Brushing Teeth -20 Month Old

Hi,

My son actually loved the Sesame Street battery operated tooth brush. I didn't have to "scrub" or "brush" and scare him, but just gently move the brush over his teeth and let it do all the work. He also thought it was very cool!

Good Luck. P.

Hi P.,
This may not be the best way but i let him do it himself while I do mine. After he got use to it he then let me help a little. But I let him do it for a couple weeks by him self first. good luck

Do you use a tasty toothpaste? Does he get to try to brush his own teeth? I let my son brush his teeth and then I say mommy turn. And he usually lets me brush his teeth for a few seconds. The easiest way is if I lay him down on his back. Most of the time I get to go first and then I put toothpaste on it for him. He will be two in May. We only use a little tiny dab of toothpaste. Then I let him practice spitting in the sink. He also has a special toothbrush and likes to brush his teeth when we do. Good luck.

I would help my kids, by telling them I we were going on an animal expedition... "open wide... I see a monkey hanging, let me get him... nice and clean- the alligator on the side... get him...nice and clean" I would find all the little animals and make their sounds. Of course, at the end, you always find the giraffe in the WAY back because they like to hide.

It worked for my daughter for years... who even once in a while asks me to do it with her (she is 5) Good luck!!! Keep on brushing!

Let your son do it all by himself. I found this to be the best strategy. I would brush my teeth at the same time so my son could just copy what I do and then when we were all done I would ask my son to open his mouth and let me check to make sure all his teeth were sparkley clean. This makes him open his mouth easy and you can slip in quickly to do a better job if needed.

Good luck!

Not to be discouraging, but I have been battling this with my now 16-month-old for about 3 months. I have tried ALL of the techniques mentioned by others- nothing has worked. BUT, last week she let me brush four nights in a row. And, she did again last night. I figure it's better than nothing, and I don't need to stress myself and her out over this. I keep trying every night and sometimes during the day. But, I don't fight with her anymore. Good luck, and I hope you have better luck getting those pearly whites clean!!

tell him you saw elmo in there, and you have to tickle him out

He may be too young if you can't find one small enough, but how about an electric toothbrush! Once my little ones got one, they started brushing more willingly and lot longer!
Also, it does clean a little better because it does some of the work for you, and you're moving it around.

we tried a tooth brush that plays music- the make them for younger kids in thomas and carebears and a few other and that worked great for our daughter- not always for the full 2 minutes but something is better then nothing :) good luch

Hi P.,
Get a big hand mirror and let him watch himself brush in the mirror. Make sure he enjoys the taste of the toothpaste. Oral B makes Bubble Gum and Fruit flavor. My son does have a preference. If it is a battle, distract him by brushing while he is in front of the tv watching a favorite dvd. I found an adorable book about brushing teeth, maybe that route will help. Give him one of his dinosaur toys or something with teeth and let him brush his animals teeth while you brush his.
Best of luck, it won't always be a battle.
L.

P.,

I let my daughter brush her teeth first then ask she is done I have a turn. She opens up without an issue.
Another thing to try is each of you having your own tooth brush and see if he will let you brush with yours and he brushes with his.

L. M

This topic came up a while ago and there were some good ideas. Check out this mamasource link from January: http://www.mamasource.com/request/12565927787296194561

have him brush your teeth as you brush his. Be quick in the beginning. As desensitize to brushing, extend the time until you get a thorough cleaning

we told ours to open wide like an alligator...good luck

My little guy hates it no matter what I try so I just wrap him up his towel tuck it under him and brush through the screaming and moving and fighting and the fight gets him so tired out he goes right to bed after. He doesn't fight nearly as bad now as what he used to the fight way better then rotting teeth.

We let our daughter pick the tooth brush at the store . We used the children's oral b.We let her do it first then we do it. she likes to feel like a big girl. We just tell her that mommy & daddy needy to make sure she did a great job. That has worked very well with her. Good luck.

My 19 month old daughter loves the fruity baby toothpaste (CVS brand, I think) and we let her watch us brushing our teeth and then she wants to do it, too. I also let her brush 1st, then say, "OK, Mommy's turn", and I get them brushed more thoroughly. Another trick we use is to sit her on our lap while she is watching a favorite TV show (probably not the best strategy, but it works). This is when I have the easiest time brushing her teeth or clipping her nails. Good luck! (Also, if you think your son has some oral-sensory issues, that could be another reason he is resistant to opening his mouth. In that case, there are some other strategies you could try, like a mouth "warm-up" where you tap or brush the outside of his mouth before asking him to open his mouth.)

P.,

Brush with him!!! Make it fun....I got a little sand timer when mine were little. We still have it on our sink!! Make sure the TP is yummy tasting. He will catch on that it will be fun after the first time!

You might try brushing with your child, kind of making it a game to see who does the best job? Also setting a timer foe a specific amount of time to brush to until the bell rings? The musical toothbrushes are also great, my daughter LOVES hers. Good luck!

Take him to the dentist with you and have him watch you get your teeth cleaned. He'll see it's harmless. Play dentist with him. Make it fun. He will enjoy it. He can be the dentist too. Have him count your teeth and then you count his.
Good luck!