Has anyone hired a maternity nurse/nanny/sleep expert to help with a sleep problem?

[thecattleareALOHing]

And did it work? Seriously considering it to help with dd who is 10months and getting worse and worse and worse. Still up now. And last night woke at 4am, wide awake and wanting to play. And she won't nap in her cot or in a bed during the day either. She's a wonderful baby. Sunny, social, physically lively...but the lack of sleep is KILLING me.

I know that several of the posters on the June 2005 Post Natal thread have used a sleep advisor know to us as 'welshie sleep lady' as Welshmum was the first to find and use her I think. She can do visits (London area?) or telephone consultations. I think they did find it useful. Our threads are innordinately long, so don't bother searching, I will put a plea on the lastest one for you and see if someone can CAT you details.

She used to have a bag. But now she's in a bed most of the time so no.

She won't nap during the day - unless in her pushchair. Or on me. And ds is always around so complicated naptime routines of quiet shushing or patting are impossible.

Mandymac - I'd be really grateful.

if she's in a sleeping bag and you are getting desperate then maybe leave her cry (do the going-in-every-10-mins-to-reassure thing)? she's unlikely to be able to climb out in a bag so at least you'll know she's safe.

though I haven't yet been able to steel myself to let ds cry himself back to sleep. but I want to! (kind of)!

there is the school of thought that says we are doing them a favour by teaching them to sleep alone. though it's eluded us thus far.

Can fully understand Aloha. That is too hard. DD1 if she went to sleep grumpy (i.e. crying/sobbing) she woke up grumpy (DD2 is differnt). As MI asks what does she do during the day?

is she in your bed or a toddler bed, Aloha?

you sound so like me - I left dd (who is 3.5) cry sooooo much more than I do ds. she just sounded a bit angry and annoyed whereas ds sounds like his heart is breaking, hysterical sobbing... and I thought the second child you were able to just let get on with it????

are you still breastfeeding? I am and think that probably has much to do with my dripiness - plus ds has had some health probs.

Left awake in her cot she is so unbelievably upset. it tears up my heart.

Oh bugger, because I assume a 'walk' in the pushchair isn't an option at around nap time is it. She sounds to me as if she's overtired because she can't be getting THAT much in the full 24 hours. But that, of course, is easy enough for me to say.

Still breastfeeding...which is good in many ways, but would like to find a sippy cup that might just encourage her to have a really good drink that isn't from me.

She's in our bed or dsd's double bed.

she's upset now?

if it makes you feel any better (which it won't!) ds was up till 9pm, where I put him in his cot and let him cry. only took 5 mins (amazingly) but I was in tears. dh thinks I am a lunatic!

the most helpful thing anyone said to me about crying babies is to remember you aren't making them cry, you're letting them cry.

Plea to June mums is in place, with a link to this thread, so hopefully someone will have some details tomorrow. Good luck for tonight!

Dh is back downstairs! This means she has Finally Gone. Yes! (I would have gone to bed at least an hour ago myself)
I did try the acquarium but she just howled through it. I could try it again I suppose. I seemed awfully loud to me .
She's not upset if someone is with her. She hates to be alone. And she's VERY strongwilled!

Will check back in mandymac. Thanks again.

Spot on Dinny.

Aloha - do you pop in and out and reassure her? I only ask because I found that just prolonged the whole bloody thing for everyone. If I was sure she was clean/full/warm/well then I didn't go in and the whole thing was over and done with much quicker. Bothn were bf too if that makes any difference.

Aloha - sorry to hear that DD is still not sleeping well - you must be beside yourself by now with lack of sleep

Anyway, if an article is on the cards why not a Norland nanny one. Testing to see just whether they are worth the money?

Or perhaps a trip for DD to the Norland nanny hotel? Could you bear to be parted from her for a couple of nights just to get some sleep?

I have a friend who used a maternity nurse who now lives in Catford who might be able to help, but she is now nannying for my friend 4 days a week. But possibly could do you for 3 days and nights? She's just finished working for Claudia Schiffer, so good gossip potential if nothing else

Failing that does a good google bring anything up?

Would finances stretch to a nanny for a day a week so that you could just catch up on sleep for a day? Most nanny agencies have nannies between jobs who will sometimes to part time short contract work to cover bills until their next job comes along! They might just crack the daytime nap for you too, if you are lucky.

Now it;s a long time since I had a baby, so do take this with a pinch of salt, but it does sound to me as if this is a separation anxiety problem rather than just a sleep one. If you lie down next to her in bed and cuddle, does she go to sleep?

In any event, I don't think you're being feeble - just at the end of a very long tether and frankly with no sleep we all run out of rope eventually

Catford is good for me and I'd certainly be interested. Thank you.
I wouldn't be without her, really. Even when I feel absolutely furious and desperate!

Think separation anxiety has a lot to do with it. Feel I can't see wood for trees atm.

Think my aquarium (second hand from NCT sale) must be faulty. It sounded like a brass band striking up in dd's ear

Do remember you can't think clearly about anything clearly when underslept. Remember when the Inferiorettes were waking bright and perky at 5am, and I was shuddering all over MN?

Of course, there is a tiny voice telling me this won't last forever...but i'm feeling ill with it these days.

I look enviously at sorted mummies with lovely self-sufficient big girls atm. And the thought that they go home to a full night's sleep makes me almost sick with envy!

I'll give my friend a ring tomorrow

Aloha - most people facing this would be knackered and disorientated!

I think if it is separation anxiety getting someone else to take her over for a day or two a week, while you get some sleep might be good. She will probably sleep better for them in terms of naps as she won't be as bonded to them as she is to you!

Does she sleep if you go to bed with her? Is that an option or is she all bright and bushy tailed when you lie next to her?

Thing is, Aloha, if you can afford a mat nurse, at least it will be sorted very quickly and she'll take over. Is dd too young to go on Supernanny ?