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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that "baby sleep consultants" are a con?

16 replies

lostoldlogin2 · 06/10/2016 20:27

Sorry - triggered by a discussion on facebook (cringe) Grin

Sleep consultants for 6 month old babies who don't sleep through the night are surely charlatans? There seems to be no regulatory body or anything, they charge outrageous prices and seem to be able to train to be "sleep consultants" in an alarmingly short period of time.

OP posts:
Batteriesallgone · 06/10/2016 20:33

Generally the gist seems to be 'oh they gave me loads of helpful advice...and then I left my child to cry and they slept through' OR 'they gave me loads of helpful advice, child still woke but they assured me using the methods would see results eventually'.

Yeah no shit. Either you let them cry or you wait it out. Don't need to fork out £££ to be told that.

Original poster
lostoldlogin2 · 06/10/2016 20:37

that's what I thought! There was some poor woman strugglign with a breastfed 6 month old who doesn't sleep much and along with the usual "it gets better!" support I swear the "baby sleep consultants" (x3) were circling like vultures - one of them in fact did this huge speil about how her family was at its wits end etc etc and how a sleep consultant was the best thing ever and so on (didn't mention that she herself is the owner of.....you guessed it - a baby sleep consultancy!)
Just sounds like a load of bollocks to me!

OP posts:
jessica29054 · 06/10/2016 20:39

Yeah, I read a thread on here by a woman and the expensive sleep consultant told her nothing MNers hadn't.

Blerg · 06/10/2016 20:40

This is quite reassuring. I have a terrible sleeper - 8 month old who wakes every 40 minutes. I feel ok with waiting it out but occasional come across something that makes me think I must act. And generally pay for a solution...

allypally1983 · 06/10/2016 20:40

Big steaming pile of.......

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 06/10/2016 20:40

My boss used one for her youngest...yes it was expensive but having tried everything and struggling with feeling guilty over her crying it was the support that was most useful. she was available via text at any hour so Boss would text at 3am and say eg "she's fed and dry but is crying shall I get her up" (when she normally would just pick her up) and the SC would just tell her to leave her a couple of minutes and reassure her that baby was ok etc

It's sounds ridiculous for the price but having someone there to make decisions for you was very helpful

It's not for everyone but if it works then I don't see he big deal!

MoonDuke · 06/10/2016 20:46

I used one for my 18 month old who was waking 8 times a night. Was fantastic and didn't involve controlled crying.

The consultant I used looked at the whole family and daytime behavior before drawing up a plan.

booox · 06/10/2016 20:52

All 3 people I know who used one found their child either "wasn't ready" (to sleep by them selves) or that it 'worked' for a short while only to all go down the pan a short while later (and they all play up come 3.5 so save your money)!

NuffSaidSam · 06/10/2016 20:56

They have their place.

Get a few quotes to see what is a reasonable price for your area.

Always ask for and follow-up references.

Go for someone who has a similar ideology to you. Treat it the same as if you were employing a nanny or childminder.

A normally developing baby, aged 6 months +, can sleep through the night without multiple wakings (one or two may be inevitable). This can be achieved without leaving them to cry. If you're on your knees through sleep deprivation it's money well spent.

It's absolutely fine to wait it out if that's what you want, but I hate it when I see/hear people say 'it's just one of those things' and 'just wait for it to pass' as if there is no other choice. Sleep training does work and doesn't have to involve leaving them to cry.

It's not for everyone though and that's fine.

booox · 06/10/2016 20:56

Regarding tackling sleep from a whole day plan approach, the gentle sleep book by S ockwell had some super suggestions for my 3 year old - mainly buckets of fresh air and sun around midday, limited/ no TV around morning and bed etc. Kind of common sense. There were some other good suggestions too.

BananaPie · 06/10/2016 20:59

Sleep consultants don't teach your baby to sleep. In fact, most of them never even meet your baby. They teach YOU to let your baby cry / to not spend hours sitting on the floor of your baby's room / to persevere with whatever they are recommending...

Dc1 was a shocking sleeper. I considered getting a sleep consultant, but in the end decided that I could give myself advice for free. Dc1 grew out of the crap sleep aged about 5.

So YANBU, they are a bit of a con.

bookworm14 · 06/10/2016 21:04

I used one with DD and she saved my life. It was expensive though, I won't lie.

toomuchtooold · 06/10/2016 21:04

Used the Millpond sleep consultants when my twins were 6 months old. They went from waking every 90 minutes to one of them sleeping through and the other waking for milk once at 3am, which she dropped at 10 months. Well worth the money. I would agree you could pick up the same advice from a book but as we had twins it was slightly more complicated and it was useful to have the reassurance of someone who had experience with twins.

LuluNTutu · 06/10/2016 21:06

I used one when DS was 5 months. Worth every penny.

ollieplimsoles · 06/10/2016 21:07

I agree that it's just nice to have someone on hand when you are at your wits end from sleep deprivation, and to feel like you are doing something about the problem.

I dont think I would use one, but dd is an ok sleeper.

Plumpysoft · 06/10/2016 21:57

I used Millpond and it was the best money I have ever spent

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