| How to Put a Two Year Old to Sleep Posted: 14 Apr 2020 05:00 PM PDT Bedtime with your child can be one of the nicest times of the day; it allows you to spend quality time with each other and instills healthy sleep habits at an early age. Occasionally 2-year-olds can resist bedtime, so you'll want to be sure to establish a solid routine and create a good sleep environment to help your child get all the sleep they need. You'll also want to continue to promote safe sleep, just like you did when they were younger, by heeding toddler safety precautions. [Edit]Establishing a Bedtime Routine - Try a bath if your child likes baths. For some kids, a warm bath is relaxing and soothing. If baths have that effect on your child, give them a bath before bedtime. Make bath time fun by providing bath toys, and be sure to always supervise your child in the tub.[1]
- If your child doesn't like baths, or baths get them overly excited, have their bath time earlier in the day and just wipe down their faces and hands before bedtime.
- Brush their teeth every night. Getting into the habit of brushing your teeth every night starts at an early age, and it's a great thing to include in the necessary bedtime routine. Brush your child's teeth for them at first, and gradually teach them how to brush their teeth on their own.[2]
- Help your child look forward to brushing their teeth by providing them with a fun child's toothbrush and a toothpaste they like.
- Make brushing fun by singing songs while your toddler brushes. Look for fun songs about brushing teeth from children's shows.[3]
- Get them changed into pajamas for bed. Whether they take a bath before bed or not, your child should get changed out of their clothes and into pajamas for bed. This will help signal to them that daytime activities are done and it's time for sleep soon.[4]
- Choose warm pajamas during the colder months or if you keep your home cool with air conditioning. Children this age often kick their blankets off themselves at night and being too cold can cause them to wake up in the night.
- Read a story to help your child enjoy reading later. Reading books to your kids, even before they can talk, helps them develop an interest in learning to read and an enjoyment of reading later in life. Let them choose the books you read at bedtime to help keep them interested in the book and help them relax during that special bonding time.[5]
- Sing a song if your child enjoys them. You may have sung lullabies to your child when they were an infant to help them fall asleep. If so, you can continue singing their favorites to them as a toddler. Or you can learn some new songs to sing to them now.[6]
- Some popular lullabies are "Rock-a-bye Baby," "You Are My Sunshine," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and "Hush Little Baby," but you can sing any songs that you like.
- Turn the lights off and say goodnight before leaving the room. Keep the room dark so your child gets the best quality sleep. It also helps to say some key phrases that you say every night, so your child knows it's time for bed.[7]
- You can add "It's time to sleep now. I love you" or any other phrases you like to say to your child before bed, as well as a hug and kiss.
- Do the same thing every night at the same time. Young children rely heavily on routine. Whatever it is that you do at bedtime, be sure to do the same things every night. If you have a somewhat long routine that includes bath, brushing teeth, a story, a song, etc., be sure to start early enough each night so you have time for all of it before you need to get ready for bed yourself.[8]
- Most 2-year-olds need about 12 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. This can often be broken down into 10 hours at night and a 2-hour afternoon nap. If your child wakes up at 6 a.m., aim for a bedtime of 8 p.m.
- Getting your toddler into a normal nighttime routine helps them develop good lifelong habits and gives them a sense of security.
[Edit]Creating a Good Sleep Environment - Choose a favorite blanket and a stuffed animal as their sleep comfort items. Young children rely on feeling secure to help them sleep. When they are little babies, this often means being held or rocked until they fall asleep. Encourage your child to choose an item that they keep in bed with them all night to help them feel secure throughout the night.[9]
- Avoid having too many blankets in your child's bed, as this can be a potential safety hazard. Too many toys nearby can keep your child too stimulated to fall or stay asleep. Choose one blanket and one soft toy for the best results.
- Make sure their room stays mostly quiet. It's fine for there to be occasional noise in the house, but you want to avoid a TV or conversations being so loud that they wake your child up. Try having someone turn on the TV or talk from outside your child's room while you're in their room.[10]
- If you can hear everything that's being said clearly, the TV or conversation is probably too loud and should be turned down or moved to a room that's farther away.
- Draw the blinds or curtains during nap time. It's important for the room where your child sleeps to be dim or dark when they are sleeping. This helps them to get deeper, more restful sleep.[11]
- If it doesn't get dark until after your child's bedtime, you should also draw the curtains when they go to bed at night.
- Use blackout curtains if it's still too bright inside their room.
- Dress your child in warm pajamas in colder months. Toddlers often kick off their covers in the middle of the night. To help make sure your child doesn't get too cold, and therefore wake up, at night, be sure to dress them in warm pajamas.[12]
- You also want to be sure not to overheat your child. Long-sleeved cotton pajamas are appropriate for winter months. If the pajamas do not have feet, consider having your child also wear socks to bed.
