SUGGESTED USES FOR YOUR MEMORY
Lets start easy
Forget where you put your keys? Right. From now on, what you need to do is
when you put your keys down link them to where you are putting them. So, if you
put them down on the sofa enlarge those keys to huge size, and imagine them
changing into a person, who looks like a key. Give him a name. Next time you will
know where they are. What happens if you put them down in lots of different
places – how will you know where you are up to? Well the chances are that you
will not have this confusion, its quite amazing. However, at least you will know the
places where to look first.
What about directions?
For directions you need to make sure that you listen for key points on routes that
people might be giving you. Use the basic number systems for instructions like ‘3rd
on the left’ but wherever possible ask for specific land marks. Left and right are
often a problem too as they abstract ideas. However, attaching a real item in
place of left and right is a solution. For example, instead of Left have Lion. Rabbit
instead of Right. This means that for the example above you could have a tree
being eaten by Lion. If there was a pub – the black horse – then a black horse
could be introduced into the image. As you create the various directions as
images, you link them together in story form.
Telephone numbers
Often a thing which is tricky to hold down. However using your memory systems
should make it easier. Firstly, get a clear image of the person whose number it is
fixed clearly in your head. Then look at the number. Which is the best system?
Personally I find using the letters system the best, and break the number down into
pairs. Then I use the story system to link those pairs, although I make sure I do
not make it a circular story!
Equally, you can attach address information in the same way. Picture what the
name of the road would look like. I live in Bawns Lane, - Bawns sounds like
Born, so I would have a baby being born in the middle of a lane. My house
number is 32, which in the letters system is man. So a man is having a baby in
the middle of a lane! Not a pretty thought but easy to remember.
Dates of history...
can be remembered in a similar way using the letters system. Break the number
down into two groups of two, or else keep it as a 4 digit number (unless it is
below 1000 of course!) Create your object from this to remember, and then link it
to the key event in history. While I was at college we were called on to learn for
an exam 30 dates. I have number dyslexia, also called dyscalculia. How could I
remember such things, they were meaningless? For weeks before the exam all
my friends had sticky notes all over their rooms with the dates and key events on.
I knew from experience that such would not work for me.
It was two nights before the exam I finally sat down, and focussed on the
information. An hour later I had the lot. It does seem at the time to take a long
time, but if you were to compare the accumulative time that most people spend
on rote learning, revision and checking, the systems are much faster - you also
retain information for longer.
It is a useful point to make however that if you are needing to learn a lot of dates,
then it is also wise to learn them as you would any other list and make sure that
they are organised. Think of it like a shopping list where you also memorise the
best-before date as well.
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Reading to your Child
Introduction
When parents help their children lean to read, they help
open the door to a new world. As a parent, you can begin an
endless learning chain: You read to your children, they develop
a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own,
they practice reading, and finally they read for their own
information or pleasure. They become readers, and their world
is forever expanded and enriched.
During the early years you can lay
the foundation for your child to become a lifelong reader. This blog aims to help you
* read with your child and make this all-important time
together enjoyable;
* stimulate your child's interest in reading and language;
and
* learn about your child's school reading programs and find
ways to help.
You don't need to be an especially skillful reader
yourself to help your child. In fact, some public libraries
offer adult literacy programs that involve reading to children
as a way to improve literacy skills for the whole family. Nor
do you have to devote great amounts of time to reading with
your child. It's the quality of time that counts. Just be
consistent--give as much time as you can each day to help your
child. The activities suggested are designed to fit into busy
schedules.
Helping your child become a reader is an adventure you
will not want to miss. The benefits to your child are
immeasurable, and in the process you will find your world
becoming richer as well.
The Basics
There is no more important activity for preparing your
child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill
your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be
patient, and watch the magic work.
Start Young and Stay with It
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at
pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on
cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures,
and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention
to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and
the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of
language.
Children learn to love the sound of language before they
even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading
books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and
expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop
language and listening skills and prepares them to understand
the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become
a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural
as learning to walk and talk.
Even after children lean to read by themselves, it's still
important for you to read aloud together. By reading stories
that are on their interest level, but beyond their reading
level, you can stretch young readers' understanding and
motivate them to improve their skills.
Advertise the Joy of Reading!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they
will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent
readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents
can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers...
ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems
to children.
We can help our children find the tools they need to
succeed in life. Having access to information through the
printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and
books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical
tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax
and enjoy some precious leisure moments.
With your help, your children can begin a lifelong
relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults
who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge,
or pleasure.
Remember When You Were Very Young
Between the ages of 4 and 7, many children begin to
recognize words on a page. In our society this may begin with
recognition of a logo for a fast food chain or the brand name
of a favorite cereal. But, before long, that special moment
when a child holds a book and starts to decode the mystery of
written words is likely to occur.
You can help remove part of the mystery without worrying
about a lot of theory. Just read the stories and poems and let
them work their wonders. There is no better way to prepare your
child for that moment when reading starts to "click," even if
it's years down the road.
It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things
adult readers tend to take for granted. It's easier to be
patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here
are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes
we ever learned them.
* There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to
the print as you read aloud.
* Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to
read.
* Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with
your finger as you read.
* Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated
by a space.
* Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital
letters and one for small letters.
These are examples of hieroglyphics.
Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret
a book full of such symbols. That's how young readers feel.
But, a little patience (maybe by turning it into a puzzle you
can solve together) is certain to build confidence.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
It's no secret that activities at home are an important
supplement to the classroom, but there's more to it than that.
There are things that parents can give children at home that
the classrooms cannot give.
Children who are read to grow to love books. Over the
years, these children will have good memories to treasure. They
remember stories that made them laugh and stories that made
them cry. They remember sharing these times with someone they
love, and they anticipate with joy the time when they will be
able to read for themselves.
By reading aloud together, by being examples, and by doing
other activities, parents are in a unique position to help
children enjoy reading and see the value of it.
Important Things To Know
It is important to keep fun in your parent-child reading
and to let joy set the tone and pace. Here is a story to keep
in mind.
Shamu is a performing whale, to the delight of many.
However, she sometimes gets distracted and refuses to do her
tricks. When that happens, her trainers stand around in
dripping wetsuits and wait for her stubbornness to pass. They
know that when a 5,000-pound whale decides she doesn't want to
flip her tail on cue, there is very little anyone can do about
it. But whales like to play, and sooner or later Shamu returns
to the game of performing for her audience. Shamu's trainers
know this so they're always patient, they're always confident,
and they always make performing fun.
While helping your child become a reader is certainly
different from training a whale, the same qualities of
patience, confidence, and playfulness in your approach will get
results. If, from time to time, your child gets distracted and
loses interest, take a break. Children love to learn. Give them
a little breathing room, and their interest will always be
renewed.
It's Part of Life
Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should
try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly
scheduled time. But don't be discouraged if you skip a day or
don't always keep to your schedule. Just read to your child as
often as you possibly can.
If you have more than one child, try to spend some time
reading alone with each child, especially if they're more than
2 years apart. However, it's also fine to read to children at
different stages and ages at the same time. Most children enjoy
listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex,
children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask
questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy
these "old friends" and may even help in the reading. Taking
the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an
important message: Reading is worthwhile.
One More Time
You may go through a period when your child favors one
book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for
children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring
for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may
speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient.
Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and
eventually they will be ready for more stories.
Talking about Stories
It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are
reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every
story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or
without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think
about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be
surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've
read together.
The More the Merrier
From time to time, invite other adults or older children
to listen in or join in reading aloud. The message is: Reading
is for everybody.
How Do I Use This Book?
There are two types of activities in this book to help
* make reading with your child enjoyable and
* increase writing, talking, and listening to boost your
child's love of language.
Most of the activities are for children who range in age
from 3 to 10 years, with a few for babies. The symbols next to
the activities can guide you.
Infant up to 2 years
Preschooler (ages 3-5)
Beginning reader (ages 6-7)
Developing reader (ages 8-10)
Enjoyment is essential in the process of helping your
child become a reader. All of the activities are written with
this thought in mind. So, if you and your child don't enjoy one
activity, move on to something else and try it again later.
Read Along
The following is intended to help you become a parent who
is great at reading with your child. You'll find ideas and
activities to enrich this precious time together.
Children become readers when their parents read to them.
It really is as simple as that. And here's the good news: It's
easy to do and it's great fun. With a little practice you will
be making the memories of a lifetime, memories both you and
your child will cherish.
It is best to read to your child early and often. But it's
never too late to begin. Start today. Although the activities
in this section are designed to enhance reading aloud with
preschoolers and beginning readers, a child is never too old to
be read to.
With youngsters, remember that reading is a physical act,
as well as a mental one. It involves hand-eye coordination. So,
when you read, involve your child by
* pointing out objects in the pictures;
* following the words with your finger (so your child
develops a sense that the words go from left to fight on
the page); and
* having your child help turn the pages (to lean that the
pages turn from fight to left).
Look for Books
The main thing is to find books you both love. They will
shape your child's first impression of the world of reading.
What to do
1. Ask friends, neighbors, and teachers to share the names of
their favorite books.
2. Visit your local public library, and as early as possible,
get your child a library card. Ask the librarian for help
in selecting books. (Also see the resources section at the
end of this book.)
3. Look for award-winning books. Each year the American
Library Association selects children's books for the
Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Medal for
writing.
4. Check the book review sections of newspapers and magazines
for recommended new children's books.
5. As soon as they're old enough, have your children join you
in browsing for books and making selections.
6. If you and your child don't enjoy reading a particular
book, put it aside and pick up another one.
Keep in mind your child's reading level and listening
level are different. When you read easy books, beginning
readers will soon be reading along with you. When you read more
advanced books, you instill a love of stories, and you build
motivation that transforms children into lifelong readers.
Books and Babies
Babies love to listen to the human voice. What better way
than through reading!
What you'll need
Some baby books (books made of cardboard or cloth with flaps to
lift and holes to peek through)
What to do
1. Start out by singing lullabies and folk songs to your
baby. At around 6 months, look for books with brightly
colored, simple pictures and lots of rhythm. (Mother Goose
is perfect.) At around 9 months, include books that
feature pictures and names of familiar objects.
2. As you read, point out objects in the pictures and make
sure your baby sees all the things that are fun to do with
books. (Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt is a classic
touch-and-feel book for babies.)
3. Vary the tone of your voice, sing nursery rhymes, bounce
your knee, make funny faces, do whatever special effects
you can to stimulate your baby's interest.
4. Allow your child to touch and hold cloth and sturdy
cardboard books.
5. When reading to a baby, be brief but read often.
As you read to your baby, your child is forming an
association between books and what is most loved -- your voice
and closeness. Allowing babies to handle books deepens their
attachment even more.
R and R: Repetition and Rhyme
Repetition makes books predictable, and young readers love
knowing what comes next.
What you'll need
Books with repeated phrases*
Short rhyming poems
* A few favorites are: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible.
No Good , Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; Brown Bear, Brown
Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; Horton Hatches
the Egg by Dr. Seuss; and The Little Engine That Could by
Watty Piper. There are many good booklists that highlight
those books with repetitive refrains. (See the resources
section.)
What to do
1. Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your
child like.
2. For example, read:
Wolf Voice: Little pig, little pig,
Let me come in.
Little Pig: Not by the hair on my
chinny-chin-chin.
Wolf Voice: Then I'll huff and I'll puff,
And I'll blow your house in!
After the wolf has blown down the first pig's house, your
child will soon join in with the refrain.
3. Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children
know you appreciate their participation.
4. As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and
give them the chance to "fill in the blanks."
5. Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially
books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who
enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a
book and imitate your reading.
When youngsters anticipate what's coming next in a story
or poem, they have a sense of mastery over books. When children
feel power, they have the courage to try. Pretending to read is
an important step in the process of learning to read.
Poetry in Motion
When children act out a good poem, they love its rhyme,
rhythm, and the pictures it paints with a few well-chosen
words. They grow as readers by connecting emotion with the
written word.
What you'll need
Poems that rhyme, tell a story, and are written from a child's
point of view
What to do
1. Read a poem slowly to your child, and bring all your
dramatic talents to the reading. (In other words, ham it
up.)
2. If there is a poem your child is particularly fond of,
suggest acting out a favorite line. Be sure to award such
efforts with delighted enthusiasm.
3. Then suggest acting out a verse, a stanza, or the entire
poem. Ask your child to make a face of the way the
character in the poem is feeling. Remember that facial
expressions bring emotion into the performer's voice.
4. Again, be an enthusiastic audience for your child.
Applause is always nice.
5. If your child is comfortable with the idea, look for a
larger setting with an attentive, appreciative audience.
Perhaps an after-dinner "recital" for family members would
appeal to your child.
6. Mistakes are a fact of life, so ignore them.
Poems are often short with lots of white space on the
page. This makes them manageable for new readers and helps to
build their confidence.
Read to Me
It's important to read to your children, but equally
important to listen to them read to you. Children thrive on
having someone appreciate their developing skills.
What you'll need
Books at your child's reading level
What to do
1. Listen attentively as your child reads.
2. Take turns. You read a paragraph and have your child read
the next one. As your child becomes more at ease with
reading aloud, take turns reading a full page. Keep in
mind that your child may be focusing on how to read, and
your reading helps to keep the story alive.
3. If your children have trouble reading words, you can help
in several ways.
* Tell them to skip over the word, read the rest of the
sentence, and ask what word would make sense in the story.
* Help them use what they know about letters and sounds.
* Supply the correct word.
4. Tell children how proud you are of their efforts and
skills.
Listening to your children read aloud provides
opportunities for you to express appreciation of their new
skills and for them to practice their reading. Most
importantly, it's another way to enjoy reading together.
Family Reading Time
A quiet time for family members to read on their own may
be the only chance a busy parent gets to read the paper.
What you'll need
Your own reading materials
Reading materials for your children
What to do
1. Both you and your child should pick out something to read.
2. Don't be concerned if your beginning readers pick
materials that are easier than their school reading books.
Practice with easy books (and the comics) will improve
their fluency.
3. If you subscribe to a children's magazine, this is a good
time to get it out. There are many good children's
magazines, and youngsters often get a special thrill out
of receiving their own mail.
