How do you brush your 20mth olds teeth?

[SquidgersMummy]

Currently dd will suck the toothpaste - give a cursory brush and chew and them discard the brush. If I stand behind her she'll let me have a quick go but it's hard to feel what I'm doing and she bites the brush. Not great. At all. Days pass where it's not done. We've had other bigger stuff to sort out but now we need to tackle this. Do you hold them? Do you face them? Exactly what works for you? Thanks xx

with my 17 month old I sit her on my knee facing to the side, tip her back a bit, put the the brush in and brush her teeth as best I can. Sometimes she struggles but mostly she's ok with it. When I've done I let her have a go.
We've been doing this since she was around 7 months old so is well used to it.
I do a similar thing with 3y old ds but he has more control now and is learning to do it by himself.
I let them watch me brush my teeth and have played around with the toothpaste: you can get different flavours and colours. For ds we got him a Fireman Sam toothbrush which inspired him to brush more happily.

I sit dd on my knee in a 'cradle' hold (like a baby) and sing wild versions of songs in funny voices until it's done. We have to do a bit at a time but I persevere until it's finished.
She needs to know it's non negotiable. She won't win this battle.
Used to have to wrap in a towel to keep the octopus arms at bay but seem to have progressed, thank god.
Good luck, be strong and do it EVERY day.

I stand behind him at the mirror, hold his forehead, and brush while he watches. Or I do mine just before, he loves doing what we do!