Tricks for tooth brushing & nail cutting! Help!

[CluckySC]

My almost 18 month old is full of protest when I try to cut his nails or brush his teeth. Think screaming "No!!!!" trying to run away, foot stamping, you name it.

I have three different tooth brushes and have tried everything from "captain sock" brushing his teeth, to the puppets, to Mummy and Daddy brushing our teeth with him... all work once or twice then we're back to no.

With the nails have tried showing him how we cute mine, have tried listening for the "clip" sound, have tried pretending to cut his teddy's nails etc. Again, all have worked for a nail or two but there have been times that I've had to cut a few nails or brush teeth with him crying because he doesn't want me to.

Makes me feel awful but I'm sooooo lost for ideas!! My tummy is scratched to shreds with his nails and I had bad teeth as a kid so I want to make sure I keep his clean.

Any magic tricks or fairy dust that might help?? Ideas? :rolleyes:

[lochiebearsmum]

i cut lochies nails when he is asleep... in a deep sleep... as for teeth its so hard isnt it! i used to just have to pin lochie to do it... he is 2 and a half now and i have found a short 7 minute movie on visiting the dentist i put that on and he sits in his little chair and opens his mouth while he watches it...

[FiveInTheBed]

I handed over the toothbrush for them to use from, well, really early - 6months? I think...
doing lots of 'EEEEEEEEEs and AHHHHHHHHHHs' rinse and spit ...:laughing:it took 'em a good while to get the grasp of spitting!!
Let them have a little brush and then ask if I could have a quick turn - just to make sure we got all the germs, cause 'we don't want our teeth to fall out' etc etc.
Try different toothpastes - the taste might be upsetting him?

For nails we sit outside, so they can watch the dogs or birds etc, with kids on my lap we count, sing 'this little piggy *snip* went to market, or do 'my turn your turn - cut my nail then their nail....depends on the day!

I have a friend who has to cut her DDs nails (feet and hands) when she is asleep!!

good luck!:goodvibes:

[lochiebearsmum]

i cut lochies nails when he is asleep... in a deep sleep... as for teeth its so hard isnt it! i used to just have to pin lochie to do it... he is 2 and a half now and i have found a short 7 minute movie on visiting the dentist i put that on and he sits in his little chair and opens his mouth while he watches it... i

[2girls&1angelboy]

yes ideas on cutting nails my 18 month old dd hates it she screams

[BabelFish]

Luckily my DD finds fingernail cutting fascinating and holds out each finger for me to do it. For such a wriggly bub that's amazing to me.

The teeth? Another matter. We STILL cannot get her to do it so she's still doing the old chew on the toothbrush thing. I'm starting to get anxious - she's nearly 14 months, has 12 teeth, and vehemently resists any attempt at brushing. I guess it's just perseverance from here on in.

[markskidsmum2]

Ah the old teeth brushing dilema.
I was pretty lucky with my kids. I was a childs dental nurse for a long time, so i started mine very young.
My advice would be one- sticker and reward chart. (I buy party favours at cheepy shops for $2 and throw in a basket. If they do it for a week = toy). I would start once a day (most probably mornings). And just try and slip it into routine. and not make too much of a fuss over it. That is the most battle. Toddlers like to do things in their own time i think, so if they know you really want them to do it, they go the opposite way!

Not sure if you have tried different toothpastes or not, but dont even stress about that. If they prefer no toothpaste for a start, thats ok. Its just weening it into routine.

Another thing (and i do actually do this one) is find a picture of a rotten smile and a nice one. we have a small one laminated in the draw and if i do have any dramas with the kids and teeth i pull it out and say that is what there teeth will look like if they dont brush, or they can have a nice smile like the good picture if they do.

I also have suggested to parents to just leave toothbrushes out and see if they start doing it themselves a bit. Maybe put one in the bath/shower with them?

Hope you get there soon!
xx

[PeppaH]

I bite my sons finger nails. Its alot easier then trying to cut them lol.

[JoLily]

I have a 20 month old,
The nails, I find hard, I used to always wait until she was asleep, but nowadays thats alot less often :laughing:, and she's not as heavy a sleeper lately... i have to sit with her behind me and her leg through the crook of my arm, into my lap, to get a good angle so it quicker, and i usually give her something that she normal doesn't get to play wiht, like my DS, or camera, that keeps her occupied for long enough to quickly do them...

The teeth, ive been doing since she got her first tooth, so she was used to it, but when she stated getting more independent, she was protesting alot, so i started giving her the brush, and she loves to brush her teeth... i brush mine at the same time, and thats whats gets her really doing it, she even tries to gargle and spit like me :laughing:... at night, we do it in the bath and if I forget, she reminds me by pointing to her teeth...:thumbsup:

[TripleTime]

No help on the teeth front but i bite nails while they are sleeping & i mean deep deep sleep. Normally means letting them fall asleep in my arms after a feed though.

[girly]

I bite dd nails when I breastfeed her...:laughing:

[coogeemum]

the nails? I always had success cutting them while he had his bottle of milk before bed.

Teeth? We battled for a while. Success finally came when we'd established a very good night-time routine. After his milk, we'd ask him to choose a book and take it to his bedroom. The bathroom is right next door. So we'd then take him there and if he kicked up any fuss, we said 'no book if you don't brush your teeth!'. Worked like magic (still does) as he just loves his bed time book. Teeth brushing in the morning, even now at almost 3, is a bit more casual. He does more of the brushing and it's not for quite as long.

[threechooks]

I cut Ds's nails while he sits in the bath. He is distracted by the water and some bubbles help too :D

[presley]

this mighht not be worth trying until you crack the toothbrushing thing...

but my 20 month old HATES having his nails cut...so when he's strapped in the high chair I just keeping putting those tiny baking marshmallows on the tray near his other hand so he picks that up and eats it while i cut the nails of the other hand. I have to be quick though - I mean he might end up having 10 or 15 but they really are so tiny and it's only every couple of weeks. But he's only got 4 teeth and he's happy for me to brush them so that might not be any help!