Hi Alison
Congrats on your lovely daughter!
Always mention to MD what is going on, MD may see reason. Not always. MD always told me mine were fine, growing, healthy and smart. Mine were also not exhausted, cranky or miserable! They did not require a lot of sleep. It all started big time around 15 months, but there were earlier signs. I told my MD that I required more sleep than they did. They were sure that was possible.
The brief story. Lots more to tell inspite of the length!!
We told our then 4yo he could not get his 5 mo brother out of the crib. The long and the short is, he had not. Our younger son had shimmied up one side of the crib and down the other crawling over to his brother's bed and climbing in.
Setting up the other twin bed, he loved that and never fell out.
Walking at 7 months, and not having vocab to accommodate I was always chasing. By about 15 months we weren't getting much sleep so we decided no nap to lengthen the sleep time. By about 20 months, he would be sleeping about 6 hours and I told the MD that it was difficult to get anything done, he was so busy. MD did offer me meds about then. I refused, as far as I am concerned all they did was dull the brain. He's so bright, I didn't want to do that. By 2 1/2 he only slept 2 hours in 24 and I required more sleep, we got into bed and he ran around our bed from dad's face to mine all night. He went to bed so good at 8 PM, and we went about 10, he got up then and the night started. We figured we were not chasing him, and we were at least off our feet, and knew where he was.
Did it get easier? yes. Was there a quick fix? no.
At 4 we made him stay on his bed with flashlight and books. When he learned to read we are not sure, but entering preschool he could read the newspaper. The teacher asked me how long he had been reading.
He has never on a consistent basis slept more than 2 hours in 24. Today he is a lawyer, married, with child of his own, still only requiring 2 hours in 24.
Our daughter stayed at the 6 hours in 24 and is in college today, studying art. When we made her stay in her bed she started drawing. What an artist! She says the dorm is too noisy for sleeping and doesn't bother, we are waiting for her grades but she is hoping for a straight 4.0. What more could we expect!!!! She is sleeping now as she arrived home for Christmas break. Did it get easier, yes because they learned to entertain themselves, or they went away.
My husband is a saint, and would take the boys when he realized I just needed sleep. Then I could cope again.
The two above were kids who want/wanted to do everything to their very best. Almost perfectionist personalities. I guess we let them do their best, and I am thankful today, but there were long difficult days in the middle. I don't think we raise our children for being children, but for the adults they will become. That thought always helped me get through.
Our other 2 slept more normally and are perhaps like yours who knows but at 18 months both slept 8-10 hours and life was much easier. They were satisfied with 96, if it would take 4 hours to get a 97, if that makes sense. Today they too are successful, one is a college coach, and the other is in college studying journalism.
Hope our story helps you to use opportunities, take advantage of your situation, and when it is tough, think of the end result and see that you can raise your children to be the best people the can be as adults. No child is the average child you read about in books.
I tell everyone, since you are young enough to be my daughter talk to your mom, she may have some great stories to tell you.
God bless you with peace and understanding.
K. SAHM married 38 years=== adult children 37 coach, 32 lawyer, twins 18 and in college after years of homeschooling.