Just seen this on facebook, I know that from 6 months it's fine to let a baby sleep in their own room but these so called 'rules' given to a mum by her health visitor seem barbaric. I'd like to know what training health visitors receive to give out this information.

http://lulastic.co.uk/parenting/health-visitors-and-their-sinister-sleep-complex/

Oh dear...

Poor baby

I wouldn't go so far as to say barbaric but it's very unsettling to read. There's just no context to it and it's terribly curt. :(

It's so outrageous that I'm tempted to think it isn't recent advice at all. I'd be really surprised if this is currently given out by HVs.

Wow. The typing does look rather 'old school' so if they are still giving it out it's pretty poor! I did enjoy her writing '8 Approaches for Happier Sleep' as we've recently come to the same conclusions and it's made life much easier here!

I chose to ignore my HV when she asked at E's 8 month check appt why he was still waking at night and "what does he want?" Erm...

Counter

I wouldn't go so far as to say barbaric but it's very unsettling to read. There's just no context to it and it's terribly curt. :(

I bloody would. Denying an adult a drink if they wake in the night would be abuse. Imagine if your mother or father was in a care home and woke up thirsty but nobody let them have some water. Why is it less barbaric to do that to a six month old, who may be "in bed" for up to 12 hours. 12 hours with no food or water?! OK so some babies do this naturally but it is also very, very normal for babies to need food or a drink in that time.

I'd also say its barbaric!

Change the pukey sheets with them in it?! No drinks?! Ignore breath holding?!

[shakes head]

Speechless!

I think in all honesty it's more the way it's written.   And some things are clearly not for 6 month olds ( if you can find me a 6 month old who can come out of bed and downstairs on their own I'd eat my hat!) In older children some of this I have no problem with....the sick and breath holding no, but milk etc in the night....absolutely here. O would only get water..

I hadn't thought about it being an old example from a new article. I just hope advice like this isn't given, although I know some hv don't advocate feeding in the night after 6 months. If I have a thirst in the middle of the night, there's no way I can get back to sleep without 1.