4. Relax and enjoy while you each read your own selections.
A family reading time shows that you like to read. Because
you value reading, your children will too.
Story Talk
Talking about what you read is another way to help
children develop language and thinking skills. You don't need
to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer.
What you'll need
Reading materials
What to do
1. Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about
a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to
happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a
palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little mouse is
now."
2. Answer your children's questions, and if you think they
don't understand something, stop and ask them. Don't worry
if you break into the flow of a story to make something
clear.
3. Read the name of the book's author and illustrator and
make sure your children understand what they do.
Talking about stories they read helps children develop
their vocabularies, link stories to everyday life, and use what
they know about the world to make sense out of stories.
When parents help their children lean to read, they help
open the door to a new world. As a parent, you can begin an
endless learning chain: You read to your children, they develop
a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own,
they practice reading, and finally they read for their own
information or pleasure. They become readers, and their world
is forever expanded and enriched.
During the early years you can lay
the foundation for your child to become a lifelong reader. This blog aims to help you
* read with your child and make this all-important time
together enjoyable;
* stimulate your child's interest in reading and language;
and
* learn about your child's school reading programs and find
ways to help.
You don't need to be an especially skillful reader
yourself to help your child. In fact, some public libraries
offer adult literacy programs that involve reading to children
as a way to improve literacy skills for the whole family. Nor
do you have to devote great amounts of time to reading with
your child. It's the quality of time that counts. Just be
consistent--give as much time as you can each day to help your
child. The activities suggested are designed to fit into busy
schedules.
Helping your child become a reader is an adventure you
will not want to miss. The benefits to your child are
immeasurable, and in the process you will find your world
becoming richer as well.
The Basics
There is no more important activity for preparing your
child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill
your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be
patient, and watch the magic work.
Start Young and Stay with It
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at
pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on
cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures,
and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention
to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and
the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of
language.
Children learn to love the sound of language before they
even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading
books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and
expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop
language and listening skills and prepares them to understand
the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become
a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural
as learning to walk and talk.
Even after children lean to read by themselves, it's still
important for you to read aloud together. By reading stories
that are on their interest level, but beyond their reading
level, you can stretch young readers' understanding and
motivate them to improve their skills.
Advertise the Joy of Reading!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they
will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent
readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents
can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers...
ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems
to children.
We can help our children find the tools they need to
succeed in life. Having access to information through the
printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and
books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical
tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax
and enjoy some precious leisure moments.
With your help, your children can begin a lifelong
relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults
who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge,
or pleasure.
Remember When You Were Very Young
Between the ages of 4 and 7, many children begin to
recognize words on a page. In our society this may begin with
recognition of a logo for a fast food chain or the brand name
of a favorite cereal. But, before long, that special moment
when a child holds a book and starts to decode the mystery of
written words is likely to occur.
You can help remove part of the mystery without worrying
about a lot of theory. Just read the stories and poems and let
them work their wonders. There is no better way to prepare your
child for that moment when reading starts to "click," even if
it's years down the road.
It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things
adult readers tend to take for granted. It's easier to be
patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here
are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes
we ever learned them.
* There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to
the print as you read aloud.
* Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to
read.
* Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with
your finger as you read.
* Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated
by a space.
* Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital
letters and one for small letters.
These are examples of hieroglyphics.
Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret
a book full of such symbols. That's how young readers feel.
But, a little patience (maybe by turning it into a puzzle you
can solve together) is certain to build confidence.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
It's no secret that activities at home are an important
supplement to the classroom, but there's more to it than that.
There are things that parents can give children at home that
the classrooms cannot give.
Children who are read to grow to love books. Over the
years, these children will have good memories to treasure. They
remember stories that made them laugh and stories that made
them cry. They remember sharing these times with someone they
love, and they anticipate with joy the time when they will be
able to read for themselves.
By reading aloud together, by being examples, and by doing
other activities, parents are in a unique position to help
children enjoy reading and see the value of it.
Important Things To Know
It is important to keep fun in your parent-child reading
and to let joy set the tone and pace. Here is a story to keep
in mind.
Shamu is a performing whale, to the delight of many.
However, she sometimes gets distracted and refuses to do her
tricks. When that happens, her trainers stand around in
dripping wetsuits and wait for her stubbornness to pass. They
know that when a 5,000-pound whale decides she doesn't want to
flip her tail on cue, there is very little anyone can do about
it. But whales like to play, and sooner or later Shamu returns
to the game of performing for her audience. Shamu's trainers
know this so they're always patient, they're always confident,
and they always make performing fun.
While helping your child become a reader is certainly
different from training a whale, the same qualities of
patience, confidence, and playfulness in your approach will get
results. If, from time to time, your child gets distracted and
loses interest, take a break. Children love to learn. Give them
a little breathing room, and their interest will always be
renewed.
It's Part of Life
Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should
try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly
scheduled time. But don't be discouraged if you skip a day or
don't always keep to your schedule. Just read to your child as
often as you possibly can.
If you have more than one child, try to spend some time
reading alone with each child, especially if they're more than
2 years apart. However, it's also fine to read to children at
different stages and ages at the same time. Most children enjoy
listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex,
children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask
questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy
these "old friends" and may even help in the reading. Taking
the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an
important message: Reading is worthwhile.
One More Time
You may go through a period when your child favors one
book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for
children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring
for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may
speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient.
Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and
eventually they will be ready for more stories.
Talking about Stories
It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are
reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every
story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or
without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think
about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be
surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've
read together.
The More the Merrier
From time to time, invite other adults or older children
to listen in or join in reading aloud. The message is: Reading
is for everybody.
How Do I Use This Book?
There are two types of activities in this book to help
* make reading with your child enjoyable and
* increase writing, talking, and listening to boost your
child's love of language.
Most of the activities are for children who range in age
from 3 to 10 years, with a few for babies. The symbols next to
the activities can guide you.
Infant up to 2 years
Preschooler (ages 3-5)
Beginning reader (ages 6-7)
Developing reader (ages 8-10)
Enjoyment is essential in the process of helping your
child become a reader. All of the activities are written with
this thought in mind. So, if you and your child don't enjoy one
activity, move on to something else and try it again later.
Read Along
The following is intended to help you become a parent who
is great at reading with your child. You'll find ideas and
activities to enrich this precious time together.
Children become readers when their parents read to them.
It really is as simple as that. And here's the good news: It's
easy to do and it's great fun. With a little practice you will
be making the memories of a lifetime, memories both you and
your child will cherish.
It is best to read to your child early and often. But it's
never too late to begin. Start today. Although the activities
in this section are designed to enhance reading aloud with
preschoolers and beginning readers, a child is never too old to
be read to.
With youngsters, remember that reading is a physical act,
as well as a mental one. It involves hand-eye coordination. So,
when you read, involve your child by
* pointing out objects in the pictures;
* following the words with your finger (so your child
develops a sense that the words go from left to fight on
the page); and
* having your child help turn the pages (to lean that the
pages turn from fight to left).
Look for Books
The main thing is to find books you both love. They will
shape your child's first impression of the world of reading.
What to do
1. Ask friends, neighbors, and teachers to share the names of
their favorite books.
2. Visit your local public library, and as early as possible,
get your child a library card. Ask the librarian for help
in selecting books. (Also see the resources section at the
end of this book.)
3. Look for award-winning books. Each year the American
Library Association selects children's books for the
Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Medal for
writing.
4. Check the book review sections of newspapers and magazines
for recommended new children's books.
5. As soon as they're old enough, have your children join you
in browsing for books and making selections.
6. If you and your child don't enjoy reading a particular
book, put it aside and pick up another one.
Keep in mind your child's reading level and listening
level are different. When you read easy books, beginning
readers will soon be reading along with you. When you read more
advanced books, you instill a love of stories, and you build
motivation that transforms children into lifelong readers.
Books and Babies
Babies love to listen to the human voice. What better way
than through reading!
What you'll need
Some baby books (books made of cardboard or cloth with flaps to
lift and holes to peek through)
What to do
1. Start out by singing lullabies and folk songs to your
baby. At around 6 months, look for books with brightly
colored, simple pictures and lots of rhythm. (Mother Goose
is perfect.) At around 9 months, include books that
feature pictures and names of familiar objects.
2. As you read, point out objects in the pictures and make
sure your baby sees all the things that are fun to do with
books. (Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt is a classic
touch-and-feel book for babies.)
3. Vary the tone of your voice, sing nursery rhymes, bounce
your knee, make funny faces, do whatever special effects
you can to stimulate your baby's interest.
4. Allow your child to touch and hold cloth and sturdy
cardboard books.
5. When reading to a baby, be brief but read often.
As you read to your baby, your child is forming an
association between books and what is most loved -- your voice
and closeness. Allowing babies to handle books deepens their
attachment even more.
R and R: Repetition and Rhyme
Repetition makes books predictable, and young readers love
knowing what comes next.
What you'll need
Books with repeated phrases*
Short rhyming poems
* A few favorites are: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible.
No Good , Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; Brown Bear, Brown
Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; Horton Hatches
the Egg by Dr. Seuss; and The Little Engine That Could by
Watty Piper. There are many good booklists that highlight
those books with repetitive refrains. (See the resources
section.)
What to do
1. Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your
child like.
2. For example, read:
Wolf Voice: Little pig, little pig,
Let me come in.
Little Pig: Not by the hair on my
chinny-chin-chin.
Wolf Voice: Then I'll huff and I'll puff,
And I'll blow your house in!
After the wolf has blown down the first pig's house, your
child will soon join in with the refrain.
3. Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children
know you appreciate their participation.
4. As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and
give them the chance to "fill in the blanks."
5. Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially
books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who
enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a
book and imitate your reading.
When youngsters anticipate what's coming next in a story
or poem, they have a sense of mastery over books. When children
feel power, they have the courage to try. Pretending to read is
an important step in the process of learning to read.
Poetry in Motion
When children act out a good poem, they love its rhyme,
rhythm, and the pictures it paints with a few well-chosen
words. They grow as readers by connecting emotion with the
written word.
What you'll need
Poems that rhyme, tell a story, and are written from a child's
point of view
What to do
1. Read a poem slowly to your child, and bring all your
dramatic talents to the reading. (In other words, ham it
up.)
2. If there is a poem your child is particularly fond of,
suggest acting out a favorite line. Be sure to award such
efforts with delighted enthusiasm.
3. Then suggest acting out a verse, a stanza, or the entire
poem. Ask your child to make a face of the way the
character in the poem is feeling. Remember that facial
expressions bring emotion into the performer's voice.
4. Again, be an enthusiastic audience for your child.
Applause is always nice.
5. If your child is comfortable with the idea, look for a
larger setting with an attentive, appreciative audience.
Perhaps an after-dinner "recital" for family members would
appeal to your child.
6. Mistakes are a fact of life, so ignore them.
Poems are often short with lots of white space on the
page. This makes them manageable for new readers and helps to
build their confidence.
Read to Me
It's important to read to your children, but equally
important to listen to them read to you. Children thrive on
having someone appreciate their developing skills.
What you'll need
Books at your child's reading level
What to do
1. Listen attentively as your child reads.
2. Take turns. You read a paragraph and have your child read
the next one. As your child becomes more at ease with
reading aloud, take turns reading a full page. Keep in
mind that your child may be focusing on how to read, and
your reading helps to keep the story alive.
3. If your children have trouble reading words, you can help
in several ways.
* Tell them to skip over the word, read the rest of the
sentence, and ask what word would make sense in the story.
* Help them use what they know about letters and sounds.
* Supply the correct word.
4. Tell children how proud you are of their efforts and
skills.
Listening to your children read aloud provides
opportunities for you to express appreciation of their new
skills and for them to practice their reading. Most
importantly, it's another way to enjoy reading together.
Family Reading Time
A quiet time for family members to read on their own may
be the only chance a busy parent gets to read the paper.
What you'll need
Your own reading materials
Reading materials for your children
What to do
1. Both you and your child should pick out something to read.
2. Don't be concerned if your beginning readers pick
materials that are easier than their school reading books.
Practice with easy books (and the comics) will improve
their fluency.
3. If you subscribe to a children's magazine, this is a good
time to get it out. There are many good children's
magazines, and youngsters often get a special thrill out
of receiving their own mail.
4. Relax and enjoy while you each read your own selections.
A family reading time shows that you like to read. Because
you value reading, your children will too.
Story Talk
Talking about what you read is another way to help
children develop language and thinking skills. You don't need
to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer.
What you'll need
Reading materials
What to do
1. Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about
a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to
happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a
palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little mouse is
now."
2. Answer your children's questions, and if you think they
don't understand something, stop and ask them. Don't worry
if you break into the flow of a story to make something
clear.
3. Read the name of the book's author and illustrator and
make sure your children understand what they do.
Talking about stories they read helps children develop
their vocabularies, link stories to everyday life, and use what
they know about the world to make sense out of stories.
Cheesecake Recipes
Cheesecake Recipes
Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake
1 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
1/2 c Chopped Pecans
3 tb Granulated Sugar
1/4 c Margarine, Melted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Brown Sugar, Packed
2 ea Large Eggs
6 oz Semi-sweet Chips, Melted
3 tb Almond Flavored Liqueur
2 c Sour Cream
2 tb Granulated Sugar
Combine crumbs, pecans, granulated sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-
inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream sheese
and brown sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add
eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate and liqueur;
pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees F., 35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to
425 degrees F. Combine sour cream and granulated sugar; carefully spread over
cheesecake. Bake at 425 degrees F. 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool
before removing rim of pan. Chill. VARIATION: Substitute 2 Tablespoons milk and
1/4 teaspoon almond extract for almond flavored liqueur.
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake
2 c Cream-filled Cookies *
6 tb Margarine, Softened
1 ea Env. Unflavored Gelatin
1/4 c Cold Water
8 oz Cream Cheese Softened
1/2 c Sugar
3/4 c Milk
1 c Whipping Cream, Whipped
1 1/4 c Creme-filled Cookies **
* The cookies (24) should be chocolate cream filled cookies and be to as fine as can
be done. ** These cookies should be chocolate cream filled cookies and should be
coarsely chopped. Combine cookie crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-
inch springform pan. Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved.
Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on an electric mixer until
well blended Gradually add gelatin mixture and milk, mixing until well blended. Chill
until mixture is thickened but not set. Fold in whipped cream. Reserve 1 1/2 C
cream cheese mixture; pour remaning cream cheese mixture over crust. Top with
cookies and reserved cream cheese mixture. Chill until firm.
Creamy Chilled Cheesecake
1 c Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Margarine, Melted
1 ea Env. Unflavored Gelatin
1/4 c Cold Water
8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Sugar
3/4 c Milk
1/4 c Lemon Juice
1 c Shipping Cream, Whipped
1 x Strawberry Halves
Combine Crumbs, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Soften
gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved. Combine cream cheese and sugar,
mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Chill until slightly thickened; fold
in whipped
cream. Pour over crust; chill until firm. Top with strawberries before serving.
Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Creme-filled Cookie Crumbs *
2 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 1/4 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips**
1/3 c Strained Raspberry Preserves
6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 c Whipping Cream
* Cookie crumbs should come from 18 Cream Filled Cookies that have been finely
crushed. ** This 6 ozs of Chocolate chips should be melted and cooled slightly .
Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
Combine 24 ozs of cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric
mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust. Combine remaining 8 ozs cream
cheese and melted chocolate, mixing at medium speed on eletric mixer until well
blended. Add Red Raspberry preserves; mix well. Drop rounded measuring
tablespoonsfuls of chocolate cream cheese batter over plain cream cheese batter, do
not swirl. Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 25 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of
pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Melt chocolate pieces and whipping cream
over low heat stirring until smooth.
Spread over cheescake. Chill. Garnish with additonal whipping cream, whipped,
raspberries and
fresh mint leaves, if desired.
Arizona Sunset Cheesecake
Shortbread Crust
1 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Finely ground pecans
1/3 c Sugar
1 lg Egg, separated
1/2 c Butter, softened
Cranberry Glaze Filling
1 cn Whole berry cranberry- sauce OR 2 cups cranberry orange relish
2 tb Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
1 tb Grated lemon zest
1 tb Lemon juice
White Chocolate Filling
1 1/2 c Fresh orange juice
1-3 Inch x 1 inch piece- of orange peel (orange part only)
4 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
2/3 c Sugar
1 tb Grated orange zest
2 tb Cranberry Liqueur (such- as Crantasia Schnapps)
8 oz White chocolate, melted
4 Eggs
Candied Orange Topping
4 c Water
2 c Sugar
3 Seedless oranges (unpeeled)- cut into paper-thin slices
Garnish
Whipped Cream
Shortbread Crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Working on a large flat
surface, such as a pastry board, place flour, pecans, and sugar in the center of the
surface and mix together. Form a small depression or well in the center of the
mound. Add the egg yolk and the softened butter to the well, then blend these with
the dry mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly using your hands -- there is no
substitute for warm hands. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
Chill for at least 10 minutes. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. You
should have a circle of about 11 inches in diameter. For best results, roll out your
dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, then peel away the paper and cut the crust
in a 9 inch circle. Place the circle inside a 9 inch springform pan. Prick the crust
several times with a fork to keep the crust from puffing up during the baking. Place
the springform pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown.
Allow to cool. Using the leftover dough, line the sides of the springform pan. Press
the dough against the sides of the pan, smoothing it so as to have a continuous layer
of crust all the way around the sides of the pan. Make sure that the side crust meets
the bottom crust all the way around. Brush the reserved egg white onto the shell,
covering the bottom and sides. This will seal the dough and keep it from becoming
soggy. Set aside until ready to use.
Cranberry Glaze Filling: Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small
saucepan. Stir in the cranberry sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,
until thick. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside to cool slightly.
White Chocolate Filling: Reset the oven to 350 degrees F. Boil the orange juice
and piece of orange peel in a heavy medium saucepan until the juice is reduced to 3
Tbsp - about 12 minutes. Remove and discard the strip of orange peel and set aside
the reduced orange juice. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar,
grated orange zest, Crantasia, and reduced orange juice until smooth. Beat in the
melted white chocolate and then the eggs, one at a time, beating just until
combined. Pour the cranberry glaze filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly.
Pour the white chocolate filling over the cranberry layer and bake about 50 minutes
(the top will be dry and the sides puffed slightly - the center will not be set). Move
cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. Chill in the
refrigerator overnight.
Candied Oranges Topping: Cover a wire rack with waxed paper. Set aside.
Combine the water and sugar in a heavy shallow wide skillet. Stir over medium heat
until the sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Add the orange slices 1 at a time
and adjust the heat so that the syrup bubbles only around the edges of the pan.
Cook the oranges for one hour. Turn over the top layer of oranges and cook until the
oranges are translucent and the orange peels tender, about another one hour longer.
Lift and drain each orange slice out of the syrup, and arrange the slices in a single
layer on the prepared rack. Let dry 1 hour. Boil the orange-sugar syrup until thick,
about 6 minutes. Loosen and remove the sides of the springform pan. Set the
cheesecake on a serving dish. Overlap the candied orange slices around the top of
the cheesecake. Reheat the orange syrup, if necessary, and brush over the orange
slices. Drizzle any remainder over each serving. Garnish: whipped cream.
NOTE: You may substitute grapefruits for the oranges in the Candied Oranges
Topping if you prefer.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Supreme
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
3 tb Margarine, Melted
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1 c Mini Semi-sweet Chips
Combine crumbs and magarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at
350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour, mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing
well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips and
pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees F., 55 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan;
cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh mint
leaves, if desired.
Cappuccino Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Finely Chopped Nuts
2 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 c Sugar
3 tb Unbleached All-purpose Flour
4 ea Large Eggs
1 c Sour Cream
1 tb Instant Coffee Granules
1/4 ts Cinnamon
1/4 c Boiling water
Combine nuts, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form cake
pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar, and flour,
mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a
time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream. Dissolve coffee granules
and cinnamon in water. Cool; gradually add to cream cheese mixture, mixing until
well blended. Pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10 minutes. Reduce oven
temperature to 250 degrees F.; continue baking 1 hour. Loosen cake from rim of
pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and whole
coffee beans if desired.
Chocolate Mint Meringue Cheesecake
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
3 tb Margarine, Melted
2 tb Sugar
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
2/3 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 c Mint Chocolate Chips, Melted
1 ts Vanilla
3 ea Large Egg Whites
7 oz Marshmallow Creme (1 Jr)
Combine crumbs, margarine and sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing
at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time,
mixing well after each addition. Blend in mint chocolate and vanilla; pour over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F., 50 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before
removing rim of pan. Chill. Beat egg whites until soft peakes form. Gradually add
marshmallow creme, beating until stiff peakes form. Carefully spread over top of
cheesecake to seal. Bake at 450 degrees F.; 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cherry Cheesecake
1 c Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 ts Vanilla
21 oz Cherry Pie Filling (1 cn)
Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake
at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium
speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time mixing well after
each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10 minutes.
Reduce oven temperatur to 250 degrees F., continue baking 25 to 30 minutes or
until set. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Top
with pie filling just before serving.
Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake
2 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
6 tb Margarine, Melted
14 oz Carmels ( 1 bag)
5 oz (1 cn) Evaporated Milk
1 c Chopped Pecans, Toasted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Vanilla
2 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips *
* Chocolate chips should be melted.
Combine crumbs and margarine, press onto bottom and sides of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. In 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, melt
carmels with milk over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour over crust.
Top with pecans. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanila, mixing at medium speed
on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Blend in chocolate, pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees F., 40 minutes.
Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with
whipped cream, additional chopped nuts and maraschino cherries, if desired.
Chocolate Orange Supreme Cheesecake
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
1/4 ts Cinnamon
3 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
4 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Semi-sweet Choc. ChipsMelted
2 tb Orange Flavord Liqueur
1/2 ts Grated Orange Peel
Combine crumbs, cinnamon and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform
pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar,
mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a
time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Blend
chocolate into 3 cups batter; blend liqueur and pell into remaining batter. Pour
chocolate batter over crust. Bate at 350 degrees F., 30 minutes. Reduce oven
temperature to
325 degrees F. Spoon remianing batter over chocolate batter continue baking 30
minutes more. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Cocoa-Nut Meringue Cheesecake
7 oz (1 pk) Flaked Coconut *
1/4 c Chopped pecans
3 tb Margarine, Melted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/3 c Sugar
3 tb Cocoa
2 tb Water
1 ts Vanilla
3 ea Large Eggs, Separated
Dash salt
7 oz (1 jr) Marshmallow Creme
1/2 c Chopped Pecans
* Coconut should be flaked and toasted.
Combine coconut, pecans, and margarine, press onto bottom of 9-inch springform
pan. Combine cream cheese, sugar, cocoa, water and vanilla, mixing at medium
speed on electric mixer until well blended. Blend in egg yolks, pour over crust. Bake
at 350 degrees F., 30 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan, cool before removing
rim of pan. Beat egg whites and salt until foamy, gradually add marshmallow creme,
beating until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle pecans over cheesecake to within 1/2-inch of
outer edge. Carefully spread marshmallow creme mixture over top of cheescake to
seal. Bake at 350 degrees F., 15 minutes. Cool.
Tempting Trifle Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Soft Coconut Macaroons*
3/4 c Sugar
1/2 c Whipping cream
2 tb Sweet Sherry
10 oz Red Raspberry Preserves
1 x Toasted Slivered Almonds
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
4 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Whipping Cream, Whipped
* Soft coconut macroon cookies crumbs.
Press crumbs onto bottom of greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees
F., 15 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on
electric mixture until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Blend in sour cream, whipping cream, sherry and vanilla; pour over crust.
Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool
befroe removing rim of pan. Chill. Heat preserves in saucepan over low heat until
melted. Strain to remove seeds. Spoon over cheesecake, spreading to edges. Dollop
with
whipped cream; top with almonds.
Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
8 1/2 oz Chocolate Wafers, Fine Crush
1/2 c Butter, Melted
12 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 1/2 c Heavy cream
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/4 c Sugar
4 ea Large Eggs
3/4 c Cherry Flavored Liqueur
1 ts Vanilla Extract
1 lb Cherry Pie Filling
1/2 c Heavy Cream Whipped (Opt.)
In large bowl, combine chocolate wafer crumbs and butter. Pat fimly into 9-inch
springform pan, covering bottom and 2 1/2 inches up sides. Chill. Preheat oven to
325 degrees F. Combine over hot (not boiling) water, chocolate chips and heavy
cream. Stir until morsels are melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside. In large bowl,
combine cream cheese and sugar, beating untl creamy. Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture, cherry liqueur, and vanilla,
mix until blended. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 60 minutes.
Turn oven off. Let stand in oven with door ajar 1 hour. Remove, cool completely.
Chill 24 hours. Spread cherry pie filling over top of cheesecake leaving 1-inch from
the edge. Decorate edge with whipped cream, if desired.
Tuscan Cheesecake
3 lb Ricotta cheese
8 Eggs
2 c Sugar
1 c Milk
2 Oranges, grated zest only
2 Lemons, grated zest only
2 2/3 oz Grand mariner
1 tb Clarified butter
1/4 c Plain bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Beat ricotta cheese with blender until smooth. Add eggs, sugar, and milk. Blend until
well-mixed and smooth. Add orange and lemon zest and Grand Mariner. Mix well.
Grease one cheesecake pan with butter and coat lightly with bread crumbs. Fill pan
3/4 of the way with cheesecake mixture. Set pan in a larger pan filled half full with
water and bake 1-1/4 hours. Turn oven off, leaving the cake within. Let stand for
one hour. Remove, let cool, and refrigerate.
Another Chocolate Cheesecake
1 pk (8 1/2 oz) chocolate wafers; crushed (Oreos work well, filling and all)
6 tb Unsalted butter; melted
2 pk (8 oz) cream cheese; softened (low fat works well)
2/3 c Sugar
3 Eggs
12 oz Or 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate, melted
1 c Whipping cream
2 tb Unsalted butter; melted
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Kahlua
Heat oven to 325F. In medium bowl, combine wafers and butter, reserving 1
tablespoon of the crumbs for garnish. Press remaining crumbs in bottom and 2
inches up sides of an ungreased 10- inch springform pan. Refrigerate. In a large
bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time,
beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate; beat well. Add remaining
ingredients, and beat until smooth. Pour into crust-lined pan. Bake at 325F for 55 to
65 minutes or until edges are set. Center of cheesecake will be soft. (To minimize
cracking, place a shallow pan with about 3/4 inch of hot water on the lower oven
rack while baking.) Allow cheesecake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully
remove the sides of the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely. Garnish with
the reserved crumbs (provided you can keep your spouse from eating them), and
refrigerate (at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight). Keeps well in refrigerator for 3
days, probably longer.
Cheddar Chili Cheesecake
1 1/2 tb Butter (for pan)
1/4 c Fine breadcrumbs, toasted
1/4 c Finely grated cheddar cheese
6 oz Thinly sliced ham
1 1/2 lb Cream cheese, room temp.
3/4 lb Sharp cheddar, grated
1 c Cottage cheese
3/4 c Chopped green onion
4 Eggs
3 tb Jalapeno pepper*
2 tb Milk
1 Garlic clove, halved .
*seeded and finely chopped.
Preheat oven to 325. Butter 9" springform pan. Mix breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup
cheddar. Sprinkle mixture into pan, turning to coat. Refrigerate. Dice about half of
ham; reserve remaining slices. Mix diced ham with remaining ingredients in blender
or processor until smooth. Pour slightly more than half of filling into prepared pan.
Top with reserved ham slices in even layer. Cover with remaining filling. Set pan on
baking sheet. Bake 1 1/4 hours. Turn oven off and cool cheesecake about 1 hour
with door ajar. Transfer cheesecake to rack. Remove sides of pan. Cool to room
temperature before serving.
