Sleep training telephone consultations

[SusanAust]

Does anyone have any experience with telephone consultations from Sleep Nannies or Sleeping Babies? I am considering having one because after having 2 fabulous sleepers, DS2 (7 months) does not follow the same pattern and I am approaching total exhaustion despite doing all the same things that are often recommended (putting down to sleep awake, not rushing in at the first whimper, regular nap times, consistent bed time routine, shush/pat etc etc). Thank you

I haven't but I wonder what they could offer you that you haven't already thought about / tried.

Have you asked for suggestions on Mn? I'd imagine there was as much if not more experience floating about these boards.

Good luck anyway.

I used the Millpond sleep clinic with DD2 last year. Lovely lady rang me for the consultation and having filled in lots of forms and kept a sleep diary for a week we had a very long phone call. She was lovely but all it came too was basically controlled crying or staying in the room till she went to sleep and then moving closer the door etc etc. She then rang me back a week later to see how we were getting on.

So far so good but it didn't work for us - I was desperate (no more than a 2 hour chunk at the time after 8 months .....) so we tried it but it made no difference and I happened to take her back to the docs for a persistent cough - doctor (locum) wasn't happy with it and referred her to consultant and it turned out she had very bad silent reflux which nobody had picked up on despite my constant conerns that she wasn't right. I complained to the Millpond that phone calls are all well and good but I think they should have suggested I get her checked out before embarking on a controlled crying programme.

Basically it might be worth it for you but I honestly think you can get more advice on here and save some money!!

Needlesstosay DD2 is now 18 months and STILL is not a good sleeper ..... they are what they are!

Good luck SL x

have to ask how much does it cost?

A neighbour tried this - said that it was quite nice to get some external support, but that they weren't told anything they didn't know & that it didn't make any real difference.
Not sure who they used though
As the owner of two non-sleepers, may I recommend chanting 'this will pass, this will pass' as the most useful tool of all.

common sense suggests it's a waste of money

Thanks for those opinions, I am interested in the silent reflux comment since I do have my suspicions that might be a cause. He seems to wake up screaming in pain and I can't do pu/pd because he doesn't calm down even when picked up. What are the signs of silent reflux?

Hi SusanAust - sorry, got caught up last night. My DD2 just wasn't a happy baby at all. DD1 was a dream in comparison and right from an early age we took DD2 to cranial osteopaths (several - we were taking recommedations from people in supermarkets we were that desperate!) who all said something different but were sure they could "fix" her! she was never a good feeder - she was exlusively b/f but never seemed content, would feed for a short while and then pull away and start screaming. I work in Neonates and took advice to wean her early (I know I know I know...) but apparently the milk sloshing around can upset some babies (told by a Professor) and she was happier once on some stodge but still looked unsettled and as one health visitor told me "anxious".

This went on and on with nights being just hideous - going to sleep beautifully but waking up after 3 or 4 hours and just not settling again - not full blown screaming but wailing and moaning. She also was having constant coughs and colds which were being treated with antibotics time and time again and inhalers for upper airway troubles until I saw that locum GP who said straight away that he wasn't happy with the sleep thing ( by then she was 8 months and I looked monstrous). So he put her on gaivscon and we saw the Paeditrician the next week who said as soon as we walked in he could hear her rasping and thats a sign of silent reflux - she was never a baby that puked continually, didn't have enough milk in her to be sick! He did congratulate me on her weight as he thought it was a miracle that she was that big on so little milk!

So he prescribed ranitidine and domperidone and she did improve a lot. My story is not a totally positive one though - she went on to get menigitis and all the good work we'd done was undone with a week on a paediatric ward and a paranoid mother who rushes in at the slightest whimper and now we have seriously bad habits!!! I do think she would be a lot better if we hadn't had that hiccup!!

It sounds like you are doing all the things a telephone consultation would tell you to do so maybe use the money to see a paediatrician instead?? Where abouts are you? I know a fair few and could let you have some names if you're interested!

Good luck - you have my sympathy! SL x

Thanks Silverlining, I live in North West London and would be glad of the name of a paediatrician. Both my DD1 and DS2 had some form of reflux, DD1 had this weird thing that made it look like she was fitting when actually she was choking, very scary (although not as scary as meningitis)

so how much does it cost??

It's about 60 for an hour, so obviously I want to make sure it's going to be worth it.