Brushing toddler teeth

[onelasttime]

My DS is 2 and everytime I brush his teeth he closes his mouth and shakes his head. I have to pin him down and get in there while he is crying....

Does your child do this??? What do you do???

[Bibs]

Yep DD would do this and it was so stressful, I would dread it everyday :hair:. Recently I've given up and DH does it now and she's much better with him. I think she could sense how stressed I was about it and would fight me. She copies her dad while he brushes his teeth and then she spits like he does. It takes about 10 minutes with him constantly asking him to watch him and copy him etc, and he's so good with it. She's getting better everyday.

maybe you could try it that way if you haven't already. Get him to copy you or ask your DP.

[mum1986]

my ds used to do that. i just kept persisting knowing i am doing whats best for him by brushing his teeth. it took a while but he calmed down and the more attention i lavashed on him after, the more co-operative he was the next day.

good luck i know how much it can wear you down but just keep trying and it will get easier.

[SalTheGal]

DS is 18mnths and pretty good with it. We started early, but also we brush our teeth together, so he mimics us, then I give his a go....I have just been persistent with our routine, so he knows it is going to happen.

I also just introduced a bit of childrens toothpaste to enhance the 'experience' and he loves this, it makes it even more like mummy and daddy!

[Queen]

We sing songs....a common one is...

This is the way we brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth, this is the way we brush your teeth, on a Monday(insert day) morning.
I also get DD to brush her teeth when I do mine, so she watches me and wants to do what I do. (this is in addition to her normal twice a day brushing)

Good luck:D