Coconut Chocolate Cheesecake
1 c Grham Cracker Crumbs
3 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
2 oz Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
2 tb Margarine
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 1/4 c Sugar
1/4 ts Salt
5 ea Large Eggs
1 1/3 c Flaked Coconut (3.5 oz Can)
1 c Sour Cream
2 tb Sugar
2 tb Brandy
Combine crumbs, sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Melt chocolate and margarine over low
heat; stirring until smooth. Combine cream cheese, sugar and salt; mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing
well after each addition. Blend in chocolate mixture and coconut; pour over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F., 55 to 60 minutes or until set. Combine sour cream, sugar
and brandy; spread over cheesecake. Bake at 300 degrees F., 5 minutes. Loosen
cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Chocolate Cheesecake
12 oz Semi-sweet chocolate; chopped
1 1/2 Sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
1 c Sour cream at room temperature
1 ts Vanilla
3 lg Eggs
1 c Sugar
3 8-oz packages cream cheese; softened
1 c Chopped pecans
Confectioners' sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting the cake if desired
1 Chocolate graham wafer pie crust In a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely
simmering water melt the chocolate and the butter, stirring until the mixture is
smooth, stir in the sour cream and the vanilla, and let the mixture cool. In a bowl
beat together the eggs and the sugar until the mixture is thick and pale and forms a
ribbon when the beaters are lifted and beat in the cream cheese. Stir in the
chocolate mixture and fold in the pecans. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and
bake the cheesecake in the middle of a preheated 325 degree F oven for 2 hours, or
until it is just set. (The cake will fall in the middle.) Let the cheesecake cool in the
pan on a rack, chill it, covered loosely, overnight, and remove the side of the pan.
Sprinkle the confectioners' sugar and the cocoa powder decoratively over the
cheesecake.
Banana Cream Cheesecake
1 Yellow cake mix, prepared in 13x9 pan.
8 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
1 pk (3-oz) instant vanilla pudding
2 c Milk
3 Or 4 bananas
1 lg Container Cool Whip
1 c Chopped nuts
Beat cream cheese until creamy. Add milk, gradually; add pudding, beating until well
mixed. Pour over cooled cake. Slice the bananas over cake. Cover with Cool Whip
and top with nuts.
A Masterpiece Cheesecake
Crust:
2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 C. melted butter
1/3 C. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
Mix well and pat into greased 9" spring form pan (grease bottom of pan only). Place
in refrigerator
while making filling.
Filling:
1 lb. cream cheese
3 eggs
1/2 C. sugar
Beat well and pour into pie crust. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes ONLY.
Remove and cool. Cake may be decorated with any variety of fruits, canned or in
season.
Amaretto Peach Cheesecake
3 tb Margarine
1/3 c Sugar
1 Large Egg
3/4 c Unbleached All-purpose Flour
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
3 tb Unbleached All-purpose Flour
3 Large Eggs
16 oz Canned Peach Halves *
1/4 c Almond Flavored Liqueur
* Peach halves should be drained, and then pureed.
Combine margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg. Add flour; mix well.
Spread dough onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10
minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour; mixing at medium speed on
electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Add peaches and liqueur; mix well. Pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees
F., 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F.; continue baking 65
minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Garnish with additional peach slices and sliced almonds, if desired.
Almond Amaretto Cheesecake
Crust:
1/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Almonds, toasted
1 c Unsifted all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 c Unsalt butter
1 lg Egg yolk
1/4 ts Almond extract
Filling:
5 pk Cream cheese, softened 8-oz each
1 2/3 c Sugar
2 ts Grated lemon zest
5 lg Eggs plus 2 yolks
1/4 c Heavy cream
3 tb Amaretto liqueur
1 tb All-purpose flour
Strawberries for garnish
Make Crust: Lightly greased 9-inch springform pan. In food processor, process sugar
and almonds until nuts are finely ground. Add flour and salt; pulse to blend. Cut up
butter into bits; add to flour mixture. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add egg yolk and almond extract; pulse just until dough holds together. Press dough
into prepare pan to line bottom and 2 inch up sides. Refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat oven
to 400. Bake crust 8 minutes or just until golden. Place on wire rack; let stand stand
until cool. Make filling: In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat
cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar; beat 3 minutes or until
mixture is blended and smooth. Beat in lemon zest. At medium speed, beat in eggs
and yolks, on at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. At low speed,
beat in heavy cream and liqueur. Beat in flour just until blended. Increase oven
temperature to 500. Pour filling into cooled crust in pan. Bake 12 minutes. Reduce
oven temperature to 200. Bake cheesecake 1 hour longer, cover loosely with foil if
top browns too quickly. Turn off oven; let cheesecake remain on rack for 30 minutes
with oven door propped ajar with wooden spoon. Place cake on cooling rack. Let
stand until room temperature. Cover; chill 6 hours or overnight. To serve, run knife
around edges of pan to loosen cake. Remove pan sides. Place cake on serving
dish. Garnish with strawberries. Before cutting each slice, dip knife in cold water.
Cappuccino Cheesecake Pie with Pecan Sauce
1 10" pie crust
Filling:
3 pk (8 oz) cream cheese; softened
1 3/4 c Firmly packed dark brown sugar
4 Eggs
2 tb Strong coffee
Sauce:
1 c Firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 c Whipping cream
1/2 c Butter
1/4 c Strong coffee
2 tb Coffee-flavored liqueur or strong coffee
1 c Pecan halves
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 3/4 cups brown sugar until smooth. Add
eggs; beat until well blended. Add 2 tbsps coffee; blend well. Pour into crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until edges are set and golden brown
(center will not appear set). Cover edge of crust with strips of foil after 15-20
minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool, then refrigerate until
thoroughly chilled and center is set, about 2 hours.
Sauce: In medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients except pecans. Bring to
a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 cup pecan halves. To serve, pour warm sauce over
each serving. Garnish with whipped cream and pecan halves.
Cheesecake
Crust:
2 c Graham cracker crumbs 6 T Butter, melted 2 T Sugar, white 1/2 t Cinnamon,
ground
Cake Filling:
1 1/2 lb Cream cheese 3/4 c Sugar 3 Eggs 1/4 c Lemon juice 2 t Lemon rind, grated
2 t Vanilla
Page 13 of 47 Cheesecake Recipes
2/16/2003 e-book://Pages/cheesecake_recipes.htm
Topping:
2 c Sour cream 3 T Sugar 1 t Vanilla
Glaze:
1/2 c Sugar 1 1/2 t Cornstarch 1/4 t Salt 3/4 c Water 1/3 c Lemon juice 1 Egg yolk,
Well beaten 1 T Butter Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine crust ingredients.
Press crust on bottom and sides of buttered 10-inch springform pan. Bake 5 minutes
and cool. Beat cheese until soft. Add sugar and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each. Mix in the lemon rind and the vanilla, and add to the
mixture. Pour into the pre-baked crust and bake 35 minutes. Combine topping
ingredients, spread on top of cheesecake, and return to oven immediately. Bake
10-12 minutes and remove from oven. Combine dry glaze ingredients; add liquid
glaze ingredients. Cook over low heat until thick. Add about 1 T of butter. Cool and
spread this glaze on the cake before the glaze thickens too much.
Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Chocolate wafer crumbs
1/3 c Heavy cream
1 c Blanched almonds, lightly toasted and chopped
1/2 c Amaretto
2 ts Vanilla
1/3 c Sugar
4 Eggs
6 tb Butter, softened
2 c Sour cream
24 oz Cream cheese, softened
1 tb Sugar
1 c Sugar
1 c Blanched almonds, lightly
Preheat oven to 375. Combine crumbs, almonds, sugar and butter. Pat mixtur on
bottom and sides of a 10 inch springform pan. cream together the cream cheese,
sugar, heavy cream, liqueur, and 1 t vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at a beating well after
each addition. Beat mixture until light. Pour into crumb lined pan. Bake in middle of
oven for 1 1/2 hours or until top of cake cra and knife inserted in middle comes out
clean. Let stand on rack 5 minutes. Combine sour cream, 1 t vanilla, and sugar. Mix
well and spread evenly ove cake. Bake for 5 more minutes. Place on rack and let cool
completely. cove lightly with wax paper and let chill overnight. When ready to serve,
remov sides from pan and garnish with toasted almonds around outer edge and on
to of cake.
Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake
1 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
1/2 c Chopped Pecans
3 tb Granulated Sugar
1/4 c Margarine, Melted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Brown Sugar, Packed
2 ea Large Eggs
6 oz Semi-sweet Chips, Melted
3 tb Almond Flavored Liqueur
2 c Sour Cream
2 tb Granulated Sugar
Combine crumbs, pecans, granulated sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-
inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream sheese
and brown sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add
eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chocolate and liqueur;
pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees F., 35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to
425 degrees F. Combine sour cream and granulated sugar; carefully spread over
cheesecake. Bake at 425 degrees F. 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool
before removing rim of pan. Chill. VARIATION: Substitute 2 Tablespoons milk and
1/4 teaspoon almond extract for almond flavored liqueur.
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake
2 c Cream-filled Cookies *
6 tb Margarine, Softened
1 ea Env. Unflavored Gelatin
1/4 c Cold Water
8 oz Cream Cheese Softened
1/2 c Sugar
3/4 c Milk
1 c Whipping Cream, Whipped
1 1/4 c Creme-filled Cookies **
* The cookies (24) should be chocolate cream filled cookies and be to as fine as can
be done. ** These cookies should be chocolate cream filled cookies and should be
coarsely chopped. Combine cookie crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-
inch springform pan. Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved.
Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on an electric mixer until
well blended Gradually add gelatin mixture and milk, mixing until well blended. Chill
until mixture is thickened but not set. Fold in whipped cream. Reserve 1 1/2 C
cream cheese mixture; pour remaning cream cheese mixture over crust. Top with
cookies and reserved cream cheese mixture. Chill until firm.
Creamy Chilled Cheesecake
1 c Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Margarine, Melted
1 ea Env. Unflavored Gelatin
1/4 c Cold Water
8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Sugar
3/4 c Milk
1/4 c Lemon Juice
1 c Shipping Cream, Whipped
1 x Strawberry Halves
Combine Crumbs, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Soften
gelatin in water; stir over low heat until dissolved. Combine cream cheese and sugar,
mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Chill until slightly thickened; fold
in whipped
cream. Pour over crust; chill until firm. Top with strawberries before serving.
Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Creme-filled Cookie Crumbs *
2 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 1/4 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips**
1/3 c Strained Raspberry Preserves
6 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 c Whipping Cream
* Cookie crumbs should come from 18 Cream Filled Cookies that have been finely
crushed. ** This 6 ozs of Chocolate chips should be melted and cooled slightly .
Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
Combine 24 ozs of cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric
mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust. Combine remaining 8 ozs cream
cheese and melted chocolate, mixing at medium speed on eletric mixer until well
blended. Add Red Raspberry preserves; mix well. Drop rounded measuring
tablespoonsfuls of chocolate cream cheese batter over plain cream cheese batter, do
not swirl. Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 25 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of
pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Melt chocolate pieces and whipping cream
over low heat stirring until smooth.
Spread over cheescake. Chill. Garnish with additonal whipping cream, whipped,
raspberries and
fresh mint leaves, if desired.
Arizona Sunset Cheesecake
Shortbread Crust
1 1/2 c Flour
1/2 c Finely ground pecans
1/3 c Sugar
1 lg Egg, separated
1/2 c Butter, softened
Cranberry Glaze Filling
1 cn Whole berry cranberry- sauce OR 2 cups cranberry orange relish
2 tb Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
1 tb Grated lemon zest
1 tb Lemon juice
White Chocolate Filling
1 1/2 c Fresh orange juice
1-3 Inch x 1 inch piece- of orange peel (orange part only)
4 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
2/3 c Sugar
1 tb Grated orange zest
2 tb Cranberry Liqueur (such- as Crantasia Schnapps)
8 oz White chocolate, melted
4 Eggs
Candied Orange Topping
4 c Water
2 c Sugar
3 Seedless oranges (unpeeled)- cut into paper-thin slices
Garnish
Whipped Cream
Shortbread Crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Working on a large flat
surface, such as a pastry board, place flour, pecans, and sugar in the center of the
surface and mix together. Form a small depression or well in the center of the
mound. Add the egg yolk and the softened butter to the well, then blend these with
the dry mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly using your hands -- there is no
substitute for warm hands. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.
Chill for at least 10 minutes. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. You
should have a circle of about 11 inches in diameter. For best results, roll out your
dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, then peel away the paper and cut the crust
in a 9 inch circle. Place the circle inside a 9 inch springform pan. Prick the crust
several times with a fork to keep the crust from puffing up during the baking. Place
the springform pan in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown.
Allow to cool. Using the leftover dough, line the sides of the springform pan. Press
the dough against the sides of the pan, smoothing it so as to have a continuous layer
of crust all the way around the sides of the pan. Make sure that the side crust meets
the bottom crust all the way around. Brush the reserved egg white onto the shell,
covering the bottom and sides. This will seal the dough and keep it from becoming
soggy. Set aside until ready to use.
Cranberry Glaze Filling: Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a small
saucepan. Stir in the cranberry sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,
until thick. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside to cool slightly.
White Chocolate Filling: Reset the oven to 350 degrees F. Boil the orange juice
and piece of orange peel in a heavy medium saucepan until the juice is reduced to 3
Tbsp - about 12 minutes. Remove and discard the strip of orange peel and set aside
the reduced orange juice. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar,
grated orange zest, Crantasia, and reduced orange juice until smooth. Beat in the
melted white chocolate and then the eggs, one at a time, beating just until
combined. Pour the cranberry glaze filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly.
Pour the white chocolate filling over the cranberry layer and bake about 50 minutes
(the top will be dry and the sides puffed slightly - the center will not be set). Move
cheesecake to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. Chill in the
refrigerator overnight.
Candied Oranges Topping: Cover a wire rack with waxed paper. Set aside.
Combine the water and sugar in a heavy shallow wide skillet. Stir over medium heat
until the sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Add the orange slices 1 at a time
and adjust the heat so that the syrup bubbles only around the edges of the pan.
Cook the oranges for one hour. Turn over the top layer of oranges and cook until the
oranges are translucent and the orange peels tender, about another one hour longer.
