DD didnt go to bed before midnight till she was about 6 months! i just started humming in my head when ever anyone started telling me to force her into a routine! slowly bed time got earlier and earlier. and it change DRAMATICALLY from month to month. sometimes she would be asleep at 5pm and awake for hours in the night. then the next she wouldnt go down till 9pm and would sleep till 5am. she got it in the end and now we bath at 7pm, feed, cuddle and she is asleep by 8pm 99% of the time! wakes once over night. she is 22 months.
to be honest the first year was pretty terrible when it came to sleeping, but only affected me if i worried i was doing the 'wrong thing' according to other peoples views.
A good friend of mine whos DD is now 5, got alot of stick from people about the way she parented, she fed to sleep, co slept, etc all the 'wrong' things (apparently ) and she was telling me the other day what and AMAZING sleeper her dd is now!!

I think the best thing a monther can do is listen to her instincts and her baby....and pick a good tune to hum in your head when people start telling you 'your making a rod for your back' hugs to you