Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Teeth brushing - I won’t use force

101 replies

Daffy20 · 09/08/2022 15:59

Son refuses to let me brush his teeth at 2 years.
i have tried
letting him choose toothbrush
brushing to songs
giving him control
making it fun
using reward charts

he wants to do it perhaps two days in the weeks But unfortunately his brushing lasts about 15 secs and it’s not really a tooth brushing- you know what I mean… yes effectively he is taking some responsibility but it has no effect on his teeth hygiene

he won’t let me do it - please don’t tell me to hold him down and do it because I won’t do that - so any other advice greatly appreciated.
any tips ?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
WhatWhereWhenHowWhy · 20/04/2023 06:21

siblingrevelryagain · 09/08/2022 16:49

I've seen those heartbreaking docs where children as young as 4 are having to be held down for anaesthetic to have their teeth pulled. Far worse than a bit of tough love now (and now always because of extreme diet - a lot of fruit plus poor teeth hygiene is enough to need treatment)

You just have to make this one of those non-negotiables; we know it's not painful and he'll soon understand it's not something he gets to choose whether to do

This ^

I've worked in roles where children have had to have numerous teeth removed because parents were neglectful.

Not saying you are neglectful because you care enough to be asking advice, but if it gets to a point where he has decay due to not brushing then it's not great is it. Far better to give a bit of tough love, be firm and put expectations in place.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page