- If you keep your home pretty cool with air conditioning in the summer, you may want to have them wear their long-sleeved pajamas as well.
- Avoid letting your child get overtired. This may sound incorrect, since adults often automatically sleep better the more tired they get, but for young children it is harder to fall asleep if they are too tired. Don't allow your 2-year-old to stay up too late past their bedtime, and be sure that they still take a nap during the day.[13]
- Some toddlers will fight nap time, or say they don't need a nap. 2-year-olds do still need 1 nap per day to avoid becoming overtired.
[Edit]Putting a 2-Year-Old to Sleep Safely - Move your child to a toddler-safe bed when they're tall. The taller your child gets, the easier it will be for them to climb out of their crib. They may fall or get stuck if they are able to climb out of their crib, and should be moved to a toddler bed or bed with a side-rail.[14]
- Help your child feel good about sleeping in a new bed by telling them it's their "big kid" bed. Many children actually ask for a new bed and don't want to sleep in their crib anymore by the time they're physically ready to leave the crib.
- Keep their crib or bed far away from hazardous objects. Your toddler's sleeping place should not be close to a window with blinds that have strings, or electrical cords that they can reach while you're not around. Also watch for picture frames and other wall hangings within reach that your child could pull down onto themselves.[15]
- Cords and strings can easily get wrapped around a small child's neck. The safest practice is to keep these items out of your child's room completely.
- Keep their bed free from extra-large stuffed animals or pillows. While most regular-sized stuffed animals and pillows are fine in a bed with a 2-year-old, you want to keep their bed free from oversized items that could fall on top of them and cause suffocation in their sleep. Keep these types of items on the floor or on furniture away from the bed.[16]
- Remove items they could use to help them climb out of the crib. While your child is still in a crib, don't place lots of stuffed animals, toys, or pillows in it. Since these items are a safety hazard for babies under 1, many parents don't do this anyway. At 2, however, even if the items are not linked to higher SIDS risk, your child can still use the items to step on as they climb out of their crib.[17]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cut Shaggy Bangs Posted: 14 Apr 2020 09:00 AM PDT Not to be confused with layered bangs, shaggy bangs (otherwise known as curtain or Bardot bangs) are a relaxed and elegant hairstyle that frame your face at a downward angle. While it's always best to consult a professional hairstylist with any major hair changes, you can make your own adjustments with a set of trimming or texturizing shears. With patience and precision, you can create a fun new look for yourself! [Edit]Trimming the First Section - Comb your bangs in front of your face with a wide-toothed comb. Brush through your hair to remove any tangles or snares. Instead of brushing some hair to the side, use a wide-toothed comb to arrange your future bangs in front of your forehead and eyes.[1]
- This process helps you visualize how much hair you have to work with, and makes it easier to section off your bangs.
- Separate off a triangular portion of hair in front of your forehead. Use your comb to section off a section of hair in front of your forehead and eyes.[2] Make sure that the section of hair falls about into your hairline so your bangs are thick enough to frame your face.[3]
- If you have thinner hair, you might want to section off a portion of hair that falls around into your hairline.
- When sectioned off, this portion of hair should form an angled, triangular shape along your hairline.
- Split this portion of hair into 2 even sections, A and B. Use a comb to divide your bangs down the center of your forehead. Before you start trimming or adjusting your bangs, check both sides to ensure that your shaggy bangs will have equal amounts of hair. To prevent confusion later on, label the leftmost portion of hair as section A, and the rightmost portion as section B.[4]
- Since these bangs will be framing your face, you want them to look as even as possible.
- Brush section A to the right side of your head. Pinch the hair between your pointer and middle finger, then drag your comb through section A. Pull this portion of hair next to section B. At this point, use your pinched fingers to figure out how much hair you want to trim away.[5]
- Try to keep around of hair dangling beneath your fingers.[6]
- Pinch more hair than you plan on trimming overall.
- Pulling your bangs to the right makes it easier for you to see and trim them.
- Cut the bangs at a downward angle in small increments. Use a pair of scissors or texturizing shears to make small adjustments to the hair dangling beneath your pinched fingers. Trim your hair in short, vertical or angled motions so you can create a balanced, feathery effect along the edge of your shaggy bangs. Don't cut the entire section of pinched hair—instead, trim away a few millimeters at a time.[7]
- Try to avoid making 1 horizontal cut, as this type of trimming won't be as precise.
- Trim the edge of section A to make it look smoother. Pinch the bottom of your hair to create more exact adjustments to section A of your bangs. Drag your trimming shears in slow, angled motions to even out the edge of your bangs.[8]
- At this point, the shortest portion of your bangs will be around eye level, while the longest portion will be close to your chin.
