Brushing teeth

[sunnyfields25]

Hi there

DS is nearly one year old and brushing his teeth has become a daily challenge. He didn't used to mind it when we first started with one of those finger brushes. When he got fed up we tried a normal brush (no luck) and then a little electric brush. I thought because it's what he sees us using he'd be more interested, but no.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on getting a little one to let you brush their teeth.

I'd rather try and make it fun than force it because I've tried the firm route and it just resulted in lots of crying and a banged head

Nothing works for long in my experience.

Two tooth brushes for him and one for you.
Let him brush your teeth.
Find a toothbrushing song on YouTube.
Brush teeth in front of CBeebies.

None of my methods will win you parent of year but they seems to help.

Allow him to play with tooth brush and brush dolls and teddy’s and teeth.

I let 22mo DD2 have a go at brushing them then we have a go. She has just started letting us in for a clean occassionally (as her sister did around this age, so there's hope!) but if she doesn't then we pin her. Like your DC, she flails her limbs and head so we do it in the middle of the bed to avoid smashing her head into the sink hurting her. We have perfected the pin.

We tried distraction (toys/YouTube etc), a toothbrush each, and brushing each other's teeth with DD1 without luck, so went straight for what works with DD2. It doesn't take long to do and the moment we let go the screaming stops so she's clearly not traumatised! It's not fun for anyone, but non-negotiable.

Ha @gingerbreadbiscuits I resorted to plonking DS in front of CBeebies a few days ago so that I could trim his nails. Desperate times call for desperate measures! I tried playing a tooth-brushing song/video on my phone this morning and it distracted him long enough to have a quick brush of both top and bottom (very quick) so that's a small improvement.

It sounds like I could have quite a wait until he's fully cooperative then @Anxiouschild. A bed pin sounds much safer. I tried forcing the brush in while he was sat on my knee and his head banged on the bathroom wall I felt awful. It's tricky because I know his teeth need brushing, but I'm scared if I make it into a big stressful event for him that always involves crying then he'll resist even more.

I stupidly thought he was just going to let me brush his teeth when they started appearing. Didn't even occur to me he might put up a fight!

I have to swaddle DD in a towel so she can't get her arms up. It's torture for both of us. I think we started too late waiting until her first tooth came at 11 months. Next baby will do it from day 1 and hope he just accepts it. Sympathies. It's grim.

There will be times when you will have to pin DS down to the ground and just brush his teeth. You can swaddle when younger but difficult to do on a tall nearly 4 year old. DD went through this and is now pretty good. Try brushing favourite teddies teeth as well. Also the tomliboo toothbrushing song is good and long. You can get light up toothbrushes but by the time the lights have been admired they switch off so lights aren't on for long enough imo.

I can only trim DDs nails at night when she is asleep while wearing a headtorch. Its one battle I cannot win.