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aeh72

SmittyPants

I had similar issues. What I did was "brush" my teeth (just putting the brush to my teeth but not actually brushing my teeth with it) saying "Mommy's turn to brush teeth!" and then saying "Your turn to brush teeth!" in an over-the-top super excited voice, and then brushing just a bit of her teeth. Rinse and repeat until they're all brushed. 

It takes for flucking ever, but it works for us. Also, I pretty much do this with everything- sunscreen, veggies, shoes, etc. 

mben1119

O. M. G. Brushing teeth has become meltdown city in my house. In the AM, when I brush my teeth DS brushes his too. But lately, its just been him chomping down on the brush for a while, then screaming, crying, and running away when I try to help him finish.

SusieBW

DD generally just sucks and chews on her toothbrush for a while.  I was trying to let her brush her own teeth (the important part with the toothpaste), while I just did the rinse part, at which point I would actually brush all of her teeth with just water.  But that didn't work out, because DD just doesn't want anyone else putting a toothbrush in her mouth.  So now we're focusing on the noise the toothbrush makes on her teeth, and getting her to make that noise.  It's going better, but is still not ideal.  I'm not making a big deal of it - she enjoys doing it, and I feel like that's pretty good news.  She's only 1 1/2, kwim?

Holding her down and brushing them for her was only going to make the whole thing more traumatic for everyone involved, so I try to appeal to her independent streak and let her stand on the stool in front of the sink and do it herself.  I guess my feeling about it is that I'm just trying to make it a habit and teach her the right way for now, even if she's not doing a very good job.  These are baby teeth, and at least some brushing is getting done twice a day; it's better than nothing.  By the time she's getting adult teeth, she'll be better at it.

summerbld2

we sing a brushing teeth song every time we brush our teeth and everytime he brushes his teeth. we give him his toothbrush so he can hold it while he watches us have a fun time singing and brushing our teeth. it makes him want to play along. he doesn't do a great job and brushing it is mostly chewing and "sucking" the toothpaste off but it gets him in the habit of brushing. good luck with it

mamaZbo

I bought DD a kids spinbrush and we decorated it with stickers. She likes to "tickle" her teeth with it. I figure even if she doesn't do great brushing the spinning will help. I usually let her attempt it and then I get a turn. Sometimes I will get my brush out and have her help me brush and show her how. DD is pretty laid back with the whole thing, so it has always been easy.

I remember babysitting for a kid once and the parents insisted on brushing his teeth before they left because they wanted to make sure it was done right... the two of them together held him down and forcefully brushed his teeth as he screamed and cried. Were his teeth cleaner than I get my DD's now...maybe, but IMO it isn't worth the battle.

thechickencoop

I think the HABIT of teeth brushing is way more important than the actual brushing at this age.  DS and I brush ours together every morning, he "brushes" while I brush mine, but he really just chews and sucks on the toothbrush.  Up until last week I would do a little 'rinse brush' after, but he started to fuss for that so we stopped.  We do the same thing at bedtime before we read; although, he's usually less into it at night because he's tired.

I would definitely stop forcing the issue, and avoid holding him down because I would think it would just make him hate it in the long run (but I don't have any older kid experience, just what I would think!).  Try giving him the brush himself and making funny noises or sing a silly song like some pp suggested to try to make it a happier experience over all.  Hopefully he'll start to hate it a little less! 

aeh72

Thanks everyone! I don't know why he haven't tried to have him watch us and model what we're doing.  Duh?? :-)  We will work on that and coming up with a teeth brushing song!