Sleep consultant on NHS?

[rumtumtugger]

We're getting to the end of our tethers with 12mo dd's sleep - she will only nap 2x 30 mins during the day (and that's with a lot of rocking, ssshing or moving in the pram), and wakes up 2-3 times in the night to feed.

I think she has stomach probs as she's v archy/farty/unsettled - we usually have to squeeze a few farts out of her and she'll settle more. She's still ebf and feeds to sleep on me but DH and MIL can put her down without!

If I go to the dr, can I get help with her tummy as well as a referral to a sleep consultant? DH has private medical through work, has anyone been referred to a sleep consultant through that?

We used Sian at www.sleepbabies.co.uk.
Not sure about private healthcare; it was £250 and the best money I have ever spent.

It may not seem it but your LOs sleep is still in normal range, albeit for a small number of babies www.isisonline.org.uk/ has lots of info. So I don't know if a GP would refer. No harm asking.

Maybe worth exploring food intolerances with GP/HV for farty issues.

I thought that sleep referrals (on nhs) were for very extreme cases and those with exacerbating factors?

Does she suffer with any other symptoms apart from fartiness? The dr may not give her something for her tummy if there are no other refluxy symptoms. Massage is very good for fartiness!

Sounds pretty normal to me. Sorry. I don't think the dr would refer you at such a young age. I have friends with autistic children (aged 11/12)who barely sleep for days at a time and they get no help. I hope you get some help but tbh it sounds pretty normal. I medicate for my autistic son (melatonin) which gets him to sleep. It doesn't keep him asleep though. He is 11.

Ok thank you. Seems a huge shame to not be offered more support - I reckon sleep (or lack thereof) is one of the biggest factors affecting families and ultimately affecting health!

Could it be an allergy? CMPI? Tongue tie? Reflux? Silent reflux?

Sounds like DD1 and she had silent reflux. She slept 12 hours through the night 2 days after we got her medication right.

No sleep consultations on the NHS here, and DS is 8 and rarely ever sleeps, even with medicine melatonin.

That is why I said that sleep consultations on the nhs are usually due to exacerbating factors (apneas, respiratory problems etc) there was talk of ds seeing someone at GOSH, but this was due to his low oxygen sats at night and seizure like episodes, rather than his non sleeping (which at its worst has been no sleep all night). Ds is also on melatonin, but still has nights where he will be up until about 5 am, completely randomly, it hits me like a steam train when it happens!

Hopefully your dd will grow out of this phase, op, but I have heard great things about cranial osteopathy. I also have a friend that paid for a private sleep consultation, although they seemed to use the pretty conventional sleep training methods. When dd1 was about a year I remember the book No Cry Sleep Solution being pretty helpful.

Sleeping sounds normal. What doesn't sound normal is the tummy situation. Are you sure there isn't something else going on such as a food allergy?

Dd is CMPA and soya allergic and we had a terrible time with her until she was diagnosed and diet changed.

It might still change - my son didn't sleep through until 13m, but then began to sleep through maybe one night in three.

It was about 18 months before this was most nights. Although he could still wake up randomly on occasion, probably related to developmental changes.

Have you tried a drop-sided cot, sitting by the side and bf her off while she is lying down? It makes a huge difference if they stay asleep where they fall asleep.

Also look at No Cry Sleep Solution, the one for babies and the one for toddlers as they have some slightly different ideas in.

Have you been referred to a sleep clinic by a HV? AFAIK they are national although you might have to insist.

A friend insisted on a referral for her DS who had a similar pattern to yours. It was run by a specially trained nurse and they were really helpful.

Right- going to book a dr appt for her tummy. Thanks all