When did you start cleaning teeth last thing at night?

[Jane7]

My eleven month old dd still has a bath, then bottle of formula, then bed. We try to clean her teeth after the bath/in the bath. I assumed this was fine, but just read a few threads here about how you shld get in routine of cleaning teeth last thing at night rather than giving milk afterwards. Do people really do this, or is that just an ideal situation. I was planning to transfer bottle to a cup of milk at about 18 months but not do anything until then. She has five teeth.

I started cleaning teeth after milk right away. Just seemed the most logical thing to do.
However, you have already passed this point, so I would suggest that you try and change as soon as possible.
Maybe check with your dentist / health visitor who would know current guidelines?

When I started DD (now 3) on a cup of cows milk at 12 months, I started giving it to her between teatime and bathtime (whilst she watched ITNG!). She then had teeth brushed straight before bed, after her bath. This is the norm for us, although sometimes if she is very slow drinking her milk (perhaps if tea was late) she finishes it off after she brushes her teeth, but that's quite rare.
I know its a long way off for you, but we are currently attempting to get DD dry in the night, and it really does help if they are used to having their last drink a little while before bedtime.

Taught by the hospital to clean dd gums with a piece of cloth after every drink. Not entirely practical (or humane) for a newborn, but she's got great grinners now.

We had the same routine as you until DS was about 18 months, IIRC. I just decided not to worry too much about the fact that he didn't have his teeth cleaned after his milk - not based on any evidence, I'm afraid! Then at 18 months we started giving him his bottle before his bath (also in front of ITNG, like mumofeve!). Now at 23 months we're in a really nice routine of milk cuddle and Beebies, bath and teeth, then bed. Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much.

bath, milk, teeth clean

Bath, milk, teeth, cuddle, book then bed

Milk sugars are not good for teeth, but if your DC still bites everything that goes into his mouth and it becomes a battle, maybe offer a drink of water to rinse the mouth out a bit after the milk? Agree with mumofeve that limiting drinks in the run up to bedtime is something you should be aiming at -- maybe drink, then toothbrushing attempt, then bath, cuddle, bed?

We changed things round by introducing a book before bed. For DD the cuddly book session worked just as well at calming her as her milk did, we'd expected a struggle for a few days but it was fine straight away. So, we did milk, bath, teeth, book/cuddles bed.