first teeth - brushing before bed

[larena90]

Hi all, DD is 5months and has just got two bottom teeth so thinking about starting brushing.

How did you all start? Today as a start I gave her the toothbrush to hold and put in her mouth.

I'm really not sure what to do at night though. She usually falls asleep towards the end of her last bottle and I don't think would appreciate being woken and having a toothbrush shoved in her mouth!

We gave ds a toothbrush to play with (supervised) when he was 3/4 months and started brushing when he got teeth (5 months ish). I brushed his teeth twice a day (but only used baby toothpaste at one of them until he turned one) once after breakfast and once after his bath. When he was 11 months we started to brush his teeth after his bedtime bottle. We probably should have done it earlier but, as you say he fell asleep with his bottle until then.

We started brushing in the bath but he loved it too much and wouldn't give the brush back! Also thought best to leave it til after the bottle. Only started this at 12 months, but now I shove the brush in his mouth just after he's finished drinking - it's much quicker and less fuss!

Thanks for the advice. I've just had a go at brushing her teeth this morning. She tolerated it but had a distasteful look on her face. I only brushed for about 30 seconds but it's a start.

So for bedtime you're saying you just brushed after bath and before bottle till they were a wee bit older? I think I'll try that then, and if she's awake after the bottle then get in a sneaky wee extra brush!