Whats your "trick" for soothing babies to sleep?

[nic]

I don't have the best sleeper, but the thing that I can do that sometimes works is a nice cuddle, Ds's head on my shoulder with my head touching his and me humming while I pat his bum or back rocking and bouncing all at the same time... probably tires me out more than him lol

[Crystalwings]

Some things I have tried as both a mummy and child care worker are;
*Rocking baby/toddler under a fan or tree to distract them from the fact that they are going to sleep.
* Have the radio on sofly.
* I hold Olive firmly and always cover her with either a blanket or put her in a sleeping bag. I shoosh and rock.
* I used to wrap her as a newborn and always think babies look naked without a wrap or blanket when they are little.
*Olive has pretty much always settled with boobie or now bottle but she also calms down when we take her into our bad and just hold her really firmly, shoosh her and pretend to go to sleep.
*Pretend to yawn and close my eyes.

[Antheia]

The only thing that settles Orson is wrapping him up, cradle him tightly and pat his bum while doing the jiggle. He will only settle/go to sleep with a lot of movement. Must have something to do with me running around after 2 kids while i was pregnant with him i think. But no matter how upset he is, as soon as i start it he is off to sleep.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

if Mia is really upset and overtired, i stroke her head and sing to her. Her concentrating on my singing stops her from crying and she dozes off. For us its just about getting the crying to stop, then its easier.

[RazRock]

We just love Dr Karp - the happiest baby on the block!

The 5 S's still work, although we have been pretty lucky as Edison sleeps pretty good now (touch wood)
I have been telling everyone I know about it.

Swaddling was great and we did it all the time, rocking forward (got to see DVD) with Edison laying on my legs whilst swaddled was amazing, he would just settle & sleep. If he was very grumpy then a nice loud SHHH whilst rocking would work too.

I do love running my fingers over his head and down his nose and across his eyebrows too - I think that is more for me though

[kelebek]

for us different things work at different times but shh, shh, shhhing in a rythmic way while stroking his head seems to work the best at the moment

[Dotty]

Ive tried the 5 s's and they just dont seem to work for us. Had a docs appoint today and doc thinks my girl has severe reflux, so here's hoping once thats under control we will be able to get her to settle more easily! i do love the book though!!!

[Phteven]

I used to just lie down beside my little guys and breastfeed them to sleep. Worked a treat except I would end up putting myself to sleep too

[*PinkLilly*]

ATM I hold DD against me while I slowly 'dance' around the room, and I play with the hair at the nape of her neck and pat her bottom slowly (like a rested heartbeat). She loves it and I only have to do it for about a minute before putting her down and she goes right off to sleep