Baby Whisperer
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35945
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 2:23am
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Topic: Baby Whisperer
Posted By: Bread
Subject: Baby Whisperer
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 2:40pm
| Has anyone had Sharlene Poole out to do 1:1 assistance? Am at the end of my tether with my wee one (4 months) who refuses to sleep during the day and is grizzly when up so feel like I really need some hands on advice after having tried everything I could possibly think of! Just wondering whether anyone had used her and how they found it. :-) |
Replies:
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 2:49pm
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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  ------------- 
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Posted By: Bread
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 3:13pm
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Awesome - thank you
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Posted By: Bubie
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 4:00pm
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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 ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 4:08pm
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I'm sorry, I watched her DVD but haven't had a 1:1. Have you tried contacting The Sleep Store? I found their advice invaluable with my DD who at 10mo still hadn't slept for longer than 2hrs at a time (day or night) and was impossible to settle down to sleep. http://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/Contact+Us.html - http://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/Contact+Us.html -------------  
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 5:24pm
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 6:58pm
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HM what did they do to help change him? ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Huggles
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 8:19pm
| 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. |
Posted By: BusyMum2three
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 10:02pm
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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! |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 10:19pm
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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. ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 27 September 2010 at 11:17pm
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I have a friend who used Sharlene Poole and she said she was great, I know there can be a long waiting list though. I have heard great things about the plunket family centres also. I know when I had trouble with DD sleeping during the day its did not seem to matter what I read from The Baby Whisperer to the No Cry Nap Solution I could not find one fit for my baby and would have loved some one on one help, but for us in the end it did pass and by 6 months DD was sleeping well during the day.
As far as I know Sharlene Pooles ideas and techniques are not about rigid routines but more settling techniques and how to read babies signals, I maybe completely wrong there but from all that I have seen of her thats what I thought. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: Bread
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 9:26am
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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! |
Posted By: Bread
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 9:28am
| Also, Rach - how did you find the email contact with Sharlene? |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 10:12am
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! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Rach179 wrote:Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 10:32am
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Brad, There's a lady on Facebook who is similar to the Baby Whisperer.
If you do a search for "Little Sleepers" you should find it. I haven't used her services myself but I have seen her help a lot of people successfully. ETA: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Sleepers/111059762271935 - linky |
Posted By: Bread
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 10:51am
| Great - thanks Tishy. Shall have a look! |
Posted By: Huggles
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 12:40pm
| where do you live brad? what part of new zealand? |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 1:52pm
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 5:32pm
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Wow, that is pricey, but I guess worth it?
Glad to here people recommending the Plunket Family Centres, we are booked in there for later this week to try and get off the nipple shield. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 7:53pm
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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 -------------   
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Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 8:32pm
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i replied to this earlier but it doesn't seem to have come up - annoying!
i have 2 friends who have used Sharlene. One got Sharlene in for a day for her 4 mo old at that time. He wasn't settling well and she some great advice and techniques. They had a really dramatic improvement within a few days. I think she also had her her out for her first baby too actually. Another friend had the email thing for her 6 mo and had some great results with her advice there too. It was pretty detailed and was more of routine tweaking at that age. I have been to her settling course at The Parenting Place in Auckland ($10). She is great, is just so loving and gentle with the babies even the screamers like my ds2. Seemed to just get him in a way that none else had and in such a positive way. Personally i'd happily the pay the $400 or whatever for having her out if it means your baby can settle happily in his/her own bed, cos that's a skill they'll have for life, otherwise you could still be facing the same probs in another year or so. Or maybe not, they often do grow put of sleep habits. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 8:33pm
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And now more annoying it is there and now i've doubled up. sorry!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 9:14pm
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Sharlene Poole is also on Good Morning every week, I think it's Tuesday...and they often have emails and phone calls. You could try sending/calling into the show, although I guess it could be quite hard to get through... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 28 September 2010 at 9:50pm
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Just one thing, I still sometimes wear my baby for a nap during the day (she does sleep in her cot now - from around 7 months for day naps - was similar to your baby at 4 months by the sound of it) and if you have a good pack (like a manduca or ergo) it doesn't matter how big bubs is.... I can wear my 9kg baby for a couple of hours no worries.
