MamaPop- Even celebrity parents need help with bedtime

By Mrs. Davis, of Mamapop

A feature in Sunday’s New York Timeshighlights several Hollywood "baby consultants" who advise celebrityparents on everything from potty-training to managing picky eaters.Firms like Sleepy Planet (whose clients include Ben Stiller andChristine Taylor) and The Hair Whisperer (specializing in "lice-relatedhouse calls"), and mommy-and-me groups such as Babies First Class andBabygroup Inc. are gaining popularity among celebrity parents and behind the scenes power player.

Whilethe article explains that these child-care experts have become"celebrity baby gurus, with their own power, name recognition and auraof exclusivity," it also suggests that they are evidence of the trendof hands-on parenting among celebrities: "These are not the Hollywoodparents of bygone days, who farmed out nearly every aspect of childrearing, letting nannies tussle with fussy eaters and night nursesfigure out how to send overtired babes gently into dreamland."

If you could afford one, would you hire a sleep-training expert? Apotty-training consultant? A professional childproofer? Most parents Iknow would pay large sums of money to stop the (oftenunsolicited) parenting advice they get from in-laws, co-workers, oreven strangers. Admitting that we don’t know everything about how tobest care for our children is a hard thing for parents to do. But ifcelebrities are doing it, maybe it will catch on with the rest of us.

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MamaPop is a collective of women writers devoted to bringing the best of pop culture to the masses daily. Visit them at www.mamapop.com.

Comments

I saw this article in yesterday’s Sunday Styles section. I nearly harfed my bagel.

Those “sleep gurus”? One used to work at CAA. Neither I recall have any kind of kiddie psych or developmental background, so I am dubious of their credentials other than being hired by celebs. That in itself is hardly credible in my opinion.

- Principesa on March 5th, 2007

no I wouldn’t. I think as a parent you need to figure these things out all on your own…it’s called parenting. You may not be an expert at it but you have to do your best…although if by 3 my kid wasn’t potty trained then I’d consider hiring someone LOL

- J.M. on March 5th, 2007

I think a professional childproofer is a great idea if you can afford it.

- Judy on March 5th, 2007

My son was extremely colicky and didn’t sleep for the first 9 months of his life. He was awake most of the night and I actually had to leave my job because of exhaustion. I read every book on sleep available and nothing worked. Although I was skeptical, I did turn to sleep consultants to help me and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. They spent countless hours working with me on developing a sleep plan for my son and it worked to perfection. My son now is a wonderful sleeper. I absolutely needed the help and it was some of the best money I ever spent.

- cb13 on March 5th, 2007

Our daughter is autistic and we have considered hiring someone trained in potty training special needs children to help us out. We do have hope that she will be toilet trained someday, but we also understand that potty training special needs children can be a long process and that “regular” potty training techniques and tips do not usually work with autistic children.

- Corinne on March 5th, 2007

I commend the people who have hired or are considering hiring help. IMO there is *nothing* wrong with getting help when you need it. Sometimes parents don’t have all the answers and I think it is better to seek help then to feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

- Judy on March 6th, 2007

My son is 16 months old and still does not sleep through the night. I refuse to “Furberize” him so we’ve tried EVERYTHING else and read EVERY book on gentle ways to get babies to sleep. Nothing works so far and we’re tired parents! If we could afford a sleep training expert who might know something we don’t…yay for us! But, we’re hoping that someday before he goes away to college, he’ll be able to sleep through the night and so will we!

- JosieK on March 6th, 2007

I have an appointment at Sleepy Planet next Monday. I am over the bedtime battles. My girlfriend referred me and says it is the best thing she did not only for her daughter, but also for her marriage.

- jenny on March 6th, 2007

J.M, I resent your comment about a 3 year old not potty trained….I am trying my darndest with my daughter (who is 3 yrs, 2wks) and we have tried everything and she will not switch to a toilet….I feel that each child is different and will learn/do things at their own pace, the more I push, the more she regresses. I don’t mean to sound negative but I have tried and if I could, I would pay all the money in the world for help!

- Nikki on March 6th, 2007

I am sorry you took my comment as negative but did you read what I said correctly? I said if my kid wasn’t potty trained by 3 I too would consider hiring someone to do it. I work with many kids and we have 3 1/2 year olds that aren’t potty trained and the mothers are at their breaking point…but I agree every kid is going to do it when they’re ready….but if I had money I’d hire someone to come in a do it for me bc god knows I would be just as frustrated as the child.

Some things that the mothers I know have found to work is a sweet treat. Most parents that I work with don’t let their kids have candy so they bribe the kids with allowing them to have a special treat like M&M’s or skittles to motivate them. I know some people don’t like to bribe their kids but it does work lol! Of course the special treat thing only works for some kids who are not used to getting sweets. Others have used a sticker chart system where each time the child goes on the potty they get to put a sticker on a chart and when they get a full row of stickers they get a special prize….I don’t know what you have been trying but don’t worry she’ll do it when she’s good and ready. I’ll be getting ready to potty train my niece who just turned two (she’s in my care during the week so most of the work will be on me) so I am going to also be just like the rest of you frustrated moms although I hope that she chooses to go easy on me

- J.M. on March 7th, 2007