Whats your "trick" for soothing babies to sleep?

[Salad]

I wrap Georgia up and walk around the house, just the walking alone sends her off to sleep I dont need to pat her or anything.

[amberj]

Oh these are so sweet!

DS is such a wiggle monster if I tried to lay him down on my chest he would just crawl off. How do you stop that?

If DS is overtired and won't settle, I have to hold him in the rocking chair and "rock all the wiggles out" (hold and keep rocking until he eventually gets still- not easy), then eventually he will fall asleep with his head against my chest so he can hear my heartbeat. He also needs his dummy and his "moo" (blankie).

[luna moth]

Ohhh, man, I have so many! A lot have been mentioned already.

Singing - You are my sunshine is my fave.
Find some silly sort of distraction for yourself, like swaying, and counting each sway until you get to 100 or similar. Makes the time pass faster.
Count out loud very softly and slowly.

For bigger kids:
Stroke the forehead/eyebrows in a directiont hat makes your hand shadow their eyes.
Close your own eyes.
Stroke downwards along their legs.
Hold their hand and stroke their back at the same time.

I think the most important thing is to just be patient. Go until you just think you can't do it any more, then go a little bit further.