Hello,
my child is nearly 2 years old and every night before I put her to bed it is a nightmare trying to even get the tooth brush inside her mouth to clean her teeth..... then she just trys to grab the brush and try herself..... which doesn't really amount to much!!
i have tried to make this fun, counting, fashy tooth brush etc but to no avail.
Does anyone have any suggestions please!!!!!
Thanks,
Sophia x
2007-03-01 07:44:03 · 15 answers · asked by Sophia 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
This is a painful topic for me- LOL!!! Anyhow, we used to wipe her teeth and then when she turned 2, she "graduated" to brushing her teeth like a big girl. At first it was great. She brushed and then we "finished her off." All was well. I tried to make sure she was around for anyone brushing their teeth so she could see that big people do this too. But in time, she started hating brushing her teeth. We started to reward her for good brushing with a sticker. Good brushing also includes letting me brush her teeth properly and helping her. This was working for a long time. Now she wants the sticker but with no brushing. That's when I say, "I am going to count to 3. If you are not brushing your teeth by 3, you will not get a sticker and I will wipe your teeth instead." That works usually. She tested me out a couple of times and now realizes I mean business. That's where we are now. She is exactly 28 months today. Good luck to all of us!!!
2007-03-01 08:20:29 · answer #1 · answered by ggd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use the electric toothbrush. I let her put the paste on the brush, turn on the water and brush her own teeth. I tell her that she has to let mommy "finish up". When she's done with her part, she lets me go over her teeth. I then let her rinse her mouth, the brush, dry her face. Also, make sure you are having her brush 2 times per day...morning and night, not just at night.
2007-03-01 08:08:33 · answer #2 · answered by DuneFL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always brush my teeth at the same time my son does. This way he see's mommy do it so he's also interested.
He also wants to brush his own teeth which we both know isn't ideal cleaning, so i let him brush his first then i take the brush and brush them for him. Sometimes he doesn't want to corroborate but i make him open his mouth and do the best i can.
As long as your trying at least two times a day you may be able to get something accomplished.
2007-03-01 07:52:55 · answer #3 · answered by Curious J. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I let my two year old brush her own teeth. I got her a Sesame Street electric toothbrush which she loves, and I also buy baby toothpaste (the kind without flouride...they shouldn't use flouride paste until they know how to spit).
But also, every night when she's in the tub I wrap a wet washcloth over my finger and wipe/scrub her teeth again in an effort to get anything she may have missed. We make a game of it and she's usually really good about it (I've only been bitten once...)
Good luck!
2007-03-01 08:05:25 · answer #4 · answered by SixoSeveno 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had better luck with the finger toothbrush at that age. Also, if your child can communicate well and understands you when you speak, you might try this tip that worked for me. I would tell my son that I saw bits of whatever food he ate during the day on his teeth! I'd say "I see some carrots stuck WAY in the back. Open wide so I can catch them" You get the idea. Make it a game and she might just sit still and open her mouth enough for you to get the job done! Good luck!
2007-03-01 07:51:55 · answer #5 · answered by Jennifer L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At Walmart, RiteAid (any store that sells toothpast) you can purchase these things that look like rubber thimbles. They usually come with safe-o-swallow toothpaste. My daughter was to independent to let me brush her teeth, so I would let her "brush" and then once she was asleep I would clean her's with the "finger brush". The paste is okay to leave on their teeth, so no worries about cavitites or stains!
Hope that helped!
2007-03-01 07:56:13 · answer #6 · answered by mariabeshy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could brush her teeth at night time and let her do it by herself in the morning.
2007-03-01 07:52:27 · answer #7 · answered by biancajh 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as she's brushing, it shouldn't matter if she's doing a good job or not. She will learn sooner or later. Letting her do it herself is better than her not wanting or doing it at all! You don't even have to use toothpaste, just water and brush. Good Luck!
2007-03-01 07:51:37 · answer #8 · answered by Shannon 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"You put the tooth brush in,
The toothbrush out,
In, out, in, out,
You move it all about....
First you do the front and then you do the side,
Then you spit the toothpaste out...
Oh, brush your teeth in circles,
Oh, brush your teeth in circles,
Oh, brush your teeth in circles,
Then you spit the toothpaste out"
Sung to the tune of 'The Hokey Cokey'
I don't know what else to suggest...my almost two year loves brushing her teeth- although I suspect she's probably just eating the toothpaste!
She'll let me have a turn though- she loves taking turns with the tooth brush, and likes trying to spit the toothpaste out in the sink.
2007-03-01 08:41:40 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With my daughters I have always let them brush first and then let mommy 'finish' which will help them learn to brush their teeth. Good luck
2007-03-01 07:53:49 · answer #10 · answered by Michelle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