[TXTennis]

DD wants to do it herself but I know she can't do it how it should be done. She really fights DH and myself for this task. Any suggestions? DD is 18 months.

[robandjulie]

we let our dd play with it for awhile and "try" and then we say "Ok, now it's mommy's turn. I need 5" and then I count to 5 as I brush. A slow 5. In that time I get the bottom right (1)...bottom left (2)... top (3/4) and then I tell her to close and I get the fronts.

We'd already established a habit of us counting for a lot of stuff, but that's what works at our house.

Good luck!

[Kaceysmama]

Getting my two year old son to brush his teeth is a battle and a half (along with just about everything else). Finally, I got one of those cute little kids "spin brushes" and it definitely helps. Even if he can just put it in his mouth, it does alot of the work for him. He puts it in and I kind of "direct him" where to go. It has helped tremendously.

Good luck!
Kris

[SmileLaughLearn]

He gets his turn first, then it's my turn. For my turn, I tickle him-- he opens his mouth, I brush. I also sing a made-up song about brushing teeth, so I know that we've brushed long enough.

[carolynpep73]

I VERY much remember that exact battle at that age.
I think with Olivia it was a control thing. It was just one more thing that she wanted to do but really couldn't. I gave her some of the control by allowing her to have her own time with the toothbrush before it was time for me to have a turn. When it was my turn I would have another brush for her to hold which she always thought was better than the one she was just using. Sometimes I just had to hold her down and brush her teeth. It was rare but it did happen. Now at 2.5 she does great! Be consistent and keep on brushing those little teeth.

[alreadylove2005]

Does anyone know when they're old enough to learn not to swallow the toothpaste and can spit it out?

How often do y'all brush their teeth?

Any toothpaste recommendations?

[frankiegirl]

My daughter is 21months and we have been having this battle for awhile. I will let her brush her teeth at the same time I am brushing mine. Than I take one of those finger brushes and finish brushing her teeth. The finger brush is something new we are trying. Another mommy told me this is what her doctor told her to do and it has been working great.
We brush twice a day and she copies everything I do when we are brushing together. She loves the spitting in the sink part.
We use Orajel toddler training toothpaste. It does not have flouride so it is safe for them to swallow. You can pick it up and any super market.

[drjeanne]

Yes, definitely fluoride free toothpaste...unless you like cleaning up sick! and brush twice a day....morning and night!

Incidently, not wanting to have your teeth brushed is a "toddler thing"! I'm a dentist and yes, I have to hold my toddler down sometimes too! My daughter is at my office every day and she even can hold a mouth mirror in my mouth and count my teeth but, she still doesn't like brushing her own teeth! UGH! I know how frustrating it is! I've tried all your methods and more! Thanks for giving me a couple more to try!

Jeanne *keep smiling*

[WVUMom418]

We use the toothpaste called Stages, it's okay if the kids swallow it because it doesn't have floride in it. We let the girls try to brush their teeth first and then after a couple of minutes then we say "okay it's Mommy's turn". And then they get to rinse the toothbrush and put it in the holder when I'm done. It was a fight at first but if you are just consistant then it will stop being a fight.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by alreadylove2005

Does anyone know when they're old enough to learn not to swallow the toothpaste and can spit it out?

I would say that itt totally depends the child. My daughter and older son were spitting by age 3. (My MIL even taught my older son to gargle!) My younger son still isn't good at spitting at age 4.5. Not sure what 'normal' is, but just my experience.

[drasusi]

My son "brushes" his teeth for as long as he seems to be enjoying it....then my husband passes him to me and says "Control de Calidad" ("Quality Control"), and I wrestle with him to actually make toothbrush hit teeth. We have some enamel defects on the front teeth, and some stain from a bacteria that looks black on the teeth, so I went to the Pedi Dentist in a panic that I wasn't doing enough.....He laughed and said we're doing better than many parents of toddlers, and that he could get the stain off if I wanted to traumatize my son or risk anesthesia....neither of which seemed appealing. So night after night it goes, the quality control nightmare! Hoping it's a phase, but we're in about month 5 now....(son is 22 months.....)
We also use the Orajel flouride-free toothpaste...that, at least, my son likes....he licks it off the toothbrush!

[Wonk]

We brush in front of her. We comment, look Mommy is brushing her teeth. Do you want to brush yours? Kids are such mimics....

[angieandstever]

We started using an infant super soft brush when she was about 7 months just for her to get used to it. She was great until about 13 months and then wouldn't let us. So we bought a Sesame Street spin brush at Target for like $5.00 and at first she let us use it but then she started wanting to and again refused. So now I let her play with it for a while (she actually does get some of her teeth) and then I take over. Sometimes if she doesn't let us then I run the water in the sink and she plays with that while I brush her teeth. Distraction seems to work 75% of the time. Good luck!

[mildredjohn]

that's very normal for the age. Our baby boy started from 15 months old and he wanted to do it alone too. MAria Jose also wants to do it by herself. What I do is to give them the brushes when I start doing mine, so they have time to do it themselves. When I finish my whole process, brushing, flossing,etc... I go back and sit with each one. It is mummy time to tickle their gums and teeth. While I'm brushing them I mention...tickle,tickle,tickle!!! then the next step.

[Triton]

My DD just turned 3 and is changing her habit a bit. From about 18 months to a week ago we would stand in front of the mirror and brush together and she would try to mimic what I was doing while I would sing silly toothbrushing songs (i.e. We have to brush "Sally's" teeth because she ate a leaf, and caused her mommy grief, but maybe tomorrow she'll earn a treat...) They don't have to rhyme, but eventually she would try making them up also. It is really cute. Many times I would have to follow up her efforts with my own, but I think if you keep the situation light-hearted they resist a little less.

However, about a week ago she started getting her toothbrush and bringing it to me and laying in my lap and telling me she needs help. So I will brush her teeth with my hand on top of hers while she is in my lap--but I still sing the songs I figure this won't last long but at least she is getting a good brushing and learning how to do the motions. According to Gesell books this is highly typical of a 3 year old. Kids who have been so independent up to now undergo a "we" stage, at least for a while.

Point is, hang in there and be as adamant about him brushing his teeth as he is about not brushing, be consistent, and try to make it fun. It will be fine.

Triton