Brushing toddler teeth

[sara76]

Any suggestions? Amelia acts like its the coming of hell. Her Dr wouldn't mind me even using a tiny bit of fluoridated toothpaste because of looking at her teeth, but I can't even get the toothbrush in her mouth much less with toothpaste on it. I have tried the ones that go on my finger, and I threw that out. Now I have a cute Elmo and Abby toothbrush but she won't let it get near her mouth. I think I should have started getting used to touching her teeth earlier, like a puppy.

[tashaandsage]

I can't even remember back to Beckett brushing his teeth at that age, and with Maisy she wanted to brush hers because she wanted to be like her big brother. Have you tried letting her do it herself (maybe with just water) and then you kind of take over? Or perhaps incorporating music into the routine? We have a musical toothbrush that sings a tooth brushing song. We don't use the toothbrush anymore for brushing anymore, but we still play the song, which they love.

[sara76]

I have not seen a musical toothbrush. Off to amazon! Thanks:).

I def let her do it herself. She wouldn't let me do it if I tried. I stopped trying at night becauae shes tired and instead attempt only in the morning while I'm brushing my own. I think a special song could help.

[babybchbum]

We had to start while he was in the tub playing. Now he thinks it is the best thing ever. Get a kid friendly tasting tooth paste (maybe strawberry) And try that.

[sara76]

Yep. I have strawberry. I'm still working in getting the brush to touch her teeth before trying the paste.

[babybchbum]

The paste may be the trick bc she likes the flavor so will open her mouth for you to get the brush to her teeth

[mrsjenrn]

Zoe gets her teeth brushed in the tub and loves it. The morning is a little more challenging because she is obviously not in the tub. She is also more cooperative for my H than me when it comes to teeth brushing and eating. WTF.

[mskateb]

We've had to use so many different tricks and games, I'm trying to remember some of them. 

I know for sure that making it fun somehow works, and being all hard-ass about it doesn't. At least with Lily. (Insert obligatory statement about how  all parenting styles are acceptable and all kids are different.) She might need to be older for some of this; I honestly don't remember.

--Try letting her brush your teeth.
--Pretend that you don't know how to brush teeth and let her show you on her own teeth. --Pretend to find all the stuff she just ate.
--Pretend to find just about anything inside her mouth. I think we used to find zoo animals. Hunting cavity bugs might work, too.
--Pretend that she IS a zoo animal with big teeth to clean. 
--Sticker chart. 
--Try a spin brush

I do remember that the toddler stage was tough on the teeth brushing battle. It gets much, much easier. :-) 

[jen812]

I remember my niece being resistant. Getting the cavity bugs seemed to work on her. She also liked to spit in the toilet. Good luck.

[Deleted]

Sonicare toothbrush for kids. It beeps/sings a song every 30 seconds. I feel like even if it's a struggle and a shitty brushing job, maybe some of the sonic-ness helped anyways?