[Edit]Adjusting the Second Section - Transfer 1 of the shortest tendrils of hair from section A to B. Pinch a small, 5 to 10 mm section of the shortest hair from the right side of section A. Move this small portion of hair over to section B, so you have a reference of how short your bangs need to be.[9]
- This process helps both of your bangs to look more exact.
- Comb section B to the left side of your head. Pinch section B between your pointer and middle finger, then pull it toward section A. Drag your comb through this portion of hair to ensure that both sections of hair are relatively even in length.[10]
- Pinch your hair and cut it at a downwards angle. Hold section B tightly between your pointer and middle fingers, leaving about of hair dangling beneath your fingers. With your shears, trim the hair at a 45-degree angle to shape and angle the hair. Try to use light, gentle motions to trim the hair so you can make adjustments later.[11]
- Sections A and B will be mirror images of one another.
- Cut your bangs vertically to make small adjustments. Continue holding section B between your pointer and middle fingers and look for any uneven sections of hair. Make the edge of your bangs even by trimming the bottom edge with short, vertical motions.[12]
- Vertical cuts help you make more precise adjustments to your bangs.
- Compare sections A and B to see if they're even in length. Stand in front of a mirror and hold both portions of your shaggy bangs next to one another. Check the short ends are equal in length, and that the long ends are even as well.[13]
- Brush and trim your bangs to make any necessary adjustments. Use your wide-toothed comb to smooth out your newly trimmed bangs. Once you've done this, use your trimming or texturizing shears to trim the bottom, angled edge of your shaggy bangs with short, vertical motions. Make small adjustments until you're happy with the way your bangs look.[14]
- You can always cut away extra hair, but you can't add extra hair back to your bangs. Keep this in mind as you cut!
- Style your bangs to the sides of your head so they blend with your hair. Comb section A to the left side of your face, and section B to the right side. You can also use a curling iron to add more lift and style to your bangs.[15]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Wide-toothed comb
- Trimming shears
- Mirror
- Texturizing shears (optional)
- Curling iron (optional)
[Edit]References |
| How to Freeze Cheese Posted: 14 Apr 2020 01:00 AM PDT Many types of cheeses can be frozen for about 2 to 6 months with little trouble. Seal small blocks, slices, or grated cheeses in airtight packaging before popping them in the freezer. While storing moist cheeses or special artisanal varieties in the freezer isn't recommended, block cheese from the deli freezes very well. While the texture will become grainier, the flavor should remain the same. For this reason, you'll want to melt down the cheese in a cooked dish or use it as a crumbly topping instead of snacking on the thawed-out slices. [Edit]Freezing Sliced or Shredded Cheese - Shred or slice the cheese to make melting easier later on. If you plan to use a block of medium to very hard cheese in a cooked dish in the future, cut it into smaller pieces before freezing it. Use a cheese grater or a shredding blade on a food processor to shred the block of cheese into fine slivers. Or use a cheese knife to cut individual slices.[1]
- Prepackaged shredded or sliced cheese can easily be frozen, too. Just make sure it's within its expiration date and doesn't show any signs of mold.
- Store shredded cheese in a resealable plastic bag. If you shredded the cheese yourself, place it all in a zip-top plastic bag. For prepackaged cheese, make a small opening in the packaging. Gently squeeze the bag to expel as much excess air as possible, and then reseal it tightly.[2]
- If necessary, place the bag into a second freezer bag for an airtight seal.
- Slide parchment paper in between cheese slices before you wrap them up. When freezing pre-sliced cheese or pieces you sliced yourself, cut out 1 rectangular piece of parchment paper per each slice of cheese you have.[3] Leave the paper about larger than the cheese slice so that it's easier to separate the pieces once they're frozen. Then form a stack of alternating between individual pieces of cheese and parchment paper.
- Once your stack is ready, seal it up in an airtight packaging as you would with a block of cheese.
- When you want to retrieve a few slices of cheese from the frozen stack, pull up on the parchment paper to separate as many slices as you want.
- Date and label the package before you freeze it. Use a permanent marker to write down which type of cheese is in the package. List the product's expiration date and the date that you packaged it up and popped it in the freezer, too, so you know how long it will still be good. Once you've labeled the package, store it in a dry spot in your freezer until you want to defrost it.
[Edit]Preparing Blocks of Cheese for Freezing - Cut larger blocks down to pieces. Avoid putting a huge wheel of cheese directly into the freezer; you'll need to cut it down into pieces first. If you're working with a large block or wheel of cheese, slice it into pieces weighing no more than . Depending on how you'll eventually use the cheese, you can cut it into smaller blocks if you prefer.[4]
- This will enable the cheese to freeze and thaw out thoroughly.