Lift and drain each orange slice out of the syrup, and arrange the slices in a single
layer on the prepared rack. Let dry 1 hour. Boil the orange-sugar syrup until thick,
about 6 minutes. Loosen and remove the sides of the springform pan. Set the
cheesecake on a serving dish. Overlap the candied orange slices around the top of
the cheesecake. Reheat the orange syrup, if necessary, and brush over the orange
slices. Drizzle any remainder over each serving. Garnish: whipped cream.
NOTE: You may substitute grapefruits for the oranges in the Candied Oranges
Topping if you prefer.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Supreme
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
3 tb Margarine, Melted
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1 c Mini Semi-sweet Chips
Combine crumbs and magarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at
350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour, mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing
well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chips and
pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees F., 55 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan;
cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh mint
leaves, if desired.
Cappuccino Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Finely Chopped Nuts
2 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 c Sugar
3 tb Unbleached All-purpose Flour
4 ea Large Eggs
1 c Sour Cream
1 tb Instant Coffee Granules
1/4 ts Cinnamon
1/4 c Boiling water
Combine nuts, sugar, and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form cake
pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar, and flour,
mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a
time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream. Dissolve coffee granules
and cinnamon in water. Cool; gradually add to cream cheese mixture, mixing until
well blended. Pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10 minutes. Reduce oven
temperature to 250 degrees F.; continue baking 1 hour. Loosen cake from rim of
pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and whole
coffee beans if desired.
Chocolate Mint Meringue Cheesecake
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
3 tb Margarine, Melted
2 tb Sugar
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
2/3 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 c Mint Chocolate Chips, Melted
1 ts Vanilla
3 ea Large Egg Whites
7 oz Marshmallow Creme (1 Jr)
Combine crumbs, margarine and sugar; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing
at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time,
mixing well after each addition. Blend in mint chocolate and vanilla; pour over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F., 50 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before
removing rim of pan. Chill. Beat egg whites until soft peakes form. Gradually add
marshmallow creme, beating until stiff peakes form. Carefully spread over top of
cheesecake to seal. Bake at 450 degrees F.; 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cherry Cheesecake
1 c Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
3 ea Large Eggs
1 ts Vanilla
21 oz Cherry Pie Filling (1 cn)
Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake
at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium
speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time mixing well after
each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10 minutes.
Reduce oven temperatur to 250 degrees F., continue baking 25 to 30 minutes or
until set. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Top
with pie filling just before serving.
Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake
2 c Vanilla Wafer Crumbs
6 tb Margarine, Melted
14 oz Carmels ( 1 bag)
5 oz (1 cn) Evaporated Milk
1 c Chopped Pecans, Toasted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 c Sugar
1 ts Vanilla
2 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips *
* Chocolate chips should be melted.
Combine crumbs and margarine, press onto bottom and sides of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. In 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, melt
carmels with milk over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Pour over crust.
Top with pecans. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanila, mixing at medium speed
on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Blend in chocolate, pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees F., 40 minutes.
Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with
whipped cream, additional chopped nuts and maraschino cherries, if desired.
Chocolate Orange Supreme Cheesecake
1 c Chocolate Wafer Crumbs
1/4 ts Cinnamon
3 tb Margarine, Melted
32 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
4 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Semi-sweet Choc. ChipsMelted
2 tb Orange Flavord Liqueur
1/2 ts Grated Orange Peel
Combine crumbs, cinnamon and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform
pan. Bake at 325 degrees F., 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar,
mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a
time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Blend
chocolate into 3 cups batter; blend liqueur and pell into remaining batter. Pour
chocolate batter over crust. Bate at 350 degrees F., 30 minutes. Reduce oven
temperature to
325 degrees F. Spoon remianing batter over chocolate batter continue baking 30
minutes more. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Cocoa-Nut Meringue Cheesecake
7 oz (1 pk) Flaked Coconut *
1/4 c Chopped pecans
3 tb Margarine, Melted
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/3 c Sugar
3 tb Cocoa
2 tb Water
1 ts Vanilla
3 ea Large Eggs, Separated
Dash salt
7 oz (1 jr) Marshmallow Creme
1/2 c Chopped Pecans
* Coconut should be flaked and toasted.
Combine coconut, pecans, and margarine, press onto bottom of 9-inch springform
pan. Combine cream cheese, sugar, cocoa, water and vanilla, mixing at medium
speed on electric mixer until well blended. Blend in egg yolks, pour over crust. Bake
at 350 degrees F., 30 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan, cool before removing
rim of pan. Beat egg whites and salt until foamy, gradually add marshmallow creme,
beating until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle pecans over cheesecake to within 1/2-inch of
outer edge. Carefully spread marshmallow creme mixture over top of cheescake to
seal. Bake at 350 degrees F., 15 minutes. Cool.
Tempting Trifle Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Soft Coconut Macaroons*
3/4 c Sugar
1/2 c Whipping cream
2 tb Sweet Sherry
10 oz Red Raspberry Preserves
1 x Toasted Slivered Almonds
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
4 ea Large Eggs
1/2 c Sour Cream
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Whipping Cream, Whipped
* Soft coconut macroon cookies crumbs.
Press crumbs onto bottom of greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees
F., 15 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on
electric mixture until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Blend in sour cream, whipping cream, sherry and vanilla; pour over crust.
Bake at 325 degrees F., 1 hour and 10 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool
befroe removing rim of pan. Chill. Heat preserves in saucepan over low heat until
melted. Strain to remove seeds. Spoon over cheesecake, spreading to edges. Dollop
with
whipped cream; top with almonds.
Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
8 1/2 oz Chocolate Wafers, Fine Crush
1/2 c Butter, Melted
12 oz Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 1/2 c Heavy cream
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1/4 c Sugar
4 ea Large Eggs
3/4 c Cherry Flavored Liqueur
1 ts Vanilla Extract
1 lb Cherry Pie Filling
1/2 c Heavy Cream Whipped (Opt.)
In large bowl, combine chocolate wafer crumbs and butter. Pat fimly into 9-inch
springform pan, covering bottom and 2 1/2 inches up sides. Chill. Preheat oven to
325 degrees F. Combine over hot (not boiling) water, chocolate chips and heavy
cream. Stir until morsels are melted and mixture is smooth. Set aside. In large bowl,
combine cream cheese and sugar, beating untl creamy. Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each addition. Add chocolate mixture, cherry liqueur, and vanilla,
mix until blended. Pour into prepared crust. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 60 minutes.
Turn oven off. Let stand in oven with door ajar 1 hour. Remove, cool completely.
Chill 24 hours. Spread cherry pie filling over top of cheesecake leaving 1-inch from
the edge. Decorate edge with whipped cream, if desired.
Tuscan Cheesecake
3 lb Ricotta cheese
8 Eggs
2 c Sugar
1 c Milk
2 Oranges, grated zest only
2 Lemons, grated zest only
2 2/3 oz Grand mariner
1 tb Clarified butter
1/4 c Plain bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Beat ricotta cheese with blender until smooth. Add eggs, sugar, and milk. Blend until
well-mixed and smooth. Add orange and lemon zest and Grand Mariner. Mix well.
Grease one cheesecake pan with butter and coat lightly with bread crumbs. Fill pan
3/4 of the way with cheesecake mixture. Set pan in a larger pan filled half full with
water and bake 1-1/4 hours. Turn oven off, leaving the cake within. Let stand for
one hour. Remove, let cool, and refrigerate.
Another Chocolate Cheesecake
1 pk (8 1/2 oz) chocolate wafers; crushed (Oreos work well, filling and all)
6 tb Unsalted butter; melted
2 pk (8 oz) cream cheese; softened (low fat works well)
2/3 c Sugar
3 Eggs
12 oz Or 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate, melted
1 c Whipping cream
2 tb Unsalted butter; melted
1 ts Vanilla
1/2 c Kahlua
Heat oven to 325F. In medium bowl, combine wafers and butter, reserving 1
tablespoon of the crumbs for garnish. Press remaining crumbs in bottom and 2
inches up sides of an ungreased 10- inch springform pan. Refrigerate. In a large
bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time,
beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate; beat well. Add remaining
ingredients, and beat until smooth. Pour into crust-lined pan. Bake at 325F for 55 to
65 minutes or until edges are set. Center of cheesecake will be soft. (To minimize
cracking, place a shallow pan with about 3/4 inch of hot water on the lower oven
rack while baking.) Allow cheesecake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then carefully
remove the sides of the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely. Garnish with
the reserved crumbs (provided you can keep your spouse from eating them), and
refrigerate (at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight). Keeps well in refrigerator for 3
days, probably longer.
Cheddar Chili Cheesecake
1 1/2 tb Butter (for pan)
1/4 c Fine breadcrumbs, toasted
1/4 c Finely grated cheddar cheese
6 oz Thinly sliced ham
1 1/2 lb Cream cheese, room temp.
3/4 lb Sharp cheddar, grated
1 c Cottage cheese
3/4 c Chopped green onion
4 Eggs
3 tb Jalapeno pepper*
2 tb Milk
1 Garlic clove, halved .
*seeded and finely chopped.
Preheat oven to 325. Butter 9" springform pan. Mix breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup
cheddar. Sprinkle mixture into pan, turning to coat. Refrigerate. Dice about half of
ham; reserve remaining slices. Mix diced ham with remaining ingredients in blender
or processor until smooth. Pour slightly more than half of filling into prepared pan.
Top with reserved ham slices in even layer. Cover with remaining filling. Set pan on
baking sheet. Bake 1 1/4 hours. Turn oven off and cool cheesecake about 1 hour
with door ajar. Transfer cheesecake to rack. Remove sides of pan. Cool to room
temperature before serving.
Coconut Chocolate Cheesecake
1 c Grham Cracker Crumbs
3 tb Sugar
3 tb Margarine, Melted
2 oz Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
2 tb Margarine
16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 1/4 c Sugar
1/4 ts Salt
5 ea Large Eggs
1 1/3 c Flaked Coconut (3.5 oz Can)
1 c Sour Cream
2 tb Sugar
2 tb Brandy
Combine crumbs, sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch spring- form
pan. Bake at 350 degrees F., 10 minutes. Melt chocolate and margarine over low
heat; stirring until smooth. Combine cream cheese, sugar and salt; mixing at
medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing
well after each addition. Blend in chocolate mixture and coconut; pour over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F., 55 to 60 minutes or until set. Combine sour cream, sugar
and brandy; spread over cheesecake. Bake at 300 degrees F., 5 minutes. Loosen
cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Chocolate Cheesecake
12 oz Semi-sweet chocolate; chopped
1 1/2 Sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
1 c Sour cream at room temperature
1 ts Vanilla
3 lg Eggs
1 c Sugar
3 8-oz packages cream cheese; softened
1 c Chopped pecans
Confectioners' sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting the cake if desired
1 Chocolate graham wafer pie crust In a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely
simmering water melt the chocolate and the butter, stirring until the mixture is
smooth, stir in the sour cream and the vanilla, and let the mixture cool. In a bowl
beat together the eggs and the sugar until the mixture is thick and pale and forms a
ribbon when the beaters are lifted and beat in the cream cheese. Stir in the
chocolate mixture and fold in the pecans. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and
bake the cheesecake in the middle of a preheated 325 degree F oven for 2 hours, or
until it is just set. (The cake will fall in the middle.) Let the cheesecake cool in the
pan on a rack, chill it, covered loosely, overnight, and remove the side of the pan.
Sprinkle the confectioners' sugar and the cocoa powder decoratively over the
cheesecake.
Banana Cream Cheesecake
1 Yellow cake mix, prepared in 13x9 pan.
8 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
1 pk (3-oz) instant vanilla pudding
2 c Milk
3 Or 4 bananas
1 lg Container Cool Whip
1 c Chopped nuts
Beat cream cheese until creamy. Add milk, gradually; add pudding, beating until well
mixed. Pour over cooled cake. Slice the bananas over cake. Cover with Cool Whip
and top with nuts.
A Masterpiece Cheesecake
Crust:
2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1/4 C. melted butter
1/3 C. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
Mix well and pat into greased 9" spring form pan (grease bottom of pan only). Place
in refrigerator
while making filling.
Filling:
1 lb. cream cheese
3 eggs
1/2 C. sugar
Beat well and pour into pie crust. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes ONLY.
Remove and cool. Cake may be decorated with any variety of fruits, canned or in
season.
Amaretto Peach Cheesecake
3 tb Margarine
1/3 c Sugar
1 Large Egg
3/4 c Unbleached All-purpose Flour
24 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
3/4 c Sugar
3 tb Unbleached All-purpose Flour
3 Large Eggs
16 oz Canned Peach Halves *
1/4 c Almond Flavored Liqueur
* Peach halves should be drained, and then pureed.
Combine margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg. Add flour; mix well.
Spread dough onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 450 degrees F., 10
minutes. Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour; mixing at medium speed on
electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Add peaches and liqueur; mix well. Pour over crust. Bake at 450 degrees
F., 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees F.; continue baking 65
minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.
Garnish with additional peach slices and sliced almonds, if desired.
Almond Amaretto Cheesecake
Crust:
1/4 c Sugar
1/4 c Almonds, toasted
1 c Unsifted all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 c Unsalt butter
1 lg Egg yolk
1/4 ts Almond extract
Filling:
5 pk Cream cheese, softened 8-oz each
1 2/3 c Sugar
2 ts Grated lemon zest
5 lg Eggs plus 2 yolks
1/4 c Heavy cream
3 tb Amaretto liqueur
1 tb All-purpose flour
Strawberries for garnish
Make Crust: Lightly greased 9-inch springform pan. In food processor, process sugar
and almonds until nuts are finely ground. Add flour and salt; pulse to blend. Cut up
butter into bits; add to flour mixture. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add egg yolk and almond extract; pulse just until dough holds together. Press dough
into prepare pan to line bottom and 2 inch up sides. Refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat oven
to 400. Bake crust 8 minutes or just until golden. Place on wire rack; let stand stand
until cool. Make filling: In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat
cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar; beat 3 minutes or until
mixture is blended and smooth. Beat in lemon zest. At medium speed, beat in eggs
and yolks, on at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. At low speed,
beat in heavy cream and liqueur. Beat in flour just until blended. Increase oven
temperature to 500. Pour filling into cooled crust in pan. Bake 12 minutes. Reduce
oven temperature to 200. Bake cheesecake 1 hour longer, cover loosely with foil if
top browns too quickly. Turn off oven; let cheesecake remain on rack for 30 minutes
with oven door propped ajar with wooden spoon. Place cake on cooling rack. Let
stand until room temperature. Cover; chill 6 hours or overnight. To serve, run knife
around edges of pan to loosen cake. Remove pan sides. Place cake on serving
dish. Garnish with strawberries. Before cutting each slice, dip knife in cold water.
