Connor used to let me brush his teeth. Now, it's like "pulling teeth" to let me do it. He wants to do it but he just sucks off the toothpaste and doesn't want me to scrub his teeth. He only brushes his lower teeth while smiling...it's cute but it's not actually "brushing".

I've tried the vibrator brush but he thinks it's just a toy and won't even put it in his mouth.

He's pretty good with choices all day long and I'm pretty flexible..ie, tonight I let him watch daddy videos and brush his teeth before bathtime. (Our normal routine is eat dinner, take a bath, watch daddy videos, brush teeth, read some books, and then bedtime.) I give him choices all day long but this is something I don't want to budge on. Our family is known for bad teeth. I'm proud that he wants to do it on his own, but man...his teeth are going to rot the way he does it.

Any tricks up your sleeve?

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 09:21 am:

Can he see the mirror when he's brushing? Natalie really started "getting it" and doing a better job once she could see herself in the mirror. After she brushes for a while, then one of us brushes for her because it's "Daddy's/Mommy's turn". (We do a lot of "turn taking", so she gets that.We also "check" them to see how clean they are afterwards, and she likes that.

Fortunately, she's always seemed to like brushing her teeth, so it hasn't been a struggle. She also likes to "get out her stool" for the sink. Maybe a song about brushing, that mentions the parts to brush? There is one song that I can think of on Natalie's Barney videos. We don't sing it, but I think it helped her learn about brushing. There's an episode of JoJo's Circus where Goliath (the lion) has to brush his teeth. They sing "Brush your teeth, little lion, brush your teeth..." Natalie likes to sing "Brush your teeth, little Natalie, brush your teeth.."

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 10:05 am:

We've been through this with both kids. Letting them pick out their own new and different toothbrushes helped. We had a sticker chart going for DD for awhile. Each time she cooperated and let us brush her teeth she earned a sticker. A predetermined number of stickers earned her something small but special - a trip to Friendly's for an icecream cone, a trip to the public library, a new puzzle/book/small toy, a special snack or privilege, etc.. It also helped if DH and/or I brushed OUR teeth in front of them. They liked to copy us. Good luck!

By Kiki on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 10:14 am:

I let my kids brush their teeth first and then I do it (I have to put more toothpaste on). I find that if I do it in front of a mirror they enjoy watching. We also sing a song and do silly dances while brushing teeth. My oldest eventually got better at brushing her teeth because of watching in the mirror. Trina has a good suggestions too. Good luck.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 11:44 am:

Ditto Trina...Natalie OFTEN brushes at the same time as we do and she really likes that. It's a good model of how to do it! I forgot about that.

By Andi on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 07:04 pm:

This is what I did when I was a Nanny and it worked great, I also do it with D & T.

Open up mommy has to look for the Sugar Bugs. Then I brush her teeth really well and if she starts to close her mouth I tell her "Oh no...wait one minute I see a few more!" It works every time.

Hope that helps.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 07:28 pm:

Andi- We talked about sugar bugs all the time in Kindergarten!!

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 08:49 pm:

OMGosh, my kids would have freaked if I told them they had sugar bugs in their mouths! LOL!

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 09:37 pm:

WOW...such great suggestions you guys! I was surprised but the "Sugar Bugs" worked! He has no idea what sugar is, or a bug (i think?) but hey, whatever works!!
And, if that doesn't work tomorrow, I'll try the other GREAT suggestions!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Andi on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 12:47 am:

Trina, I've done this with 5 kids now and not one ever got scared or freaked out. I'm telling you, it works like a charm. LOL

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 07:32 am:

Ditto Andi-Sugar bugs worked for us also.First I let her brush then we always had the last brush.Using a mirror always made a huge difference for us too.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 11:46 am:

DD got into brushng her teeth after her first dental cleaning and the hygienist told her she was looking for sugar bugs. It was an accidental cleaning. She was barely 2 and I was getting my teeth cleaned with dd on my lap. She thought it looked fun and wanted to do it, too. So as soon as the hygienist was done with me, I plopped her into the big old seat and the hygienist cleaned at her teeth and talked and played with her. She told dd that we had to keep the sugar bugs away so her teeth would stay pretty and white. Dd bought into it.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 09:15 pm:

Out of all the kids I've talked to about "sugar bugs" (which would be hundreds) I've only had one who got freaked out. Everyone else loved it!

By Kim on Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 08:18 am:

I always got a chunky one for the bathtub and let them play with it before I washed them. Then after bath I would let them brush and then I would brush. Sometimes it was a battle and sometimes I wouldn't go there. They all have great teeth!