby it was a nightmare - we were referred to sleep clinic etc Turns out they couldn't give me any advice, we were already doing everything "right" it was ds who didn't need sleep!!!!

OP I think you mean well but do you really understand what these parents are going through. You say they are desperate for sleep but what is the problem - constant waking, will not go to sleep, early waking?

If you can sort it out good on you BUT there could be bigger issues here. What has HV sugested?

My DD is nearly 2, she goes to sleep in her bed, comes into ours anytime between 1 and 5 in the morning. This is after usually 2 wakeups. She doesn't like sleep, doesn't seem to need much either. Just after Christmas she was sleeping 3 hours after fighting to get her down, then up for 5 hours (usually between 12 and 5) then sleeping for another 4 hours then long nap in the afternoon. It nearly killed me, I was getting a couple of hours sleep a night. I was constantly tense at night because I knew she'd be up soon so couldn't sleep properly when I was in bed.

I was so exhausted that I told one of the sure start workers at the centre we used to use to fuck off with her advice after she told me I was being weak willed and must do controlled crying. (I still think she deserved it).

In the end we tried no cry sleep solution and we've had a massive improvement but still not great. Some nights I do get a whole 5 hours unbroken sleep though. Some kids just do not sleep, it is an unfortunate fact.

I know someone who did this and the specialist came to the house for 48hrs and did CC basically. She thought it was worth it. My only issue was that the baby was under a year and I think that's too small. This is one of my very closest friends by the way and I never, never (even with my experience of a non-sleeping child) told her it was all her fault. I can just imagine how, as a sleep-deprived, guilt-ridden first time mum that would have pushed me over the edge. So as far as that goes YABU.
For 48hours, and expert advice afterwards, it's not an unreasonable amount to pay for someone's time. It's about £15 an hour and they have to move in with you to do it and stay up most of that time etc.
There is no way on God's green earth I could have afforded it, but if they can, it's none of your business.

BTW, my friend's baby is now 18 months and wakes up every morning at 5.30. I just think he doesn't need much sleep.

YABU, another mum of difficult sleeper.

My DS is 7, looking back I wish I'd paid £700 at 18months if that would have sorted his sleep issues.

By now, I'd have had 5 yrs of easier nights, might have less grey hairs, less bags under my eyes, maybe even another child as a sleepless one gets in the way a little bit

And I work that out at about 40p per day, age about 2yrs to 7yrs.

Give me the number & details !

We used Sian at www.sleepbabies.co.uk; it was £250 but that was home visit and support for a month; would have paid double now as have a 14 month who on the whole
Sleeps through the night whilst previously waking 3 times a night... I couldn't have done it by myself as couldn't think straight!

Um. Chiswick Zombie thread sweetheart.....

I didn't realise till I saw my own reply especially since the reply I was gonna post was a lot stronger than I did back then as my 3 year old has only just started sleeping through.