Sleep consultants - should I bother

[Haypanky]

So my nearly 9 month old is typically awake 12-2 and again from 5. He is very hard to resettle and when he does I think it's more that time has passed rather than anything I've done.

He settles himself for naps and bedtime lovely.

When he wakes in the night I have tried milk (often refuses, it doesn't settle him), soothing pats and rubs in the cot, picking him up (he arches away), ignoring the arching away and keeping him on me (he cries on me and difficult to get him back in cot if it does work), disappearing chair (he isn't calmed by me being there, his room is too small to go far), controlled crying and proper cio (he cried for +2hrs and i didn't try it again).

I have tried things for a few days at a go each so try to give it a chance.

I took him to a cranial osteopath yesterday for treatment for a stiff neck and he didn't sleep any better following that either!

I'm reluctant to pay for a sleep consultant as I am not sure what they could do that I can't do myself. But am not sure what else to do. Does anyone have any experience with consultants?

Cosleeping is not an option logistically, and I'm any case I feel its unlikely to work or address the route cause.

[sleepycat13]

do you mind me asking what the cranial osteopath involved? I must admit i don't really know much about it but sounds like we had a very similar birth experience to you (twisted, stuck then forceps) and if it has worked for you it might be worth exploring. glad to hear things are going well though.

[Haypanky]

It's a dark art, it didn't look like they were doing anything much! I found a local one who specialised in babies. She asked questions about birth etc. She sat my bab on her treatment table and put her fingers on the back of his neck and applied gentle pressure. I couldn't really see her doing anything! But my baby seemed to enjoy it, he really never lies on his back but gradually relaxed against her and ended up on his back really relaxed with his head hanging off the table into her hands so that she could carry on the treatment! After the first session, the following morning I noticed his mobility and flexibility had improved. I went back a week later and was totally gobsmacked that he slept through that night! He's gone from waking up 3 times a night and crying for 1-2hrs to sleeping until the early hours consistently. I've also seen improvements in his mobility and am taking him back for one final session as I've noticed he's not using his arms evenly. I believe in many countries it's a fairly standard thing to take babies to a cranial osteo soon after birth! I wish I'd tried it sooner, he had a stiff neck and I was given physio exercises but they obviously didn't cut it.

[sleepycat13]

how very interesting! Im normally quite dubious about these things but shall have Google and see if there is anything near me. anything is worth a try if I can get him to sleep more