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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

Brushing teeth - how to convince DS I'm not trying to kill him?

17 replies

tartetatin · 16/04/2009 12:22

It's a nightmare, he froths at the mouth like a rabid dog - toothpaste spraying all over the place. I'm sure he thinks I'm trying to poison him. Tried different flavours, getting him to do it himself etc etc... he is 2.6 by the way. Any suggestions?

OP posts:

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bubblagirl · 16/04/2009 12:29

i got my ds to brush my teeth then i said my turn gently brushed his teeth whilst he was doing mine

B52s · 16/04/2009 15:24

We tried various things like letting him see us brush our teeth first, letting him brush ours while we do his, brushing his bears' teeth, using a hand puppet to brush. Worse when he's teething (DS is 2.3 and still got 4 more teeth to come). If we just manage to get the brush in and he's fighting us we leave it at that. Some nights he's happy, some nights not. Mornings are more of a challenge though.

Just got to conquer the clipping of the toe nails next - he actually shakes with fear...

underpaidandoverworked · 17/04/2009 00:06

What about buying a toothbrush for his favourite teddy and doing teddies teeth at the same time. Then get some stickers from WHSMITHS or other places and give teddy a sticker 1st, will be amazed if your ds doesn't want a sticker too . I'm a childminder and over the years have found that children will usually do more for a sticker than they will for sweets or money . Reward charts worked with my ds when we went through this.

Toenails - can't advise on that one as I hate touching feet - that's dh's territory

DuffyFluckling · 17/04/2009 05:44

An electric toothbrush in the shape of a mermaid solved all our problems.

me222 · 18/04/2009 19:06

my daughter is 18 months old and we brush our teeth together as its our 'morning and bedtime routine' lol! it may not work but my daughter used to throw a complete tantrum kicking and screaming at first but now its 'big girls brush their teeth' and i brush hers first then she gets the chance to do it herself. she seems pleased and happy we both do it together!

Clure · 18/04/2009 19:17

sticker chart, nice toothbrush, fruity gel toothpaste - failing that headlock

me222 · 18/04/2009 20:23

Also with my step daughter now 6 y/o but at the time was 3 we used to say things like the policemans coming to check if every little boy and girl has brushed their teeth and been good or something similar like daddy's coming we have to brush our teeth by the time he comes into the bathroom and sure enough it was a game so she did it!

dinkystinky · 18/04/2009 21:08

We let DS1 brush his teeth himself before his bath (he just chewed on the brush) and then brushed it ourselves after his bath (just to finish it off for him)

outnumbered2to1 · 18/04/2009 22:31

i used to give my DS2 (just turned 2) a dry brush when i brushed his big brothers or my teeth. Then got him to brush mine while i brushed his. now he points to his brush before he gets into his jammies after his bath.

The toenail thing i can only suggest waiting till they are asleep and doing it then

tigana · 18/04/2009 22:36

Say "shhhhh..can you hear you teeth giggling while I tickle them with this brush?" and "tickle those teeth" etc etc. This was weird enough to gt through to ds.

THe other one that works with ds is:
me "what have you eaten today?"
ds "yoghurt"
me "ohhhh, quick must brush the yoghurt off " ( cue quick scrub of a few teeth)
me "what else"
ds "pasta"
and so on and so on

mellymell · 22/04/2009 19:31

Another suggestion - if your DS likes trains, then suggest he uses the brush on his teeth to make the chuf chuf noises. Now, my DS1 likes to recite a list of trains that we are cleaning when we do his teeth. Has become slightly OCD like, but we're getting there!

devientenigma · 22/04/2009 23:21

My DS is 8 years old, although he is down syndrome and severly delayed among other problems. We have tried everything, different tactics, brushes etc. We've been there and done it. As he is at risk of endochartitis due to heart condition we are now (3 of us) pinning him down and forcing him) wrong I know but have been told by hospital for his own good.

devientenigma · 22/04/2009 23:24

try brushing your teeth in front of him without saying look at mammy, he might then be curious. We have tried singing along all the family like an aquafresh advert, stories, pictures, silicone finger brushes, teething rings, games, brushing teddies, brush aways, toothpaste on the finger, him brushing ours the list is endless.

MollieO · 22/04/2009 23:25

Getting ds in a head lock worked for me until he was 4 and he developed an interest in the tooth fairy. He now knows that if his teeth fall out because of not being brushed the tooth fairy won't want the tooth and he won't get any money. He used to scream so loudly that I worried about ss turning up.

Shylily · 25/04/2009 21:42

So glad I'm not alone!
I spent £7 on tooth-brushing products the other day! Got a flashing toothbrush and an electric one plus sparkly toothpaste amongst other things.
The electric one is the winner but now I'm a bit worried he'll scrub his gums off!

Dottoressa · 25/04/2009 21:44

My toothbrush-hating DS likes me getting the sugar-monsters off his teeth. They chant about destroying his teeth, then make farting noises as the brush destroys them instead...

Ceebee74 · 25/04/2009 21:55

I have tried all sorts with DS1 (reward chart, letting him watch me do it, singing to him whilst doing it etc) - all been successful for a while to a varying degree but then he reverts to not doing it all.

Am back to doing the headlock version after his bath (sitting him on my knee with his legs trapped between mine and his arms held under his towel).....he screams whilst I am doing it but then merrily runs off for his dummy (which he is only allowed then) and is absolutely fine.

I figure I will have to do this until he is old enough to understand why he needs to clean his teeth.

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