Brushing toddlers teeth. Trauma!

lollyone | 21:04 Sun 11th Apr 2010 | Parenting

9 Answers

Teeth brushing time is becoming a real nightmare in our house. Our 15 month old HATES it. She bucks and screams and turns her head. I've tried giving her her own brush to hold while we do it but still major tantrums. We're having to wrestle her and I dread having to do it.
Any tips to make this less stressful would be greatfully received!

Moving the kids away from the area and their father.

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sara3

can she do yours, while you do hers?

you have to find a distraction that works.

redcrx

can you let her try and do them herself and then do them yourself and give her brush back to continue herself again?
maybe she hates the taste of the paste, tesco do a strawberry one for kids.

karenmac60

What about this?

http://www.amazon.co....ef=pd_sl_2myru5zmlr_b

k8bailey

I went through this with my little madam, had to pin her down and let her scream, one morning I said I'd had enough and got her dad to do it.....she was a liitle angel for him (novelty value) Unfortunately he's not always/often around at the right times to brush teeth - hopefully it's something they'll grow out of, mine is getting better about it these days.

lollyone

Question Author

Thank you for your answers.
sara, I thought you were a genius this morning despite the toothpaste in my eyebrows and hair. But alas, this evening we were back to square one. Think the novelty wore off too quickly.
red, thats usually what we do. Let her have a chew of the brush and then attempt to 'help' but thats when the tantrums begin. I actually think she likes the taste of the toothpaste as she sucks it off the brush then asks for more!
thanks for the link karen. I'm willing to give anything a go.
She's the same for either of us unfortunately k8. Think we might just have to ride it out til she realises that its just tough and it has to be done.
Thanks again guys.

karenmac60

You could always try reverse phsychology. Buy all new brushes and toothpaste and make a big deal out of you and dad brushing your teeth and how good the paste tastes and how nice your teeth feel but tell her she's too wee to use them, they're for big girls or something...

B00

I'm going to go against everyone elses ideas (sorry!) and say just leave her to it! She's still a baby yet, and i believe there's no reason to stress her (and you) out over this yet.

Let her chew the brush, toothpaste whatever. In time she'll eventually be able to understand that we all have to clean our teeth, her included and she'll just do it. This worked with my now 5 year old. She was over 3 before i could successfully get her to clean them.

ladyalex

I couldn't get my son to clean his teeth and eventually gave up on it.
He eventually started to do it himself, cannot remember how old he was.
I did always take him to the dentist, though.
He is now in his twenties with a perfect set of beautiful teeth, no fillings.
So don't worry, she'll brush her own teeth eventually, she's just a baby still.