Just wanted to say, if you do want to try wearing your baby for day naps you can, you just need a decent pack (check out slingbabies.co.nz). Other than that - I just wanted to send you *hugs*, I so know how hard it is when bubs doesn't sleep and you don't know what to do about it. I have had girls in my coffee group rave about the plunket day centre... also, a couple of the girls went to the baby whisperer seminar and explained her settling technique to me, and that was how I got my wee girl falling asleep in her cot for the first time. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jano1
Date Posted: 29 September 2010 at 7:51pm
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Hi Brad,
I can highly recommend Samantha Ferrerais. She came to my house (think the cost was 90 per hour?, she was with us for 2 hours) when I was having all sorts of issues with day and night sleep, early wakings and night wakings. She gave me a routine that has worked really well for us. She has 2 daughters and loads of experience. http://www.maternaltouch.co.nz - www.maternaltouch.co.nz ------------- http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers"> |
Posted By: Bread
Date Posted: 01 October 2010 at 9:54am
| Thanks for all the advice guys. Really appreciate the time you took to respond. Tried all sorts of things so think I will just bite the bullet and pay for her. People have offered phone advice but I am a bit over talking about it and really want some hands on practical advice! Thanks again and all the best with your little ones :-) |
Posted By: HuMum
Date Posted: 01 October 2010 at 11:11am
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Hey Brad,
I found the plunket center good, once they took me seriously. I phoned a few times and they poo poo me as a first time mum, blah blah. So in the end I went there first thing in the morning and refused to leave til it was sorted. Ended up staying the whole day. Sometimes it pays to be a bit emotional! I think they thought I had PND, cause they were so concerned about me! In saying it was helpful. DS is still a lousy day sleeper! I've resigned to the fact its his genes! |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 01 October 2010 at 1:59pm
I can definitely recommend little sleepers. The woman who does it is a friend of mine, and very good! |
Posted By: lawyergirl2.0
Date Posted: 13 December 2011 at 9:33pm
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I decided to ask for help from a baby whisperer when I was having trouble with sleeping for my little boy.
On recommendation from a friend I got in touch with Dorothy Waide at Baby Within - see www.babyhelp.co.nz Getting Dorothy to come and help was by far the best money I have spent in relation to baby stuff. She has given me heaps of practical advice on parenting - especially on breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, starting solids, naps and especially on sleeping. She does give email advice which is very reasonable and she also does day visits or overnights. My baby was waking four or five times a night and very hard to sleep during day unless in the car or pram. After just one night with Dorothy he was sleeping 7 to 7 each night and three 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps each day. And he hasn't missed a day of that for the last 6 weeks!! People ask "so what did she do". I think its hard to describe exactly. Its not really just one thing - its just the fact that when you get someone to help you who really knows their stuff (in this case babies and what makes them tick and especially what makes them sleep) then you get results. When you think about it - getting help from an expert makes complete sense - most of us don't know that much about babies initially so why do we struggle to read books and buy gizmos to get them asleep or whatever. Its like a car: you would ask a mechanic for advice if it had any issues rather than try to fix it yourself. www.babyhelp.co.nz - www.babyhelp.co.nz http://babyhelp.co.nz - www.babyhelp.co.nz |
Posted By: Aroha11
Date Posted: 15 December 2011 at 11:27am
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Wow I didn't know all of these places were out there. We had a lot of trouble with day sleeps for ages and now they seem to be sorted (kind of).
The only place I knew about was the family centers but didn't try them as I really wanted DS to get use to settling in his room. Wish I had known about the others. Bread - Good Luck if you do go with one of them it would be great to hear your feedback. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ScaredyKat
Date Posted: 16 December 2011 at 9:03pm
I used Sharlene Poole with my son who was (and is) a terrible sleeper. To be honest, she didn't come up with any miracle ideas or really "fix" his sleeping at all. She is great with babies, but I personally think it was not worth the money. However I do know she has many recommendations and she is always fully booked so there must be something in it 
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Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 17 December 2011 at 7:09pm
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She didn't really help me - it's a long story but by the time I got the visit I had already put my 4mth old on a CIO routine. I never thought I'd do that, but he broke my nice. I guess I didn't believe that there was something I hadn't tried, and there it was, do nothing.
I've also read a couple of sleep help books and spend loads of time reading on the net. In brief, you've got to find something that works for you and your baby, or keep doing what you're doing now. You may be surpised what the solution is. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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