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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Cleaning 18 Month olds teeth- no one told me this would be so hard!

14 replies

dickiedoodah · 19/02/2014 17:31

Hello! I can't believe how much of a battle it is and am desperate for tips/ways to make it fun?! Just using basic kids toothbrush and baby toothpaste. When DH is at home we can do it as a team but alone it's impossible. Wondering if electric toothbrush is the way to go since she sees us using them and appears to be more fun. I normally try and sing a song while I'm doing it or distract her by looking at things out the window. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

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clangermum · 19/02/2014 17:37

chewy toothbrush? Amazon sells them, worked for us

muppetthecow · 19/02/2014 17:41

DS1 was like that - we gave him a toothbrush to play with and he gradually came to see it as less threatening, more fun.

He'd brush his teeth six times a day now if we let him! It will get better

Original poster

dickiedoodah · 19/02/2014 17:52

Ok, thanks for the replies. Will give the chewy toothbrush a try. I suppose she might just be going through a phase of hating having her teeth brush, at least that's what I'm going to tell myself!!

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heather1 · 19/02/2014 17:56

I agree it's awful. In the end I used to pin Ds between my legs, or hold him with arms restrained and get on with it as quick as possible. Then let them have a go after with the brush.

MoreSnowPlease · 19/02/2014 17:56

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

HearMyRoar · 19/02/2014 20:03

Yes, it is really hard. We find counting really helps. We do 20 animals of her choice. We can slow it down or speed it up depending on her mood. I think the counting works well as it gives her something to focus on and an indication of when it will be finished. I also think counting has a nice rhythm to it, it has always been good for calming her.

Auntierosemary · 19/02/2014 20:20

I actually had a breakthrough with this very problem tonight with my 15-month-old. She has totally refused to have her teeth brushed up until today, we have tried everything - chewy toothbrush, letting her chew her brush herself, light-up brush, strawberry flavoured toothpaste, toothpaste on finger, rubber thimble toothbrush etc etc

Finally, tonight I gave her my toothbrush and let her brush my teeth while I brushed hers. She co operated for probably ooh 30 seconds. Most chuffed, though there's no saying what will happen tomorrow...

TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 19/02/2014 20:25

Straddle him and pin his arms to his side with knees. Fish-hook him and quickly do a thorough job once a day. He does it the other time.

He's getting better now.

jaybirdsinginginthedeadofnight · 19/02/2014 21:23

DD would let us brush her teeth in the bath in the evenings, mornings was always more of a clamp her between my knees and struggle. Eventually she just seemed to submit to the idea that it was gonna happen no matter what and she stopped putting up such a fight! So like everything with time it does get easier In moments of desperation I used to put toothpaste on my finger and get it in her mouth and round her teeth as best I could, probably a waste of time but made me feel better!

MrsKCastle · 19/02/2014 21:32

Silliness worked with my DD.

Right then, DD, stop crying so that I can brush your nose.

Hang on, that's not right... No, I need to brush your toes let me see them.
No? Oh ok, where do I brush? Hmm, must be your forehead...

I also had some success with pretending to put different things on her toothbrush- custard, ketchup, gravy etc. Eventually she'd be shouting at me to put toothpaste on.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/02/2014 21:34

My just turned 2yo actually pretends to be asleep to avoid bedtime tooth brushing

SearchingforSleep · 19/02/2014 21:47

A tip from a friend - we go through the last meal/ snacks eaten while brushing. "Let's get all those peas out of your teeth! What's this? Looks like there are some fish fingers hiding at the back! Ooh, I've just found some yoghurt!" etc etc My daughter inspects the toothbrush at intervals during the brushing and is totally triumphant if she finds a morsel of food on the brush.
She is 28 months now and it does get so much easier as time goes on...

Original poster

dickiedoodah · 20/02/2014 01:37

Some excellent tips here, am going to let her do mine while I do hers! I think I just need to try and lighten up a bit when I'm doing it, it's just become such a chore! Counting is a good idea also.

OP posts:

Deliaskis · 20/02/2014 11:32

As per MrsCastle and Searching , anything that would make her laugh, so making a game out of it, in fact both the games they have described!

Also, ask her to lie on the floor somewhere not usually linked with teeth cleaning, then go behind her head and look at her upside down, pull funny face until she laughs, then clean teeth while continuing funny faces.

She's just 3 now and I would say for the last year it's just been routine, no resistance really, but 12-24 months required effort and manic entertainment.

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