Baby Whisperer

I have a feeling one of my coffee group Mums did with her wee one.
I'll ask her on Thursday when I see her and let you know

Ive got the same issue with my wee boy, it's not nice seeing them in pain and having done everything and still nothing works, we use Bonjela, Sometimes Pamol, i also fill up one of those gauze things that babys can suck out of and put fruit sald in it and he loves sucking it, seems to help him gums

Sorry that wasnt about the subject but thought it might help you

I almost did, but when I tried to book her in the wait was about 6-8 weeks and I couldnt wait that long!

I found another option which was so fantastic - the plunket family centre. We went there for 2 days and after that I had a changed baby who slept during the day and through the night not long after.

I cant comment on the baby whisper however I would highly recommend the plunket family centre also. One they are free and they are there for you if you need to go multiple times. I could have written your post 13 months ago. I went there for about 4 times as I also got rest while they got DD to go to sleep on her own when she needed to sleep.

Wow, that's a lot of money even just for emails! I suppose you have to do what you have to do at some points though.

Brad - I mean this with the greatest kindness, and not to pick on your parenting, but have you thought about having a look at books like The No Cry Sleep Solution (Elizabeth Pantley) and Sleeping Like a Baby (Pinky McKay)? Even though they are not about rigid routines, I gleamed quite a lot of info from them that I adapted to my DD2 and her sleeping habits. Also, have you tried wearing her in a sling or other carrier for her day sleeps? Some babies, especially when they are still so little, just like to sleep closely cuddled up to mum or dad.

Thanks heaps for your thoughts guys. Unfortunately I have a massive boy so slinging/front packing him isnt really an option. Have read the information on the Sleep Stores website but hadnt thought to phone them. Shall do that.

Also, I called the Family Centre in my area (as definitely thought of the free option first) when my boy was 10 weeks and also last week (last week in tears) for these very reasons. At 10 weeks the lady told me that he was going to be more aware of his environment at that stage anyway so sleeping there would be difficult and the second time she just offered me various solutions (all of which I had tried) and sent me on my way. Was very disappointed as I had also heard good things about them.

Might try contacting one in a different area to see if they are more helpful but not sure whether you can get into them?

Thanks again - am hanging out for that 6 month mark when I hope he will settle down a bit but at the same time not wishing my wee man to grow up!

Rach179 wrote: I have contacted Sharlene Poole and really wish I could afford to get her to come out for 24 hrs, but another form of assistance she offers is emailing advice. You pay $50 for the first email and $25 every email thereafter. I would say if you can afford it, go for it!

I would be sceptical of a "professional" that offers to provide individualised advice regarding a child without first seeing/assessing the child and the problem!

Great - thanks Tishy. Shall have a look!

Brad - i have had 2 friends use Sharlene and i went to her settling course at the Parenting Place and she is great. She just gets babies. Both friends found her to be awesome. One had her come for a few days for her 4mo who wasn't settling well and she totally had him sussed in no time. And that was her third child, i think she may have even had Sharlene out at some stage with #2.

My other friend did the email thing with her recently when her babe was about 6 mo. The info was still pretty good to be fair, it was about tweaking the routine tho, whereas with your situation it is prob better to have her out since your bub isn't sleeping at all in own bed.

The other option is to go see her at The Parenting Place for her courses there $10 a pop - she does a winding and settling one and a routines one.

I think it is about $400 for a day but man if it helps get your baby into a routine and able to sleep in her/his bed it'll be so worth it. I think my friend got her in within a couple of weeks of booking.

I think the sooner you can get babies settling happily in their own bed the easier on all of you, but at the same time i agree that this is a tricky age for sleep and that by about 6-7 months their sleep often gets better (not always tho!).

Good luck hun, i feel your pain.

Plunket Family Centre was awesome for a break for me with #2 though their advice wasn't new. It was great just having someone validate how I was feeling though. I'm sorry you didn't have a helpful experience Brad, I'd definitely try another centre