well for the newborn days, it usually involved lots of tight wrapping and cuddling with soft *singing* (not sure if what i do could be constituted as singing though LOL!).

now that DD is approaching 21 months we lay her on my chest and breath deeply with my face very close to the top of her head. for some reason the feeling of my breath on her calms her down. i also stroke or pat her back/bum. and i sing her fav song 'one night the moon'. i have sung this to her from the moment she was a little chook in utero. she loves it and calms her down straightaway.