Cappuccino Cheesecake Pie with Pecan Sauce
1 10" pie crust
Filling:
3 pk (8 oz) cream cheese; softened
1 3/4 c Firmly packed dark brown sugar
4 Eggs
2 tb Strong coffee
Sauce:
1 c Firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 c Whipping cream
1/2 c Butter
1/4 c Strong coffee
2 tb Coffee-flavored liqueur or strong coffee
1 c Pecan halves
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 3/4 cups brown sugar until smooth. Add
eggs; beat until well blended. Add 2 tbsps coffee; blend well. Pour into crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until edges are set and golden brown
(center will not appear set). Cover edge of crust with strips of foil after 15-20
minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool, then refrigerate until
thoroughly chilled and center is set, about 2 hours.
Sauce: In medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients except pecans. Bring to
a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 cup pecan halves. To serve, pour warm sauce over
each serving. Garnish with whipped cream and pecan halves.
Cheesecake
Crust:
2 c Graham cracker crumbs 6 T Butter, melted 2 T Sugar, white 1/2 t Cinnamon,
ground
Cake Filling:
1 1/2 lb Cream cheese 3/4 c Sugar 3 Eggs 1/4 c Lemon juice 2 t Lemon rind, grated
2 t Vanilla
Page 13 of 47 Cheesecake Recipes
2/16/2003 e-book://Pages/cheesecake_recipes.htm
Topping:
2 c Sour cream 3 T Sugar 1 t Vanilla
Glaze:
1/2 c Sugar 1 1/2 t Cornstarch 1/4 t Salt 3/4 c Water 1/3 c Lemon juice 1 Egg yolk,
Well beaten 1 T Butter Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine crust ingredients.
Press crust on bottom and sides of buttered 10-inch springform pan. Bake 5 minutes
and cool. Beat cheese until soft. Add sugar and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each. Mix in the lemon rind and the vanilla, and add to the
mixture. Pour into the pre-baked crust and bake 35 minutes. Combine topping
ingredients, spread on top of cheesecake, and return to oven immediately. Bake
10-12 minutes and remove from oven. Combine dry glaze ingredients; add liquid
glaze ingredients. Cook over low heat until thick. Add about 1 T of butter. Cool and
spread this glaze on the cake before the glaze thickens too much.
Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake
1 1/2 c Chocolate wafer crumbs
1/3 c Heavy cream
1 c Blanched almonds, lightly toasted and chopped
1/2 c Amaretto
2 ts Vanilla
1/3 c Sugar
4 Eggs
6 tb Butter, softened
2 c Sour cream
24 oz Cream cheese, softened
1 tb Sugar
1 c Sugar
1 c Blanched almonds, lightly
Preheat oven to 375. Combine crumbs, almonds, sugar and butter. Pat mixtur on
bottom and sides of a 10 inch springform pan. cream together the cream cheese,
sugar, heavy cream, liqueur, and 1 t vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at a beating well after
each addition. Beat mixture until light. Pour into crumb lined pan. Bake in middle of
oven for 1 1/2 hours or until top of cake cra and knife inserted in middle comes out
clean. Let stand on rack 5 minutes. Combine sour cream, 1 t vanilla, and sugar. Mix
well and spread evenly ove cake. Bake for 5 more minutes. Place on rack and let cool
completely. cove lightly with wax paper and let chill overnight. When ready to serve,
remov sides from pan and garnish with toasted almonds around outer edge and on
to of cake.
Child and Baby Safety in the Home
12 Must Have Products That Will Keep Your Child
Safe Around The Home
About 2−1/2 million children are injured or killed by
hazards in the home each year. The good news is that
many of these incidents can be prevented by using
simple child safety devices on the market today.
You can childproof your home for a fraction of what it
would cost to have a professional do it. And safety
devices are easy to find. You can buy them at hardware
stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug
stores, home and linen stores, and through mail order
catalogues.
Here are some child safety devices that can help prevent
many injuries to young children. The red numbers
correspond to those on the image following the text.
1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and
drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help
prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and
locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children
from gaining access to medicines and household
cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.
Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily
install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a
guarantee of protection, but they can make it more
difficult for children to reach dangerous substances.
Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.
2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and
to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety
gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms
that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that
children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open
and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates
that screw to the wall are more secure than "pressure
gates."
Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.
3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent
children from entering rooms and other areas with
possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can
help keep children away from places with hazards,
including swimming pools.
Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to
break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult
in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially
hazardous rooms in the home, door knob covers could
help prevent many kinds of injuries.
Typical cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5
and up. 4. Use Anti−Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads
and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
Anti−scald devices for regulating water temperature can
help prevent burns.
Typical cost of an anti−scald device: $6 to $30.
5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and
near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are
essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths
and injuries.
Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure
they're working. If detectors are battery−operated,
change batteries at least once a year or consider using
10−year batteries.
Typical cost of a smoke detector: less than $10.
6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help
prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and
landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies
and decks can help prevent serious falls.
Typical cost of a window guard or safety netting: $8 to
$16.
7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries
from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and
fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to
soften falls against sharp or rough edges.
Typical cost of a corner and edge bumper: $1 and up.
8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent
electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help
protect children from electrical shock and possible
electrocution.
Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by
children and are large enough so that children cannot
choke on them.
Typical cost of an outlet cover: less than $2.
9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside
bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon
monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning.
Consumers should install CO detectors near sleeping
areas in their homes. Households that should use CO
detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with
attached garages.
Typical cost of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector: $30 to
$70.
10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and
Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling
in blind cord loops. Window blind cord safety tassels on miniblinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and
drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from
strangulation in the loops of cords. Inner cord stops can
help prevent strangulation in the inner cords of window
blinds.
For older miniblinds, cut the cord loop, remove the
buckle, and put safety tassels on each cord. Be sure that
older vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or
tie−down devices to hold the cords tight. When buying
new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask for safety
features to prevent child strangulation.
11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent
injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door
holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small
fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors
and door hinges.
Typical cost of a door stop and door holder: less than $4.
12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to
continuously watch young children, especially when
they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially
dangerous areas.
Cordless phones help you watch your child continuously,
without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call.
Cordless phones are especially helpful when children are
in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming
pool, or the beach. Typical cost of a cordless phone: $30 and up.
Safe Around The Home
About 2−1/2 million children are injured or killed by
hazards in the home each year. The good news is that
many of these incidents can be prevented by using
simple child safety devices on the market today.
You can childproof your home for a fraction of what it
would cost to have a professional do it. And safety
devices are easy to find. You can buy them at hardware
stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug
stores, home and linen stores, and through mail order
catalogues.
Here are some child safety devices that can help prevent
many injuries to young children. The red numbers
correspond to those on the image following the text.
1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and
drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help
prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and
locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children
from gaining access to medicines and household
cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.
Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily
install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a
guarantee of protection, but they can make it more
difficult for children to reach dangerous substances.
Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.
2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and
to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety
gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms
that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that
children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open
and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates
that screw to the wall are more secure than "pressure
gates."
Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.
3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent
children from entering rooms and other areas with
possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can
help keep children away from places with hazards,
including swimming pools.
Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to
break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult
in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially
hazardous rooms in the home, door knob covers could
help prevent many kinds of injuries.
Typical cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5
and up. 4. Use Anti−Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads
and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
Anti−scald devices for regulating water temperature can
help prevent burns.
Typical cost of an anti−scald device: $6 to $30.
5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and
near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are
essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths
and injuries.
Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure
they're working. If detectors are battery−operated,
change batteries at least once a year or consider using
10−year batteries.
Typical cost of a smoke detector: less than $10.
6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help
prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and
landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies
and decks can help prevent serious falls.
Typical cost of a window guard or safety netting: $8 to
$16.
7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries
from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and
fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to
soften falls against sharp or rough edges.
Typical cost of a corner and edge bumper: $1 and up.
8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent
electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help
protect children from electrical shock and possible
electrocution.
Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by
children and are large enough so that children cannot
choke on them.
Typical cost of an outlet cover: less than $2.
9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside
bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon
monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning.
Consumers should install CO detectors near sleeping
areas in their homes. Households that should use CO
detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with
attached garages.
Typical cost of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector: $30 to
$70.
10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and
Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling
in blind cord loops. Window blind cord safety tassels on miniblinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and
drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from
strangulation in the loops of cords. Inner cord stops can
help prevent strangulation in the inner cords of window
blinds.
For older miniblinds, cut the cord loop, remove the
buckle, and put safety tassels on each cord. Be sure that
older vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or
tie−down devices to hold the cords tight. When buying
new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask for safety
features to prevent child strangulation.
11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent
injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door
holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small
fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors
and door hinges.
Typical cost of a door stop and door holder: less than $4.
12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to
continuously watch young children, especially when
they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially
dangerous areas.
Cordless phones help you watch your child continuously,
without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call.
Cordless phones are especially helpful when children are
in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming
pool, or the beach. Typical cost of a cordless phone: $30 and up.
30 Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep
Here are some tried and tested, proven attitudes and techniques for getting your child to sleep and keeping him asleep. Most of these are applicable to infants and toddlers of all ages.
1. Try to develop a realistic attitude about getting your child to sleep. Sleeping, like eating, is not a state you can force a baby into. The best you can do is to create a secure environment that allows sleep to overtake your baby. A realistic long-term goal is to help your baby develop a healthy attitude about sleep - that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in. Many sleep problems in older children and adults stem from children growing up with an unhealthy attitude about sleep. To many, that sleep was not a particularly pleasant state to enter and was a frightening state to remain in. Night-time parenting is a long-term investment. If you teach your baby a restful attitude about sleep when they are young, both you and your children will sleep better when they are older.
2. Beware of sleep trainers - they command a high price tag and possible risks. Most of these sleep-training techniques are just variations of the old cry-it-out method. Technology has found its way into the babys' bedroom too. Tired parents are induced to buy a variety of sleep-inducing gadgets designed to lull a baby off to sleep alone in her cot. Oscillating or swinging cradles, cot vibrators that recreate a car ride and teddy bears that "breathe" are just a few. Most of these `gadgets promise to take the parents place when it comes to night duty. It is fair to say that not all sleep trainers are to be ignored. However, you need to be discerning.
Don't try to change your baby. If your present daytime or nighttime routine is not working for you, think about what changes you can make in yourself and your lifestyle that will make it easier for you to meet your baby's needs. You may well be able to control your own reactions to a situation but you cannot control how your baby reacts. Be discerning about advice that promises instant results. Afterall the last thing you want to do is lose your baby's trust trying out a method that your baby hates and you are not really comfortable about using from the outset. Trust yourself, you will become an expert in your baby.
3. Stay flexible. No single approach will work with all babies all the time or even all the time with the same baby. Don't persist with a failing experiment. If the sleep routine that you are following does not work for your family don't persist. Develop a night-time routine that works for you. All babies have different night-time temperaments and families have varied lifestyles. Keep working at a night-time routine that fits the temperament of your baby and your own lifestyle. If it's working, stick with it. If it's not, be open to trying other things. You should also be prepared for one type of routine to work at one stage of your child's an life, yet need a change as she enters another stage. Be open to trying different approaches. Follow your heart and you and your baby will eventually work out the right bedtime routine for you and your family.
4. Decide where baby sleeps best. There is no right or wrong place for babies to sleep. Wherever all family members sleep the best is the right arrangement for you and your baby. Some babies sleep best in their own cot in their bedroom, some sleep better in a cot in their parents' bedroom. Other babies sleep best snuggled right next to you and your partner in your bed. There are many any parents that prefer a co-sleeping arrangement. I did with my first son and loved him sleeping with me, though it did take my husband a while to get used to it - initially he was paranoid that he would roll and squash the baby. In reality, most parents use various sleeping arrangements at various stages during their child's couple of years. Always be open to changing styles as baby's developmental needs and your family situation changes.
5. Get your baby used to a variety of sleep associations. The way your baby goes to sleep at night is the way she expects to go back to sleep when she awakens. So if your baby is always rocked or nursed to sleep, she will expect to be rocked or nursed back to sleep. Sometimes nurse her off to sleep, sometimes rock her off to sleep, sometimes sing her off to sleep, and sometimes use tape recordings. There are two schools of thought on the best way to put babies to sleep: the parent-soothing method and the self-soothing method. Both have advantages and possible disadvantages.
Parent-soothing method. When your baby is ready to sleep you help to make a comfortable, relaxed nd soothing transition from being awake to falling asleep, usually by nursing, rocking, singing, or whatever comforting techniques work.
Advantages
a)Your Baby learns a healthy sleep attitude – that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in.
b)Creates fond memories about being lulled to sleep.
c)Builds parent-infant trust
Disadvantages
Because of the concept of sleep associations, your baby learns to rely on an outside prop to get to sleep, so when he wakes up he will expect help to get back to sleep. You, your partner or both could end up totally exhausted!
Self-soothing method. Your baby is put to bed awake and goes to sleep by himself. Parents offer intermittent comforting but are not there when baby drops off to sleep.
Advantages
If your baby learns to go to sleep by himself, he may be better able to put himself back to sleep without parental help, because he doesn't associate going to sleep with parents comforting. Some parents consider this tough on their baby but it is eventually less exhausting for parents.
Disadvantages
Seldom works for high-need babies with persistent personalities
Overlooks medical reasons for nightwaking
Risks parents becoming less sensitive to baby's cries
Remember, in working out what suits you and your child, be sensitive to the night-time needs of your individual baby and remember your ultimate goal - to create a healthy sleep attitude in your baby and to get all family members a restful night's sleep.
