Brushing baby's teeth

[rynosmum]

How do you brush your baby's teeth ?

I don't think I'm getting to them well enough. He's 16 months old and want's to do it himself (but can't yet) so we only get a couple of brush storkes in before he takes over.

Any suggestions ?

[tickle]

I'm sorry I can't help much on this front, I seem to be having the same problems. I have tried distracting him with something REALLY interesting that he never gets to have, e.g. toilet paper, and that works for a little while.
Are you using toothpaste or just the wet brush. I have got toothpaste but how do you get a 14month old to spit? (on command anyway??)

[Chickadee]

14 month olds don't spit. My nearly 2 year old is only just now starting to copy my spitting, but nothing actually comes out of her mouth. Just use the tiniest tiniest smear of toothpaste on the brush and don't worry too much about them swallowing it.

Definitely make a routine and stick to it, and since it's impossible to get the brush back out of their tightly clenched fist without tears, I'd suggest you do their teeth first and then let them have their turn with the brush. I used to brush DDs teeth first, and then when I was done she got to have her turn with the brush. That worked fine, she knew what the deal was, till her dad started helping and just let her have her own way! GRRRR. So now she won't let me do it at all. We now have 2 brushes, and we take turns doing her teeth.

[rynosmum]

I wonder if trying some toothpaste and maybe giving him his own brush might help too. Martha, how does Chloe like the taste of the toothpaste ?

[Chickadee]

She loves it!! She sucks it out of the toothbrush straight away before brushing her teeth, which is why I always tried to do the brushing first before giving her control. But even then, she was constantly swallowing the yummy foam, lol

The more you persist the easier it gets as bub gets used to the routine of it. At 20 months brushing was way easier than at 18 months, and at 18 months way easier than 16 months etc...

[Peaceangels]

We have a little ritual with teeth brushing, its done every day at the same time, the boys do it at the same time as me (with their own brushes) and they copy me ie we brush the front, then we brush the sides (you get the drift)...............and that seems to be the only way I can get them to brush properly. We also sing a little song to get them excited "brusha brusha brusha......." (you know out of the movie Grease-oh dear how :o :o )
Oh, yes, I to add a tiny bit of toothpaste to their brushes, most of which gets sucked off in the first 30 seconds!

[Elfin]

I have found the only thing that worked for me is one of the battery operated toothbrushes, we have a winnie the pooh. They do a great job and quick, you just need to make some contact with teeth. For some reason my dd will open her mouth for the electric toothbrush but not a manual one.

I did read somewhere recently that a low sugar and good diet is actually more important when they are little but don't quote me on that :confused: