Cutting toenails of wailing, wrestling toddler

[notnowbernard]

I've just about sussed a system for getting her teeth brushed (she goes completely mental about this, too) It involves restraining, waiting for the screams then attack with the brush

But I am stuck with the nails. She lets me do fingernails, but goes apeshit when I try and do her toes. Armed with scissors this is a dangerous business

She's 20m... any tips gratefully received!

She only needs to eat the toothpaste...

Honestly at this age - and I was told this by the dentist - the important thing is for them to get into the habit of sticking a brush in their mouth and to get fluoride in their mouths. actual brushing not essential as so few teeth.

I did this with dd1 and by 3 she was brushing her own teeth effectively. Never had any problems about teeth brushing and now (5) she is very good - surfaces, circular brushing etc. and she never moans about doing it (unlike just about everything else I ask her do).

my ds was just like this - he used to scream 'ow ow' really loud and cry etc every time i put the nail clippers near his toes!! He's never been hurt when cutting toenails btw. nail clippers better than scissors imo. He 27 months and he's much better. Now looks at his nails and shows me which ones need cutting. i do them after a bath and he watches us cuts ours (sorry bit gross but i was trying to normalise toenail clipping!!!) i guess i'm saying it should get better in time, i hope. Does n't help you right now, sorry.

He was the same with nappy changing for a while, now he's much better about it as i can reason with him. ie when we've changed your nappy, we'll play....etc also he can understand if i don't change him his bum gets sore (recent bad experience at nursery when left in soiled nappy for 1 hour left him with very sore bum, so this explanation now works a treat!!) Teeth burshing was the same. used to bite the tooth brush and scream at the sight. Now i let him 'brush' his teeth but only if i get a good go at them first. he loves sucking the water off his brush (i rinse it thoroughly so very little paste left) and this seems a reasonable compromise for us both so far...

Your ds is still a bit young maybe for some of this but in a few months she may get it. i can appreciate how frustrating it is as you can't reason with them and at this age, it seems like never ending battles - you get one thing sorted and another appears to challenge your parenting skills!!

good luck
xx

That is reassuring

DD1 always let me clean her teeth and is a good independent brusher now (4.4)

DD2 totally opposite

Oh and that's the other thing. If you let'em have a go at their teeth first, they are more likely to let you 'finish' brushing their teeth.

My dd2 brings me the nappy box and wet wipes when she needs changing (16 months). Starting to think I may be a slummy mummy.....

glad to be of service - hope it all works out.

my ds (autistic) has always had problems with nail cutting, hair cuts etc. The only way he can cope is by reassuring him there is a start and an end to the event. For nails it is a countdown 10, 9, 8 etc then finish. This has also worked at the dentist and after 3 years of trying he has had his teeth examined.

A timer, sand or buzzer, can also help.

Good luck

do it when she's asleep

TBH I had to get DH to do it cos me and DD both just got in a right state. When DH was away for a long spell I had to psych myself up for it big time. If it's any consolation it did get easier as she got older.

Let her play barefoot frequently in a sandpit. Ds1 went through a phase like this and I didn't have to cut his nails for months until he was ready to co-operate. Even in winter he would be warmly wrapped up, but barefoot in the sand!

Now, at 7yo, he still sometimes uses our nonsense mantra while I trim his nails, knowing that if he starts when I put the scissors to his nail I will have finished trimming the nail by the time he finishes the mantra.