6. Daytime mellowing. A peaceful, productive time during the day is more likely to lead to a restful night. The more attached you are to your baby during the day and the more baby is held and calmed during the day, the more likely this peacefulness is to carry through into the night. If your baby has a restless night, try to think back to unsettling things that may have occured during the day: Are you too busy? Are the nursery or childminder the right match for your baby? Does your baby spend a lot of time being held by you or someone else? It is sometimes true to say that babies who are carried in baby slings for several hours a day settle better at night.
7. Set a predictable and consistent nap schedule. Try to pick out the times of the day that you yourself are most tired - perhaps 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. then lie down with your baby at these times every day for about a week to get your baby used to a daytime nap routine. This also sets you up to get some much-needed daytime rest rather than be tempted to scurry around hoovering, washing and `getting things done' while your baby is napping. Babies who have regular, consistent nap schedules during the day are more likely to get off to sleep easier and for longer stretches at night.
8. Consistent bedtimes and rituals. Babies who enjoy consistent and regular bedtimes and familiar bedtime rituals usually go to sleep easier and stay asleep longer. Of course, due to modern lifestyles consistent bedtimes are not always as possible or realistic, as they used to be. Many parents both have to work and often don't get home until six or seven o'clock at night, so it's common for babies and toddlers to miss out on their bedtime ritual. Parents often feel guilty and want to spend more time with their child and for many older babies this becomes prime time with their parents and they are going to milk it for all they can get. Within some families a later afternoon nap and a later bedtime is more much more practical.
9. Calming down. Give baby a warm bath followed by a soothing massage to relax tense muscles and busy minds. Be careful, though, as this can stimulate some babies.
10. Make sure your baby eats and drinks enough during the day. Your baby needs to learn that daytime is for eating and night-time is mostly for sleeping. Some older babies and toddlers can get so involved in playing during the day that they don't want to eat at mealtimes. They tend to try to make up for it during the night by waking frequently to feed. Try to stop this habit by feeding your baby at least every three hours during the day to cluster the baby's feedings during the waking hours. On your baby's first night waking, attempt a full feeding, otherwise some babies, especially breastfed infants, get in the habit of nibbling all night. This is not too bad if you are co-sleeping but can be exhausting if you are constantly to-ing and fro-ing between bedrooms.
11. Nursing. Some mothers like to nestle next to their baby and breastfeed or bottlefeed him off to sleep. The smooth and loving continuation from warm bath, to warm arms, to warm breast, to warm bed is a recipe for sleep to soon follow.
12. Fathering down. For fathers, a lovely way to prepare your baby for bed is to place your baby in the neck nestle position (nestle baby's head against the front of the neck with your chin against the top of your baby's head. The vibration of the deeper male voice will lulls your baby and make him drowsy for sleep) and rock your baby to sleep. Another nice method is to lie down with your baby, still in the neck nestle position, and let the baby reach his dozing state in this way.
13. Rocking or walking down. Try rocking baby to sleep in a bedside rocking chair, or walk with baby, patting her back and singing or praying.
14. Wearing down. Some babies are so active and lively during the day that they have trouble winding down at night. Try placing your baby in a baby sling and wear her around the house for a half-hour or so before the designated bedtime. When she is dozing in the sling, ease her out of the sling onto her bed. This is a great method for fathers too.
15. Swinging down. Wind-up swings for winding down babies are a great tool for parents who don't have the time, energy or creativity to muster up rituals of their own. Tired parents will pay anything for a good night's sleep and this is perfectly understandable. Once in a while a moving plastic seat may be more sleep inducing than a familiar pair of arms. Many high-need babies associate their parent's body with play and stimulation and will not drift off to sleep in a human swing. A mechanical one is far less stimulating, if not downright boring and, as such, can be a useful part of a sleep-ritual. However, it is important to remember, high-need babies can be quite resistant to mechanical mother substitutes and will usually protest anything less than their real mother! It might be an idea to borrow one for a week before actually going out and spending money on a swing. You may even discover that you are uncomfortable with mechanical mothering and decide to get more creative!
16. Driving down. If you've tried all the above transitioning techniques and your baby still does not want to go to sleep, try putting your baby in a carseat and drive around until she falls asleep. When you return home and she is in a deep sleep, carry the carseat (with the sleeping baby) into your bedroom and let baby remain in the carseat until the first nightwaking. If she is in a deep sleep you may be able to ease her out of the carseat into her own bed.
17. Mechanical mothers. Gadgets to put and keep baby asleep are becoming big business. It's all right to use these as relief when the main comforter wears out, but a steady diet of these artificial sleep inducers may be unhealthy.
Now that you've learned a few tricks to get your baby to sleep, here are some ways to keep your baby asleep.
18. Nightime attire. Try various ways of swaddling your baby at night. In the early months, many babies like to "sleep tight," securely swaddled in a cotton baby blanket. Older infants like to sleep "loose," and may sleep longer stretches with loose coverings that allow them more freedom of movement. Quite often, dressing a baby loosely during the day, but swaddling him at night, conditions the baby to associate sleep with swaddling. A baby who gets too hot or too cold may become restless. Adjust the layering according to the temperature of the room and the sleep habits of your baby. Allergy-prone babies sleep better in 100 percent cotton sleepwear.
19. The sound of silence: Since most babies can block out disturbing noise, you don't have to create a noiseless sleeping environment, yet some babies startle and awaken easily with sudden noises. Some people go as far as oiling the joints and springs of a squeaky cot, putting out the dog before he barks and turning the ringer off on the phone!
20. Darkness in the baby's room. Use opaque shades to block out the light, which may get you an extra hour of sleep if you have a baby that wakes up with the first ray of sunlight entering the bedroom.
21. Sounds to sleep by. Repetitive, nearly monotonous sounds that lull baby to sleep are known as white noise, such as the sounds of a fan, air conditioner, or even tape recordings of womb sounds or vacuum cleaner sounds. Also, try running water from a nearby faucet or shower, a bubbling fish tank, a loudly ticking clock, or a metronome set at sixty beats a minute. (These can all be tape-recorded.) Try music to sleep by, such as tape recordings of waterfalls or ocean sounds, or a medley of easy-listening lullabies on a continuous loop. These sleep-inducing sounds will remind your baby of the sounds she was used to hearing in the womb.
22. Soothing music and sounds. Try a tape recording of your baby's favorite lullabies, so when she awakens she can resettle herself to the familiar sleep-inducing sound of the music. You can make a medley of your own lullabies that have been proven sleep-inducers.
23. Leave a little bit of yourself. If your baby suffers from separation anxiety, try leaving a breast pad in the cradle, or play a tape recording of yourself singing a bedtime lullaby.
24. A full tummy. Suffing your baby with cereal before bedtime seldome works, however, a tablespoon or two given to a baby over six months of age may get you an extra hour or two. Tiny babies have tiny tummies, a bit bigger than the size of their fist. So, your baby's digestive system was designed for small, frequent feedings, which is why, in the early months, babies feed at least every 3 to 4 hours at night and more often during the day.
25. Reduce physical discomforts.
a) Clear the nose. In the early months, babies need clear nasal passages to breathe. Later they can alternatively breathe through their mouth if their nose is blocked. Bedroom inhalant allergies are a common cause of stuffy noses and consequent nightwaking. Dust-free your baby's bedroom as much as possible. Try not to use fuzzy blankets, down comforters and dust-collecting fuzzy toys. If your baby is particularly allergy-prone, a HEPA-type air filter will help. The hum and buzz of an air filter will also be an extra bonus, acting as `hite noise to lull your baby to sleep.
b) Relieve teething pain. Even though you may not yet be able to feel baby's teeth, teething discomfort may start as early as three months and continue on and off until the two-year molars appear. Telltail clues include a wet bedsheet under your baby's head, a drool rash on his cheeks and chin, swollen and tender gums and perhaps a slight fever and a touch of diarrhoea (though many doctors deny this!). With your doctor's permission you should give appropriate doses of Calpol and/or Bonjela just before your baby goes to sleep and repeat in four hours if your baby wakes up.
c) Change wet or soiled nappies. Some babies are bothered by wet nappies at night though most are not. If your baby sleeps through wet nappies, there is no need to wake her up just to change her (if you are treating a persistent or nasty nappy-rash then, of course, you must give her a fresh nappy). Bowel movements obviously necessitate a change. If possible, try to change your baby's nappy just before a feeding, as he is quite likely to fall asleep during or after feeding. Some breastfed babies, however, have a bowel movement during or immediately after a feeding and will need changing again.
d) Remove irritating nightware. Some babies cannot settle in synthetic sleepwear. Besides being restless, some babies show skin allergies to new clothing, detergents and fabric softeners by breaking out in a rash.
e) Remove airborne irritants. Environmental irritants may cause congested breathing passages and cause your baby to wake up. e.g cigarette smoke, baby talcum powder, paint fumes, hair spray, animal hair (keep animals out of an allergic child's bedroom), plants, clothing (especially wool), stuffed animals, dust from a bed canopy, feather pillows, blankets, and fuzzy toys that collect lint and dust. If your baby consistently awakens with a stuffy nose, suspect irritants or allergens in the bedroom.
26. A warm bed. Placing a warm baby onto cold sheets can cause trouble. Particularly during teh Winter, use flannel sheets or place a warm towel on the sheets to warm them (don't forget to remove it before putting your baby on the warmed sheets).
27. The right temperature and humidity. A consistent bedroom temperature of around 70 degrees F is preferable. Also, a relative humidity of around 50 percent is most conducive to sleep. Dry air may leave your baby with a stuffy nose that wakes him up. Beware, though, because too high humidity can cause allergy-producing moulds. A warm-mist vaporizer in your baby's sleeping area helps maintain an adequate and consistent relative humidity, especially with central heating. Again, the `white noise' of a consistent hum will lull your baby to sleep.
28. Hands first. Is your baby a born self-soother who awakens, whimpers, squirms, and then resettles by herself? Or is your baby, if not promptly attended to, one whose cries escalate and becomes angry and difficult to resettle? If you can get to your baby quickly before she completely awakens, you may be able to resettle her back to sleep with a firm laying on of hands. To add the finishing touch, pat your baby's back or bottom rhythmically to match your heartbeat. Remove your hands gradually – first one and then the other – easing the pressure slowly so as not to startle her awake. Sometimes fathers, perhaps because they have larger hands, are more successful in this hands-on ritual - I know, much to my annoyance, my husband could always manage this miraculously and I never could!!
29. Let your partner have his share of night-time parenting. It is very important for babies to get used to their father's way of comforting and being put to sleep (and back to sleep) otherwise mothers burn out. A father's participation in night-time parenting is especially important for the breastfeeding infant who assumes that `mum's cafe' is open all hours!
30. Hidden medical causes of nightwaking. If you've tried all these techniques and your infant is still waking up frequently – and painfully – it is possible that there may be an underlying medical problem contributing to your baby's nightwaking. One of the most common hidden medical causes of nightwaking (and colicky behavior) in babies is a condition known as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER). Due to a weakness of a circular band of muscle where the oesophagus joins the stomach, irritating stomach acids are regurgitated into baby's oesophagus, causing pain - adults refer to a similar condition a heartburn. Clues that your baby may be suffering from GER are painful bursts of nightwaking, fussiness (particularly after eating), frequent spitting up (although not all babies with GER spit up regularly), frequent bouts of colicky, abdominal pain, frequent bouts of unexplained wheezing, throaty sounds after feeding.
Another hidden medical cause of nightwaking is allergies to formula or dairy products, either in milk-based formulas or in dairy products in a breastfeeding mother's diet. Clues that milk allergies may be causing nightwaking (and colicky behavior) are bloating, diarrhoea and a red rash around your baby's anus, in addition to many of the signs described above under GER. If your baby is not only waking up frequently, but waking up in pain, you should discuss these two medical possibilities with your doctor, since both can be diagnosed and treated, giving everyone in the family a more peaceful night's sleep.
1. Try to develop a realistic attitude about getting your child to sleep. Sleeping, like eating, is not a state you can force a baby into. The best you can do is to create a secure environment that allows sleep to overtake your baby. A realistic long-term goal is to help your baby develop a healthy attitude about sleep - that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in. Many sleep problems in older children and adults stem from children growing up with an unhealthy attitude about sleep. To many, that sleep was not a particularly pleasant state to enter and was a frightening state to remain in. Night-time parenting is a long-term investment. If you teach your baby a restful attitude about sleep when they are young, both you and your children will sleep better when they are older.
2. Beware of sleep trainers - they command a high price tag and possible risks. Most of these sleep-training techniques are just variations of the old cry-it-out method. Technology has found its way into the babys' bedroom too. Tired parents are induced to buy a variety of sleep-inducing gadgets designed to lull a baby off to sleep alone in her cot. Oscillating or swinging cradles, cot vibrators that recreate a car ride and teddy bears that "breathe" are just a few. Most of these `gadgets promise to take the parents place when it comes to night duty. It is fair to say that not all sleep trainers are to be ignored. However, you need to be discerning.
Don't try to change your baby. If your present daytime or nighttime routine is not working for you, think about what changes you can make in yourself and your lifestyle that will make it easier for you to meet your baby's needs. You may well be able to control your own reactions to a situation but you cannot control how your baby reacts. Be discerning about advice that promises instant results. Afterall the last thing you want to do is lose your baby's trust trying out a method that your baby hates and you are not really comfortable about using from the outset. Trust yourself, you will become an expert in your baby.
3. Stay flexible. No single approach will work with all babies all the time or even all the time with the same baby. Don't persist with a failing experiment. If the sleep routine that you are following does not work for your family don't persist. Develop a night-time routine that works for you. All babies have different night-time temperaments and families have varied lifestyles. Keep working at a night-time routine that fits the temperament of your baby and your own lifestyle. If it's working, stick with it. If it's not, be open to trying other things. You should also be prepared for one type of routine to work at one stage of your child's an life, yet need a change as she enters another stage. Be open to trying different approaches. Follow your heart and you and your baby will eventually work out the right bedtime routine for you and your family.
