Calling in professionals...?

[ChocolateMoose]

Yes, it has got to that point.

Has anyone used a sleep clinic /sleep counsellor service? What was your experience? Recommendations would be great (I live in London and have a 13 month old baby). I'm particularly interested in whether they can be flexible and produce a plan of action that is based on your actual situation rather than something standardised.

Many thanks.

I consulted one. I'd say it was full of standard advice for our specific situation, if you see what I mean.

In my experience, they don't really tell you naything you won't find in a book, but they do separate the wood from the trees and give you a definite plan to follow, whihc they will then follow up with a phone call after two weeks to see how it's going. I found that quite motivating, adn it made me feel supported, so I didn't give up with it in the way I would have done if I'd just read a book.

It improved our situation to an extent, in that we got our evenings back (our daughter had been going to bed when we went to bed) and she now spends half the night in her cot rather than our bed. She still wakes up every hour, however, so that's completely failed.

I used one

Yes, I would recommend them

It was personalised but the advice was standard in that they give it to everyone but support you in your plan

6 months on DD is still sleeping very well - she is just over a year old

I used Millpond sleep clinic

All done by phone and email but v good IME

I've used two. In my case, it was money well spent on both occassions and I have read every book under the sun on sleep!!

In London, I used Chireal Swallow and I really liked her. The advise she gave us really worked for us with DS1 (slow to go to sleep, occassional night wakings and early mornings) and had some great strategies for DD who I was carrying at the time.

Our third child broke all the rules and was very unsettled. I did not connect as well with the person we had this time round (in the North) but we made significant progress but didn't solve everything. However, with this knowledge. we have been able to revisit the process ourselves a few months down the line, assess what is going on now and make changes which have had a positive impact.

It is about seeing the wood for the trees, being motivated and believing you can make a change, recognising what you need to change, helping you stick to your plan and in some cases telling you something you did not know.

Sleep is more important than a leaky tap and a plumber would probably cost more!!

Thanks. Think we will try out Millpond. Fingers crossed!