Haven't brushed my son's teeth in a week and am struggling!

[ShambalaHambala]

AIBU to literally hold him down and force him to brush his teeth? He is 18 months old, doesn't eat much sugar but still has fruit and the occasional treat. Regardless, I needs to brush his teeth. It's been a week since I've brushed then properly and haven't been able to because he screams and clamps down on the toothbrush. I've tried getting him to brush his own teeth whilst I do mine then brush his properly after, different toothpastes in case it was the taste, different toothbrushes. This aversion to teeth brushing has been on and off since he was about 1. Can anyone advise?

YouTube tooth brushing videos. My DD was also like this. She would clamp her mouth shut and if I managed to get the toothbrush in her mouth she would just bite it. She's 3 now and much better but it was basically just a lot of distraction techniques as she was too young for bribes. I sympathise and it does get better. 💐

Thank you everyone. Now googling teeth brushing songs! Thanks also for not being judgemental of me 🙏🏼

I pretty much sat on my 7yo when she was that age. It was awful but it's non-negotiable - teeth get brushed twice a day every day. She hasn't held it against me so far and her teeth are perfect.

Yep, Elmo and Hey Duggee toothbrushing songs on YouTube. And also the toothbrushing timer ones by break time kids on YouTube where the characters are gradually revealed. Good luck!

We were too kind to DS 1-2y and couldn't get a toothbrush in consistently and didn't push it. After that I had enough and we just had to force it and brush during the screaming. Changing toothpaste helped a bit. Then DH and I swapped and he did the brushing and DS was much more accepting, still struggles but opens his mouth now! So keep trying new things! You'll either figure it out or they'll just grow up and accept it.

We have teddy who my little one (20m so similar age) brushes the teeth of, there is also a hey duggee episode all about teeth brushing which helped (she's obsessed with him). We did struggle initially and had the odd screaming match early on as her teeth came in really early, throwing head back wailing etc but this just made it easier to reach them. Now she makes the teeth brushing noise and brings us her toothbrush at bedtime and totally relaxed about it. Bedtime routine being quite strict has really helped her.

It is an usual topic in autism parents, I don’t have personal experience, but I would start looking for suggestions there, nobody is more stubborn than an autistic boy who doesn’t want to do something, of that I got plenty of experience

God I don’t kiss that phase. It does pass!

What worked for us, was filling the sink with some water and toys so DS could splash about and then try toothbrushing. It worked about 50% of the time but was more enjoyable. Maybe worth a go?

Ooh my 2.5yo was like this it was awful and then I felt awful having to get him into a headlock whilst was is in tears screaming. Hey duggee or blippi tooth brushing song and electric toothbrush has worked wonders though, he's quite happy to help me along with it now and no tears/screaming

Yeah, we had books a plenty and a nice calming song we always sang during toothbrushing. Toothbrushes for DC to play with. Brushed toys ‘teeth’, the works. Both DC still needed holding down for toothbrushing. It’s horrible but non-negotiable.

I agree with “wrap them in a towel and just get it done quick” I also used chewable brushes with my two from brush baby.

I found it easiest to hold mine from behind, 1 hand on the forehead to stop too much wriggling. Much easier than trying to poke the brush in from the front. Sat on the loo with them when they were little.

brushbaby.com/products/chewable-toothbrush-and-teether

I let mine pick a toothbrushing song for the toothbrushing and then a nursery rhyme or barefoot books song for after as a reward. Screen time has always been limited so it really motivated her and now she's used to it.

Yep, as others have said I used to wrap mine in a towel so his arms were pinned to the side and then straddle him on the floor if I had to.
Teeth brushing and sun cream (when needed) are absolutely non negotiable.

I find laying ds down easier and a bribe of watching the iPad. Strapping in the high chair also works.

I used to have to pin my twin dds down to brush their teeth when toddlers. They are 25 now and never had a filling, don't feel guilty just do it if that's what it takes.

i will hold my down if i have to. i tell him (3yo) he can either have it done happily then have story etc or i can hold him down and brush them anyway and he goes straight to bed. he's a will full little sod so probably 50% of the time picks the later. hopefully sense will kick in sometime soon 😑

Had this with my youngest, and we tried every method going - he is not susceptible to bribery, negotiation or rationalisation (he’s autistic). We went through the phase of pinning him down up til about 3.5yo. Now he’s 6, he generally allows us to brush his teeth - he’s unable to do them properly himself - then have a go himself. Every now and then he will resist and he gets the choice of easy way or hard. Thankfully it’s been a while since we’ve had to pin him down!!

I had completely forgotten about this, but my (now teenager) son was like this as a toddler. I had to hold him screaming just to brush his teeth every day 🙈. He definitely grew out of it at some point 😆

Pin him. He’s tiny, you’re big. Nothing is standing in your way. One day he’ll be bigger than you so solve this dispute about who is boss now

Yes hold him down and do it! It’s horrible and I was like you at first but I now just pin him and brush! Better than tooth decay and he’s not bothered as soon as I have done!

I read a tip on here that said to make a big deal about how sparkling their teeth are after a brush.
I've been doing it with my brush dodger for ages now and it really works for her. I totally over do it "OMG your teeth are so bright and sparkly they're hurting my eyes", hands over eyes as if blinded by the light etc etc. She now gets teeth brushed morning and night, no arguments.
Before that, YouTube songs worked maybe 50% of the time. I agree with all that teeth brushing is non negotiable I just couldn't bring myself to physically restrain her so the sparkling teeth thing has been a lifesaver.

I've used force on mine, it's not pleasant but necessary. The screaming means brushing is easier. Once they got to 2, if they played up I would offer the nice way, or the baby way. They picked the nice way. Both very good now.

My toddler DD finds it hilarious if I brush different parts of her face when she clamps her mouth shut. I go “Oh dear, i’ll just have to brush your ears then.. your cheeks.. your eyebrows..” eventually she relaxes and lets me brush her teeth (for about 30 seconds but it’s better than nothing and I don’t like having to resort to holding her still as that would make it more stressful)