I think I got more skilled, or my babies got easier, because by the time no.3 came along, I was able to carry her upstairs singing a silly soft chant and leave her in her cot for either a nap or her night-time sleep. Mind you, she was a thumb-sucker and the other two weren't. I'm sure that made it easier too: thumb in, fast asleep half a minute later.
But it was almost as if she knew I was there and would come when she woke up. Seems daft, but it did seem like that.
Maybe it's just that first babies so change your life and they are such a wonder and so precious, and you don't know your own limits, and there are mountains of advice and oodles of rules. No wonder mums get so stressed and however calm you are on the surface, I reckon the baby knows that.
Just mulling.....