Sleep consultant - is it worth the money?

[Freebs]

Very desperate mum of 5 month old baby girl here looking for some advice on sleep training. Are sleep consultants worth the money? Do their bespoke plans really work? My issue is that nothing seems to work more than once so establishing a routine is impossible. DD has been a terrible sleeper from the beginning, getting her to nap was a mission! But after the 4 month sleep regression things got even worse. I used to be able to get her to fall asleep on me but she'd wake up literally as soon as I put her down so I was using a sling, at least that way she was getting some sleep. Then that stopped working and she wouldn't fall asleep at all or was fighting the sling so we tried taking her for long walks, she'd fall asleep in the pram but again would wake up pretty much as soon as you stop so I had to walk 2-3 hours straight to make sure she's getting a good nap. Then it stopped working so we'd take her for a drive and she'd sleep in her car seat for a couple of hours. Now this isn't working either, she's either not falling asleep at all or wakes up 30min later. Also tried rocking her crib, that worked once and never again. Giving her a dummy? Worked once and never again. Night time is a little better but I have to feed her to sleep, otherwise she simply doesn't go down. Everyone says put her in her crib when drowsy but not asleep, which I tried and she either lies there wide awake for 5 minutes and then cries bloody murder or cries straight away. I am literally at a breaking point and so desperate that I'm willing to pay any money to change this situation. But seeing as routines are pretty much out of the window, is it worth paying a consultant? Or will they just give you another routine that doesn't work?

You need to choose a method and stick to it, religiously. Everyone has different things that work for them and their baby. Mine were always put to bed whilst awake, always did light day/night dark thing, always put them upstairs to sleep. My dd HAD to sleep on her tummy otherwise she screamed the place down, so from 2 weeks old she was on her tummy - against all advice, but this was the ONLY way she’d sleep. My ds went through a stage where he slept in his car carry seat as he just didn’t settle lying down. Mine also needed more than just milk at that age - something that is apparently a no no now 🤷🏻‍♀️

My personal views on the sleep specialist is that whatever they suggest just may not work for your dd.

It was absolutely worth it for us, I think you can spend hours reading about baby sleep and ways of helping them to sleep better, but it doesn’t compare to talking it through with an expert.

I’d recommend a holistic sleep consultant who should have a number of options for you to try rather than just one method. I think if you Google Lyndsey Hookway there is a directory of holistic sleep consultants on her website.

Many years ago we employed one. We went from 5 or 6 night wakings to none in two days. DD was about 11 months and I was broken. This was pre social media and mostly pre much online support. I don't think there was anything magic about it but it gave us confidence and consistency and was the best money I have ever spent.

I found benefit in mine. I recommended her to a friend who has also seen almost immediate results too

There are some apps which I have found helpful and most are free. Also search online for guided mediations which are just for sleep, some longer than others but might be good too.

It honestly saved my sanity.

We had a very long chat with ours based on a diary we’d filled in, so what she suggested was tailored to DD. A few NCT friends also used her and got very different advice for different babies.

We went from hourly wakes and her having to sleep on me, to waking once a night and all night and naps in her cot. Game changing. This was at about 6 months.

I probably could have read up on the topic and got the info myself, but there’s an overwhelming amount of info out there that I just couldn’t take in when I was so tired I was hallucinating. I really needed a hand hold.

Thank you for sharing your experience, this is very helpful

@frazzledbutcalm thank you for your input. I guess what I'm hoping for is a truly bespoke plan that works, not some generic advice that I can find online for free (which I have tried and it didn't work). Trouble with a strict routine is the lack of consistency on DD's part: what worked yesterday doesn't seem to work today. So I'm hoping all these consultants offer alternatives for when things don't go to plan

@LaurelGrove @Letsgotitans @TashieWoo thank you all for sharing your experiences, this is really helpful

@LaurelGrove - can I ask who did you employ?

@Letsgotitans - would you be able to share the name of the person/company?

@Violettaa - would you be able to share the contact details of the person/company?

It is worth it, but it's unlikely you'll get a truly bespoke plan as it's all pretty basic. What's worth paying for is having the expert advice and support and someone who can tweak the plan rather than you trying to figure it out. Expensive but worth it, best money I ever spent 👍

The sleep charity provides lots of free resources & advice for parents. I'd contact them first before spending your money. If you feel the need for a sleeo consultant afterwards then fine but do check out the sleep charity first.

The sleep charity does provide bespoke plans as well although they may be at a cost.

Mostly no, Of course most of them aren't worth it. But you are paying for a private, specialised service to you. Generally, What do you honestly think she's gonna tell you that Google can't. It plays on tired mums who are desperate. Nothing she tells you will be mostly anything other than common sense that you can get here.
Millions of mums have difficult non sleepers. They work it out and get through it. Do can you. Mn is great at suggesting things and helping you try things until you find a solution.
Or if you prefer you can hire someone, pay them, to give you the same common sense that you could get here. I can understand the appeal. Ds2 as a newborn cried and cried and I was so sleep deprived that I sobbed to my GP, who was useless, so was the consultant. Eventually he slept more and I coped. It's a tricky time.

Categorically worth it. We only wish we'd done it sooner. Please strongly consider it. The benefit to the whole family was huge.

Like anything, yes you can google it (if you do this make sure whatever you do you are consistent or you'll just confused your baby).
But also if you can afford to, just pay for it (same as getting a cleaner). I don't know anyone who has used one and regretted it

I was ready to contact a sleep consultant at 5 months. But then found a company ok insta that provides great information and you can buy programs (I think around £20) for set ages with explanation of all the different strategies and a quiz on baby temperment to match baby with a suitable one. So I decided before going to a SC I would try that strategy/routine religiously for at least 2 weeks. It worked in days.

So yes you could technically get the info online but if you have tried lots already and haven't had success it may be a worthwhile investment to have that point of contact for reassurance and guidance.

What was the name of the insta please? Thank you

Baby sleep consultant

Thank you so much