4. Decide where baby sleeps best. There is no right or wrong place for babies to sleep. Wherever all family members sleep the best is the right arrangement for you and your baby. Some babies sleep best in their own cot in their bedroom, some sleep better in a cot in their parents' bedroom. Other babies sleep best snuggled right next to you and your partner in your bed. There are many any parents that prefer a co-sleeping arrangement. I did with my first son and loved him sleeping with me, though it did take my husband a while to get used to it - initially he was paranoid that he would roll and squash the baby. In reality, most parents use various sleeping arrangements at various stages during their child's couple of years. Always be open to changing styles as baby's developmental needs and your family situation changes.
5. Get your baby used to a variety of sleep associations. The way your baby goes to sleep at night is the way she expects to go back to sleep when she awakens. So if your baby is always rocked or nursed to sleep, she will expect to be rocked or nursed back to sleep. Sometimes nurse her off to sleep, sometimes rock her off to sleep, sometimes sing her off to sleep, and sometimes use tape recordings. There are two schools of thought on the best way to put babies to sleep: the parent-soothing method and the self-soothing method. Both have advantages and possible disadvantages.
Parent-soothing method. When your baby is ready to sleep you help to make a comfortable, relaxed nd soothing transition from being awake to falling asleep, usually by nursing, rocking, singing, or whatever comforting techniques work.
Advantages
a)Your Baby learns a healthy sleep attitude – that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in.
b)Creates fond memories about being lulled to sleep.
c)Builds parent-infant trust
Disadvantages
Because of the concept of sleep associations, your baby learns to rely on an outside prop to get to sleep, so when he wakes up he will expect help to get back to sleep. You, your partner or both could end up totally exhausted!
Self-soothing method. Your baby is put to bed awake and goes to sleep by himself. Parents offer intermittent comforting but are not there when baby drops off to sleep.
Advantages
If your baby learns to go to sleep by himself, he may be better able to put himself back to sleep without parental help, because he doesn't associate going to sleep with parents comforting. Some parents consider this tough on their baby but it is eventually less exhausting for parents.
Disadvantages
Seldom works for high-need babies with persistent personalities
Overlooks medical reasons for nightwaking
Risks parents becoming less sensitive to baby's cries
Remember, in working out what suits you and your child, be sensitive to the night-time needs of your individual baby and remember your ultimate goal - to create a healthy sleep attitude in your baby and to get all family members a restful night's sleep.
6. Daytime mellowing. A peaceful, productive time during the day is more likely to lead to a restful night. The more attached you are to your baby during the day and the more baby is held and calmed during the day, the more likely this peacefulness is to carry through into the night. If your baby has a restless night, try to think back to unsettling things that may have occured during the day: Are you too busy? Are the nursery or childminder the right match for your baby? Does your baby spend a lot of time being held by you or someone else? It is sometimes true to say that babies who are carried in baby slings for several hours a day settle better at night.
7. Set a predictable and consistent nap schedule. Try to pick out the times of the day that you yourself are most tired - perhaps 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. then lie down with your baby at these times every day for about a week to get your baby used to a daytime nap routine. This also sets you up to get some much-needed daytime rest rather than be tempted to scurry around hoovering, washing and `getting things done' while your baby is napping. Babies who have regular, consistent nap schedules during the day are more likely to get off to sleep easier and for longer stretches at night.
8. Consistent bedtimes and rituals. Babies who enjoy consistent and regular bedtimes and familiar bedtime rituals usually go to sleep easier and stay asleep longer. Of course, due to modern lifestyles consistent bedtimes are not always as possible or realistic, as they used to be. Many parents both have to work and often don't get home until six or seven o'clock at night, so it's common for babies and toddlers to miss out on their bedtime ritual. Parents often feel guilty and want to spend more time with their child and for many older babies this becomes prime time with their parents and they are going to milk it for all they can get. Within some families a later afternoon nap and a later bedtime is more much more practical.
9. Calming down. Give baby a warm bath followed by a soothing massage to relax tense muscles and busy minds. Be careful, though, as this can stimulate some babies.
10. Make sure your baby eats and drinks enough during the day. Your baby needs to learn that daytime is for eating and night-time is mostly for sleeping. Some older babies and toddlers can get so involved in playing during the day that they don't want to eat at mealtimes. They tend to try to make up for it during the night by waking frequently to feed. Try to stop this habit by feeding your baby at least every three hours during the day to cluster the baby's feedings during the waking hours. On your baby's first night waking, attempt a full feeding, otherwise some babies, especially breastfed infants, get in the habit of nibbling all night. This is not too bad if you are co-sleeping but can be exhausting if you are constantly to-ing and fro-ing between bedrooms.
11. Nursing. Some mothers like to nestle next to their baby and breastfeed or bottlefeed him off to sleep. The smooth and loving continuation from warm bath, to warm arms, to warm breast, to warm bed is a recipe for sleep to soon follow.
12. Fathering down. For fathers, a lovely way to prepare your baby for bed is to place your baby in the neck nestle position (nestle baby's head against the front of the neck with your chin against the top of your baby's head. The vibration of the deeper male voice will lulls your baby and make him drowsy for sleep) and rock your baby to sleep. Another nice method is to lie down with your baby, still in the neck nestle position, and let the baby reach his dozing state in this way.
13. Rocking or walking down. Try rocking baby to sleep in a bedside rocking chair, or walk with baby, patting her back and singing or praying.
14. Wearing down. Some babies are so active and lively during the day that they have trouble winding down at night. Try placing your baby in a baby sling and wear her around the house for a half-hour or so before the designated bedtime. When she is dozing in the sling, ease her out of the sling onto her bed. This is a great method for fathers too.
15. Swinging down. Wind-up swings for winding down babies are a great tool for parents who don't have the time, energy or creativity to muster up rituals of their own. Tired parents will pay anything for a good night's sleep and this is perfectly understandable. Once in a while a moving plastic seat may be more sleep inducing than a familiar pair of arms. Many high-need babies associate their parent's body with play and stimulation and will not drift off to sleep in a human swing. A mechanical one is far less stimulating, if not downright boring and, as such, can be a useful part of a sleep-ritual. However, it is important to remember, high-need babies can be quite resistant to mechanical mother substitutes and will usually protest anything less than their real mother! It might be an idea to borrow one for a week before actually going out and spending money on a swing. You may even discover that you are uncomfortable with mechanical mothering and decide to get more creative!
16. Driving down. If you've tried all the above transitioning techniques and your baby still does not want to go to sleep, try putting your baby in a carseat and drive around until she falls asleep. When you return home and she is in a deep sleep, carry the carseat (with the sleeping baby) into your bedroom and let baby remain in the carseat until the first nightwaking. If she is in a deep sleep you may be able to ease her out of the carseat into her own bed.
17. Mechanical mothers. Gadgets to put and keep baby asleep are becoming big business. It's all right to use these as relief when the main comforter wears out, but a steady diet of these artificial sleep inducers may be unhealthy.
Now that you've learned a few tricks to get your baby to sleep, here are some ways to keep your baby asleep.
18. Nightime attire. Try various ways of swaddling your baby at night. In the early months, many babies like to "sleep tight," securely swaddled in a cotton baby blanket. Older infants like to sleep "loose," and may sleep longer stretches with loose coverings that allow them more freedom of movement. Quite often, dressing a baby loosely during the day, but swaddling him at night, conditions the baby to associate sleep with swaddling. A baby who gets too hot or too cold may become restless. Adjust the layering according to the temperature of the room and the sleep habits of your baby. Allergy-prone babies sleep better in 100 percent cotton sleepwear.
19. The sound of silence: Since most babies can block out disturbing noise, you don't have to create a noiseless sleeping environment, yet some babies startle and awaken easily with sudden noises. Some people go as far as oiling the joints and springs of a squeaky cot, putting out the dog before he barks and turning the ringer off on the phone!
20. Darkness in the baby's room. Use opaque shades to block out the light, which may get you an extra hour of sleep if you have a baby that wakes up with the first ray of sunlight entering the bedroom.
21. Sounds to sleep by. Repetitive, nearly monotonous sounds that lull baby to sleep are known as white noise, such as the sounds of a fan, air conditioner, or even tape recordings of womb sounds or vacuum cleaner sounds. Also, try running water from a nearby faucet or shower, a bubbling fish tank, a loudly ticking clock, or a metronome set at sixty beats a minute. (These can all be tape-recorded.) Try music to sleep by, such as tape recordings of waterfalls or ocean sounds, or a medley of easy-listening lullabies on a continuous loop. These sleep-inducing sounds will remind your baby of the sounds she was used to hearing in the womb.
22. Soothing music and sounds. Try a tape recording of your baby's favorite lullabies, so when she awakens she can resettle herself to the familiar sleep-inducing sound of the music. You can make a medley of your own lullabies that have been proven sleep-inducers.
23. Leave a little bit of yourself. If your baby suffers from separation anxiety, try leaving a breast pad in the cradle, or play a tape recording of yourself singing a bedtime lullaby.
24. A full tummy. Suffing your baby with cereal before bedtime seldome works, however, a tablespoon or two given to a baby over six months of age may get you an extra hour or two. Tiny babies have tiny tummies, a bit bigger than the size of their fist. So, your baby's digestive system was designed for small, frequent feedings, which is why, in the early months, babies feed at least every 3 to 4 hours at night and more often during the day.
25. Reduce physical discomforts.
a) Clear the nose. In the early months, babies need clear nasal passages to breathe. Later they can alternatively breathe through their mouth if their nose is blocked. Bedroom inhalant allergies are a common cause of stuffy noses and consequent nightwaking. Dust-free your baby's bedroom as much as possible. Try not to use fuzzy blankets, down comforters and dust-collecting fuzzy toys. If your baby is particularly allergy-prone, a HEPA-type air filter will help. The hum and buzz of an air filter will also be an extra bonus, acting as `hite noise to lull your baby to sleep.
b) Relieve teething pain. Even though you may not yet be able to feel baby's teeth, teething discomfort may start as early as three months and continue on and off until the two-year molars appear. Telltail clues include a wet bedsheet under your baby's head, a drool rash on his cheeks and chin, swollen and tender gums and perhaps a slight fever and a touch of diarrhoea (though many doctors deny this!). With your doctor's permission you should give appropriate doses of Calpol and/or Bonjela just before your baby goes to sleep and repeat in four hours if your baby wakes up.
c) Change wet or soiled nappies. Some babies are bothered by wet nappies at night though most are not. If your baby sleeps through wet nappies, there is no need to wake her up just to change her (if you are treating a persistent or nasty nappy-rash then, of course, you must give her a fresh nappy). Bowel movements obviously necessitate a change. If possible, try to change your baby's nappy just before a feeding, as he is quite likely to fall asleep during or after feeding. Some breastfed babies, however, have a bowel movement during or immediately after a feeding and will need changing again.
d) Remove irritating nightware. Some babies cannot settle in synthetic sleepwear. Besides being restless, some babies show skin allergies to new clothing, detergents and fabric softeners by breaking out in a rash.
e) Remove airborne irritants. Environmental irritants may cause congested breathing passages and cause your baby to wake up. e.g cigarette smoke, baby talcum powder, paint fumes, hair spray, animal hair (keep animals out of an allergic child's bedroom), plants, clothing (especially wool), stuffed animals, dust from a bed canopy, feather pillows, blankets, and fuzzy toys that collect lint and dust. If your baby consistently awakens with a stuffy nose, suspect irritants or allergens in the bedroom.
26. A warm bed. Placing a warm baby onto cold sheets can cause trouble. Particularly during teh Winter, use flannel sheets or place a warm towel on the sheets to warm them (don't forget to remove it before putting your baby on the warmed sheets).
27. The right temperature and humidity. A consistent bedroom temperature of around 70 degrees F is preferable. Also, a relative humidity of around 50 percent is most conducive to sleep. Dry air may leave your baby with a stuffy nose that wakes him up. Beware, though, because too high humidity can cause allergy-producing moulds. A warm-mist vaporizer in your baby's sleeping area helps maintain an adequate and consistent relative humidity, especially with central heating. Again, the `white noise' of a consistent hum will lull your baby to sleep.
28. Hands first. Is your baby a born self-soother who awakens, whimpers, squirms, and then resettles by herself? Or is your baby, if not promptly attended to, one whose cries escalate and becomes angry and difficult to resettle? If you can get to your baby quickly before she completely awakens, you may be able to resettle her back to sleep with a firm laying on of hands. To add the finishing touch, pat your baby's back or bottom rhythmically to match your heartbeat. Remove your hands gradually – first one and then the other – easing the pressure slowly so as not to startle her awake. Sometimes fathers, perhaps because they have larger hands, are more successful in this hands-on ritual - I know, much to my annoyance, my husband could always manage this miraculously and I never could!!
29. Let your partner have his share of night-time parenting. It is very important for babies to get used to their father's way of comforting and being put to sleep (and back to sleep) otherwise mothers burn out. A father's participation in night-time parenting is especially important for the breastfeeding infant who assumes that `mum's cafe' is open all hours!
30. Hidden medical causes of nightwaking. If you've tried all these techniques and your infant is still waking up frequently – and painfully – it is possible that there may be an underlying medical problem contributing to your baby's nightwaking. One of the most common hidden medical causes of nightwaking (and colicky behavior) in babies is a condition known as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER). Due to a weakness of a circular band of muscle where the oesophagus joins the stomach, irritating stomach acids are regurgitated into baby's oesophagus, causing pain - adults refer to a similar condition a heartburn. Clues that your baby may be suffering from GER are painful bursts of nightwaking, fussiness (particularly after eating), frequent spitting up (although not all babies with GER spit up regularly), frequent bouts of colicky, abdominal pain, frequent bouts of unexplained wheezing, throaty sounds after feeding.
Another hidden medical cause of nightwaking is allergies to formula or dairy products, either in milk-based formulas or in dairy products in a breastfeeding mother's diet. Clues that milk allergies may be causing nightwaking (and colicky behavior) are bloating, diarrhoea and a red rash around your baby's anus, in addition to many of the signs described above under GER. If your baby is not only waking up frequently, but waking up in pain, you should discuss these two medical possibilities with your doctor, since both can be diagnosed and treated, giving everyone in the family a more peaceful night's sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
