I remember when I was pregnant with my first child that all I thought about was cuddling, bathing and the sweet smelling baby who would drift off in my arms for a blissful night of sleep. This would happen because my baby would be content, all her needs met, because I would be SuperMom.

I never counted on colic, gas, or a backward sleep pattern. Nor did I count on the hours of crying that one small person can actually manage. It evoked some panic, that first time around. She was fed, dry, comfortable. She had been rocked, bounced, sang to, swayed with... what was I doing wrong?

The key here is not to panic. Babies cry for a number of reasons, and more often than not, you have thought of everything... and still they cry. There are nights you can sing until you're hoarse, rock until your legs cramp, or walk the floors until you think you may pass out. And sleep still doesn't come.

My advice, other than the tried and true sleep when baby sleeps, is simple. Prepare yourself for lack of sleep. Rest as much as humanly possible when you can. Accept the help offered when it comes your way, and do something for you. Keeping Mom happy lowers tension, and your baby can feel your stress, and will react to your every emotion. Make a routine and stay with it as closely as possible, even when the times change. It isn't what time you do something, it's the fact that you do the same thing every evening to prepare your baby for bed. Giver her a warm bath, feed her and make sure she goes down with a clean diaper. Use what works- for ages, my daughter would only drift off in her bouncy chair, with the TV as background noise. But it put her to sleep, so we did it.

My best advice is be prepared for anything. Stock up on some books and magazines, have some DVD's on hand just in case. Find what works and stay with it, no matter what anyone says. Your best route to finding sleep again is to shape things so they fit your baby's, and your, needs. And even when you feel like you may fall over with sheer exhaustion, remember that someday you'll look back and miss the nights you could lay your cheek against a soft, sweet smelling baby and listen to them breathing deeply, content in Mom's arms.

Learn more about this author, Autumn Lebeau.
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