I have just returned from 5 days at the sleep school.
My baby would only have 20 minute naps during the day, would not drink much milk during the day, would be overtired and angry in the evenings, and wake regularly during the night.

The centre that I went to did not advocate CC, but the methods were not a piece of cake either. I know that many of the BB mums would not "approve". But after 5 days, my baby is MUCH HAPPIER. He is having long naps during the day - and has not put up any arguements about going to sleep in the day - which was always a constant battle previously. He had some problems eating, and we were not sure why... but in the last 24 hours he has done some explosive poos and we now think he may have a bit of gastro.

My husband stayed with us in the centre, so we could support each other. The first night was the hardest. It would be obvious that to change a habit (in an adult or child) is going to be met with some reistance). You put your child in the cot, and as they cry. You stay with them, comfort them (without picking them up). You pat, soothe, and rock the child until they relax. The first time that took us an hour. And as always, he woke after 20 minutes. But over the following days, we rarely needed to pat him when going down. We would recognise his tired signs, put him in the cot awake, and he would be happy to drop off to sleep with his blanket & soft toy. He would wake after 30 minutes or so, and we would just pat & soothe and he would be back asleep within minutes, if not seconds! And after 1.5 hours sleep - he would be such a happy baby!!

The staff were very respectful of my ideas and requests. Although they gave me a routine that included a 12 hour sleep from 7pm to 7am, they were happy to help me with my ideas of just "extending" his current sleep blocks of 3 hours. I wasn't looking for a 12 hour miracle in one week. I was just hoping to get 5 hours sleep at some time. And little Shaun did that twice in the 4 nights he was there!

I have come away feeling more confident, more relaxed, and I think that a happy mummy makes a happy baby. (Just as a sleep deprived mummy could result in a sleep deprived baby!).

These schools are not for everyone... but I have absolutely no regrets about doing it.