Nothing is predictable—except for a shortage of shut-eye. It's a given that babies get up a lot during the first three months, and it's important to have realistic expectations.

When you become a mom, you hear the basic tips for making those 2 a.m. wake-up calls more bearable: You know to keep the lights low and feed your baby before you hit the sack. So what else can you do? Get clued in to some lesser-known nighttime survival strategies.

Don't make eye contact.

You probably know to nix playing or singing during those wee-hour feedings, but you should also avoid gazing into your baby's eyes late at night. When your baby locks eyes with you, she becomes more awake. Do make plenty of eye contact during the day so she knows it's time to be awake (plus, it boosts brain development and bonding).

Regulate the temp.

You know how you sleep better when the room's a little cooler? Well, your baby is no different. Keep your baby's room warmer during the day and cooler at night. The optimal temperature for infant sleep is between 65 and 70 F. If you don't have a thermostat you can control, leave the window slightly open or use a fan at night. Just make sure your baby sleeps far away from windows and fans, and that the room never gets too hot or too cold.

Use dimmers.

Light is one way to regulate babies' circadian rhythm--the body's internal clock. Plug your lamps into dimmer units, and when the sun goes down in the evening, lower the lights--even if your baby isn't going right to bed. To reinforce these rhythms, make sure your home is brightly lit during the day, even if he's napping.

Make some noise.

Don't give your child the silent treatment. Amazingly, the sounds they heard 24/7 in the uterus were about twice as loud as a vacuum cleaner, so babies love and need strong rhythmic noise. Use sleep music. If you need one Click here.

Do the swing thing.

If you swaddle and your baby's still waking up every hour or two, add the swing to the mix. Put your swaddled baby in the reclined seat and buckle her in. You can gradually stop using it when she's better able to soothe herself.

Cut the caffeine.

You know too much caffeine can rev you up and leave you wide-eyed. It can do the same for your little one if you're breastfeeding. Caffeine from coffee, tea and soda can turn up in breast milk. A large coffee drink can provide enough caffeine to affect a newborn. It accumulates in his body quickly and stays with him longer than it does with you about 96 hours.

Fill her up.

During the day feed her frequently and then extend the time in the evening. This will give her time to digest all the feedings and feel full and satisfied when the sleep time arrives.

Give diaper duty a rest.

The truth is, you don't have to change your baby with each feeding. If the diaper isn't soaked through or soiled and your child doesn't have extra-sensitive skin or existing diaper rash, skip this step. Just use absorbent nighttime diapers and a thick diaper cream to protect his skin.

Bypass burping.

Many breastfeeding babies nurse less avidly at night, so it's not a must to wait (and wait) for that little gust of air. At night, she'll probably be eating more slowly and therefore swallowing less air—so burping usually isn't necessary. See how your child does without the burp; skipping just one step in the feeding routine can give you some extra shut-eye.

Hit the bottle.

If your breastfeeding newborn wakes often, make it a goal to get him used to drinking your pumped breastmilk from a bottle so you and your spouse can trade off feedings. By sharing the night shift, you both get to enjoy longer stretches of sleep.

Make over your room.

Everyone's heard about using blackout shades in the baby's room, but put them in your own too. You'll sleep better at night, later in the morning, and snooze more easily during the day while your baby's napping.

Do a quick spa treatment.

Studies found that newborns who had a bedtime massage fell asleep faster and slept more soundly than those who didn't have one. Before bed, give your child a 15-minute massage.

Breathe easy.

One way to get into--and pass on--a mellow mood late at night? Slow down your breathing. It sends your baby a signal to be calm. To pace yourself, use headphones to listen to music that's slower than your heartbeat then breathe to the rhythm.

Give her a cozy sleep spot.

A bassinet can be moved into your bedroom and may improve the quality of your newborn's snoozetime. Babies tend to sleep better in bassinets partly because they feel safer and more enclosed there, and partly because they're closer to their parents.

See the light.

When it's time to rise and shine, get into bright light ASAP. Exposure to light tells your biological clock that you should be alert. Head out for a walk with your baby or sit with her by a sunny window. It'll stimulate both of you and help you remember the one other thing that's predictable about motherhood:

No matter how tough the night shift is, the sun will come up tomorrow.