- Wrap blocks of cheese in plastic wrapping for an airtight seal. Use plastic food wrap or a zip-top plastic bag, or a food-safe vacuum-sealed package to store the cheese. Wrap it tightly around the block of cheese and eliminate as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.[5] Place the wrapped cheese into a freezer bag to add an extra layer of protection.[6]
- Be sure to use moisture-resistant packaging.[7]
- If the block of cheese already weighs or less, leave it in its original packaging and add an extra layer of protection with a freezer bag.
- Label and date the packaged cheese before you place it in the freezer. So that you know what type of cheese you've frozen and how long it's been in the freezer, use a permanent marker to jot down the product name. Add the expiration date as well as the date that you wrapped it up. Then place it in a dry spot your freezer.
- Keep the freezer door closed so that the cheese has the chance to freeze quickly and completely.
[Edit]Thawing Frozen Cheese - Use frozen cheese within 2 to 6 months. Keep softer natural cheeses like Gouda, Gruyère, and brie frozen for no more than 2 months. For harder cheeses and processed block cheeses, feel free to keep them frozen for up to 6 months.[8] Refer to the date you listed on the packaging and discard the cheese if you haven't used it up after 6 months' time.
- Keep in mind that shredded cheese and any cheese produced with holes like Swiss or fissures like blue cheese may be more prone to freezer burn. Check in on them from time to time so they don't go bad.
- Defrost the cheese in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Before you consume the cheese, you'll need to allow the ice crystals to thaw out and restore moisture to the cheese. Leave shredded or thinly sliced cheese in the fridge for at least 24 hours. For thick slices and blocks, wait around 2 days to allow the cheese to thaw completely.[9]
- Take out only as much cheese as you plan to use in the next few days. If you're using shredded cheese, open the bag and shake or break off the amount you'll need. Or peel off a few slices by pulling on the parchment paper. Then reseal the packaging and return the rest to the freezer.
- If you've frozen a block of cheese, you'll need to defrost the whole thing.
- Cook with or consume the thawed cheese within 2 to 3 days. Even if the expiration date isn't for a while, you should consume the defrosted cheese as quickly as possible for the best results. Use it in a baked dish like pizza, lasagna, or a casserole, melt it over a burger or pan of nachos, or use it as a crumbled salad topping to retain the thawed cheese's flavor while avoiding its mealy consistency.[10] However you use it, be sure to finish it off within the next few days.
- After a 3-day period, discard any remaining thawed-out cheese that you haven't used.[11]
[Edit]Determining Which Cheeses to Freeze - Freeze processed cheeses as shredded pieces, slices, or blocks. Processed block cheeses that you can buy from the deli such as cheddar, provolone, low-moisture mozzarella, Colby Jack, and others are great for freezing. Whether you buy them from the deli or prepackaged, freeze these types of cheeses in small blocks, slices, or in a shredded format.[12]
- These varieties tend to melt easily, so try using them in a cooked dish once thawed.
- Store hard and aged natural cheeses in the freezer for a crumbly result. Before you freeze hard or aged natural cheeses, consider how long you plan to store them and how you'll want to consume them. Aged cheese varieties like pecorino, asiago, parmesan, and blue cheese can be frozen shredded or in small blocks.[13] Once frozen and thawed, they'll become crumblier, so they're best used in a cooked dish or as a crumbled topping.
- Since many aged cheeses can last for up to 4 months in the refrigerator, freezing may not be necessary.[14]
- If you're planning to freeze blue cheese for 6 months and plan to use it as a crumbled salad topping, freezing should be no problem.
- Freeze soft natural cheeses if you plan to use them in a cooked dish. Soft natural cheeses like brie can be frozen, but will often take on a grainy and watery consistency. Therefore, you'll only want to freeze soft cheeses if you'll be melting or cooking with the thawed results.[15]
- If you want to spread a soft cheese on crackers, keep it in the fridge to retain its flavor and texture.
- It's typically okay to freeze soft natural cheeses as part of a prepared dish, since they'll melt during the cooking or reheating process.
- Refrain from freezing moist cheeses. Keep varieties like cottage cheese, ricotta, and cream cheese in the refrigerator and use them up by the expiration date listed on the packaging.[16] Similarly, avoid freezing any cheese that is typically stored in water, such as fresh mozzarella balls or burrata.[17]
- Freezing will disrupt the delicate textures and flavors. Depending on the type of cheese, it will either become dry and chunky or weepy and watery once defrosted.
- It's usually fine to freeze these cheeses as part of a dish, such as lasagna or casserole.
- Cheesecake can be successfully frozen as the cream cheese has been baked.
- These tips apply to commercially produced cheese. For homemade cheese, consult a food education center at a nearby university for guidance on storing your homemade cheese.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Cheese knife
- Cheese grater
- Plastic wrap or aluminum foil
- Plastic zip-top bags
- Freezer bags
- Permanent marker
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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