My 16 month old son will not let us brush his teeth. I've tried all the usual advice: giving him his own toothbrush; letting him brush first then 'finishing off'; brushing with and without toothpaste; trying different toothbrushes with favorite pictures; brushing at the same time as his dad or me .... etc. Brushing his teeth was no trouble until his molars started coming in, then he refused to open his mouth. I understood that during that painful teething time and even for a short while afterwards. However, the molars have been in for a while and we're still not making any progress. Any other suggestions????
I'd really appreciate your help!
The only person that can make my granddaughter let him brush her teeth is her father. My granddaughter won't let her mother brush her teeth in the morning. Her father can only brush her teeth at bedtime.
P. S
There is a time when you learn to pick your battles with your kids, and this is one of them. Step back and let him be about this for a bit. Give him some space, he is asserting his independance a little bit too. Does he try to brush his teeth at all? If so, great! Let him do it and call it done for a week or so. In this time frame, ask him to show you how he did when he is finished and do this for a few days in a row. Only have him show you his teeth and nothing more unless he hands you over his brush. Then move on to trying to let him give you the brush to move it around in his mouth, stick with the front teeth and get in and out quickly. A few days later, move to his back teeth as well, then etc. And every time he shows you his teeth after he has brushed, give him tons of praise for a job well done.
Just like any budding toddler, one day he might let you in his mouth and the next day not. One morning he'll like pancakes, the next morning not. The main key with the teeth is to at least make sure that toothbrush is getting in there some how at least once a day (preferably before bed) and it doesn't have to be perfect either. My almost 9yr old is still trying to master perfect tooth brushing! Limit sugary snacks and juice before bed and have him drink some water to help rinse his mouth out if he won't brush at all.
Good luck!!
S.
I raised five children and never had this problem, but I know parents do experience this problem, usually when there are two or less children in the household. That's why I think it would be a great idea for you to find another older (but not too much older) child who brushes easily and whom your son likes or admires and talk to that child's mother about allowing your son to see that child brush their teeth. If he could see another kid doing it, I bet he would want to do it, too. Just a thought, but it does seem to me that my grandkids who have siblings just a little older than they are, like to copy the older child in everything, so this might work great for you. Get him a similar toothbrush to the friend's toothbrush, take it with you and have it ready so he can copy the friend. Good luck!
I know force sounds harsh but I still battle with my 3 yr old daughter(some days she brushes some days she won't.)Once I get the toothbrush in, she crys but doesn't close her mouth until I finish. I've also turned it into a game. Whatever she doesn't want to do we "sneak up" on the object and surprise it. She has really taken to it.
Maybe try and electric toothbrush, he may like the novelty of it. I had one that did at that age and one that didn't. Talk to your dentist at your next appt too and see his feelings on it.
We had the ame issue with our daughter at around 18mos. We let her pick out an electric toothbrush (they also make ones that play music) and the novelty of that lasted for several months. She started refusing to brush again shortly before her 2nd birthday. We made our first trip to the dentist and, since then, she's a willing brusher. We tell her that she won't get toys at the dentist if she doesn't brush and that the dentist would be so sad if she didn't brush her teeth. She's almost 3, so this has worked for quite a while now. Good luck!
Hi V. :)
I would not worry. Don't make it a power-struggle at all and keep it short and gentle and a pleasant part of the morning and bedtime rituals. Maybe get two toothbrushes, one for him to hold and one for you to, so he could brush with his at the same time, or take turns... Maybe he would like to do it all himself, like holding the toothbrush under the water and everything. You could sing a song during the brushing to make it fun and lighthearted, or just talk to him about what you are doing and why ("brushing the top teeth, brushing the bottom teeth... cleaning off your cereal, cleaning off your dinner so your teeth are nice and clean"), and then move on to the next thing. Good luck! :)
