Brushing teeth and haircuts for toddlers

[cathcat]

I cannot get my 2 and half YO to cooperate with toothbrushing or having a haircut. Any tips?
perhaps a picture book I could get him?

[Aloha]

Haircuts were accompanied by chocolate buttons fed to him in a constant stream - also books and increasingly hysterical chat from me. You need a really experienced, fast hairdresser.
Toothbrushing - you can get really groovy electric toothbrushes for kids, bought with him as a 'special treat'.
Worth a try?

[kid]

With the tooth brushing, have you tried letting them do a bit of brushing and then you doing it properly after?

My MIL suggests putting a plaster on their finger and letting them try and pick it off while they have a haircut. It didn't work for my kids, but they don't mind haircuts too much now so it isn't a problem.

[Mistymoo]

My kids have both had hair cuts since about 5 months (lots of hair!!!!) so they seemed to get used to it early and have never been a problem. One is 5 (ds)and the other is 2.4 (dd).

When I am brushing my dd's teeth I talk about brushing all the food she has eaten that day and how I have to brush it all away. I just list them and she seems to like it.

[morningpaper]

haircuts - would do this during Balamory and dd looked institutionalised until she was about 3

toothbrush - pinned her down

[Posey]

My ds has had just the one haircut (he's 3). He came to watch dd have hers done a couple of times but refused to have his done. So I took him one Monday morning when the shop was quiet. He sat on my knee, squirmed a lot, but was actually scared it would hurt . When he realised it wouldn't he was a bit better (but not completely). The hairdresser was dead quick (he's been cutting for about 40 years) and ds has wavy hair so easier to disguise any dodgy bits.

[funnyonion]

I have cut DS hair while he's asleep(I know , slightly Flowers In The Attic!!!)or while he's been eating.
We are having an absolute nightmare with brushing his teeth. He seems to spend most of his time sucking the toothpaste or spitting!!! I keep telling myself that the fact that he sucks the toothpaste is better than nothing, maybe it magically swills around his mouth and cleans his teeth!!!! By the way he is 20months.

[going4potty]

aloha pmsl thats what i do with haircuts too . Do you take him to same hairdresser, ds allways screamed and then i took him to a quiter salon and hey presto. Tooth brushing, this sounds silly, but it works for my very curious 3yr old. I told him the truth, the bacteria in his mouth would make holes in his teeth, they would disolve and he wouldnt be able to eat icecream

[Flamesparrow]

Toothbrushing we alternate between pinning down on floor (borderline child abuse maybe???), and her having a toothbrush, and me having one. She has to have been left to her own devices for a bit first.

[Donk]

Things that sometimes work for me when brushing a resistant ds's teeth

1. if he shuts his mouth - I brush his nose instead. He thinks this is hysterically funny, and usually opens his mouth for me.
   
2. Agreeing that I don't like brushing my teeth either, but that it just has to be done - or the dentist will be cross (I usually brush my teeth first, then do his)
   
3. All farmers (DS is tractor mad) brush their teeth before they can drive their tractors.......
   
4. Asking what song he wants me to sing whilst I brush his teeth.
   
5. Praising even the slightest move to co-operation - and making sure that I am clear. I had trouble brushing the front teeth as he would not keep his teeth closed together - always closed them when I asked, but then would open his mouth wide. Then (blush) I realised I hadn't asked him to KEEP them together.....

[ediemay]

at nose brushing!

[Skribble]

Teeth brushing is a bit like seat belts, has to happen, no debate, no bargaining just has to be done. We always did it as part of the routine and thankfully never got into a holding down situation. We kept it fairly fun and interesting with cool brushes and managing to find a toothpaste they like (some area a bit strong even the kids ones).

Would you say it was child abuse to forceably strap a child in a car seat. As someone who has witnessed small children with everyone of their babyteeth rotten I wonder if that is more abusive.

[Flamesparrow]

I miss my co-operative little lady - she used to be soooo good for teeth, then her back ones started to come through, and i'm assuming that they hurt, and ti all went downhill

[acnebride]

things that have been useful for me or recommended by others:

teeth - saying 'AH' really loudly and getting ds to join in - he always laughs eventually but I get a bit of brushing done as well

he does some himself, then i do it. obv he always resists, so I tell him it's the law that we have to do some of it too. the portentious voice I say this seems to have some effect.

ds's nanny w. 10 yrs experience recommends brushy things that stick on your fingers like thimbles. Never seen them but she said it as if they were quite common - maybe Boots?

hair - just need a hairdresser who knows what they're doing. mine comes to the house and cuts his hair while we read a story on my knee but others find a salon is more interesting for the children i think.

[cathcat]

Thanks for all these tips. Will look for those brushy things, that would be a great help. We have a new cafe with a children's hairdresser, and a little house for playing in, in town so I think I will take him in for lots of visits until he is used to it.
I am going to take DS2 for lots of haircuts so he is used to it!
Thanks again everyone.

[edodgy]

let him brush your teeth while you brush his.