DS goes mental during tooth brushing - any tips pleeease?

[wolfear]

Ds is 21 months and we have a battle every morning and night during tooth brushing. He's fine with his bottom teeth, it's just getting the top ones done that set him off. I can barely even get up there before he starts screaming, kicking and gets really distressed. Occasionally there blood on his brush but I really try to be gentle. Has anyone got any tips?

Musical toothbrush or one with a timer?

Is the taste of the toothpaste a bit strong? even some of the ones for dcs are quite minty/strong iykwim.

Try brushing without paste, or change variety, just to get him used to it.

Try just brushing once a day initially, we do it in the bath with our dd2 who is the same age, then there is no need to worry about mess etc or if the brush gets dropped.

Brush your own teeth at the same time and encourage him to "brush" yours - when we do this dd loves it.

We have solved this situation by using a hand puppet to clean my 2 year olds teeth...sounds bizzare but it actually works!! Its a bath washing puppet in the shape of a duck and she'll let him clean her teeth no probs!!

Don't brush his teeth from the front - it's very aggressive and can make hm gag and panic.

Sit on the side of the bath and put him on your lap facing away from you.

Lean round and brush from that position - getting him to put his hand on your hand so he feels a bit in control?

If you don't understand how horrid it is to have someone else in charge of your toothbrush ask someone to brush your teeth for you - it's ghastly!

We let our ds have his own toothbrush in his hand. He used to hate it too cos he wanted to be in control. So we now have one for him and one for us and he's much happier now. It's mummy/daddy's turn first, then his