Tooth-brushing tips for 9-month-old please!

[femi]

So far it's been hell: DD loves the toothbrush but WILL NOT part with it to allow me to put paste on or even turn it round so the bristles go in her mouth! I've never seen her get so traumatised when I take something off her! Do I need to get 2 brushes, like the 2-spoons technique at mealtimes?! She watches me brush - that doesn't help yet.

Also when will I be able to get her to spit, and does it matter that it doesn't seem like she'll be able to do so for quite some time? (I use hardly any paste.)

If you only use a smear of a children's toothpaste, it won't matter that she can't spit. Dd is 3.5 and still doesn't always manage to spit properly.

When my dd wanted to play with the brush, I just wiped a smear of paste onto a muslin square and wiped her teeth with that. I did try the two brush technique, which worked when she was a little older, but at first she just wanted to play with both brushes.

Don't worry too much about 'brushing properly' at this age - it's more a case of getting into a routine where they're used to brushing a couple of times a day. Two toothbrushes might work well - what we do is dp or I have a go first, then dd gets to have a chew on the toothbrush.

Dd is 2 and still doesn't spit out at all. We use kiddie toothpaste and only the tiniest smear, so I don't think it matters.

You can also try getting them to brush the teeth of their favourite teddy bear or doll whilst you have a go at them!

Now she's bigger dd's favourite thing is remembering what she's just eaten that needs brushing off her teeth - so we always say "oooh I can see pasta, lets brush it off", then she will chime in with "apple on my teeth" etc.

Its entertaining trying to brush the teeth of a baby isn't it?! I also can't get the brush off my 13mth old, so I make sure the paste is on it before he even sees it. I haven't had the problem of him chewing the wrong end - ! - maybe 2 brushes would work, so if she got the wrong end you could tempt her with another one pointing the wrong way. I wouldn't worry too much about actually trying to brush - I think the important thing is that they get used to the idea, and if they chew the bristles that does something.
And don't worry about spitting - children's toothpaste is very mild with not much formula in it