Teeth brushing and toddlers

[H8theW8]

My DS is 13 months old and HATES having his teeth brushed, it's always a massive struggle!

He got his first 2 teeth at 7 months and now has 7 (that we can see).

We've changed toothbrush, brushed our teeth in front of him, let him brush our teeth... that's all good but when it comes to brushing his teeth he just sucks the toothpaste off the brush and then clamps his mouth shut. When we try to coax him he has a full on meltdown.

It's really bothering me now as he has lovely big teeth and I don't want them rotting but it's really distressing for both of us to have to restrain him and force the toothbrush into his mouth (which I've only done once and am not keen to repeat it).

Does anyone have any other tips on how to get them to allow you to brush their teeth? I'm at a bit of a loss to be honest.

Thanks.

My DD was exactly the same! She is 21 months now and is really good with it. The key is to be persistent but, not forceful and make it fun.

We got an battery operated toothbrush from Amazon and the green apple toothpaste and she loved it. DH and I both use electric toothbrushes so, we wanted her to see that we were doing exactly the same as her.

At first, she outright refused and did the same as your DD. I eventually got her to come around by taking her with me when I was brushing my teeth, then (either during or, after) I would ask if she wanted to brush her teeth. Like you say, she would often just suck the toothpaste off and bite on it but, gradually they start to understand more as routine kicks in. I tend to give her the toothbrush, let her do her thing and then offer to help after a few seconds have passed. Try not to focus on the old 'two minute rule' etc as, whilst they are still getting all of their teeth, I think the main focus is on establishing a routine and the more thorough cleans come in when they are older.

Sometimes, DD still refuses to have her teeth cleaned now and we say okay and don't force her, then we try again later and if she says no again, we leave it and start again the next day. She also sometimes says 'all finished' before we have even had chance to touch them so, we often have to say 'quick quick nearly finished and then we are going to ..Grandmas' etc. The whole time we are brushing or she is brushing we gush about how much of a good job she is doing.

I wouldn't recommend pinning down and making you both upset as, they will begin to associate and will only think of it negatively. DH and I would often stand and brush our teeth together and she would get 'FOMO' and wont us to pick her up so that she could see. Then we would make a big deal about how she was 'brushing her teeth like Daddy' (he's the favourite.. hmph) and she would get really excited.

Good luck!! :) X

Hey duggee toothrbushing song is a miracle worker give that a go

I used to do it in front of CBeebies.

We done it when he was wrapped in towel after bath so he couldn't kick out.
I also used to give him it during nappy changes with no toothpaste on so he would get used to it himself.
Worked a treat!

We got baby electric toothbrush and she does her teeth at same time as I do mine, it seems to help.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FGUUW16/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_RT13F9TTJMHSCKZAYVM1?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thanks very much for the hints and tips ladies, I'll definitely give them a try! X

At that age it's more about getting them into the habit than actually doing it properly, so don't push too hard but praise any small increment in achievement, so putting the brush in/near her mouth, then brushing it a bit, then using toothpaste etc.

We did/do it in the bath a lot.

From about 18 months you can start adding songs or games but they don't really understand them much earlier. I've had success with "Oh I can see something orange, let me brush away that orange carrot" (repeat for random colours) and an "eee and aaaah song" which is any song you like but incoroporating eeee and aaaah sounds.

When they get older you can expand the colours game to suggest implausible things they might have eaten so green might be a crocodile, orange might be a basketball, yellow a jumper. Then they can correct you and say nooooo carrot/brocolli/banana.