15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Does your DC let you brush their teeth?

DD recently started refusing it, pursing her lips closed tight.

I am still just using water. I was wondering if baby safe toothpaste would make her allow it more? What do you do/think?

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

I use baby toothpaste-actually I have it on my list to look for organic-Right now I am using Oral B. Declan says MMMMM as soon as I take out the toothbrushes. I sing a song while I do it and they usually let me do it for a few seconds. Try the toothpaste!

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

i let him do it, then i "re-do" it

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

we use the oral-b baby toothpaste with the little thingy for my finger. I bought a toothbrush and haven't opened yet. DS likes the toothpaste and has no problem with me doing it.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

I have been using that baby safe toothpaste - Sean likes the taste, so I do it, then I hand it over and he does his own thing ..........(He's only 9 months though, I'm sure he'll be more difficult when he's older)

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

this is quite the battle for us sometimes. I use the baby safe toothepaste. She was refusing the first couple of times I would do it so I actually had to hold her down on the changing tableso I could get in there. I hope it doesnt sound cruel, but I feel since she eats regular food on a daily basis, it was important to brush. Eventually, she gave in and now lets me do it. Sometimes she refuses.

I always let her do it after me.

Message edited 2/8/2010 4:30:46 PM.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

dd loves brushing her teeth, she gets all excited when i take the stuff out. i got her one of those electric toothbrushes with dora on it and some bubblegum flavored toddler toothpaste. she can do it herself... between the vibrations and her biteing down on the toothbrush, i think the job gets done very well.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

When I have time I let him do it and then redo it.

But most of the time I just do it myself. I say "ahhh" and Ryan repeats which makes his mouth nice and open. I think he likes it because he giggles.

I don't use toothpaste. Ped said not to until they can understand to spit it out. Got a while for that.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

We used baby safe toothpaste, but I honestly don't know that it helped much at that age (though he loves the taste).

What did seem to help was laying him down on my lap--his mouth popped open much more easily, and I could actually brush. We also started these rituals--we brush our teeth together, then I inspect (or brush his teeth, he really doesn't do that great of a job). And I sang a song for awhile, and he LOVED that. Our was On Top of Spahgetti.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

At that age they didn't want me brushing their teeth but they would let "Flora the Frog" (hand puppet) brush their teeth or a few times an Elmo finger puppet did it

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Erik asks to brush his teeth - he enjoys it! It was a battle with Ella at this age.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Ryleigh used to love it, and she started refusing to open her mouth. We noticed that she liked the sound of my Crest Spinbrush, so we got her a kid-sized one and now she loves it again!

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

Right now I can't b/c she split her lip and I don't want to hurt her, but in general, it's not going very well. She hates it and just wants to suck on a rag or spiffie. She's almost 14 months. Hoping it gets better.

ETA: By "rag" I mean wet washcloth. Don't want anyone thinking I allow my DD to suck on "rags" in any other sense of the word.

Message edited 2/8/2010 7:35:19 PM.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

I have been brushing for the last month. She totally lets me do it-- I thnk she likes the toothpaste which is Gerber. I want to switch to organic (I saw some earth's best somewhere), but for now-- I am just happy she lets me do it.

Re: 15=18 mths, how is the tooth brushing thing going?

I use the baby safe toothpaste with elmo on it He doesn't let me do it for more than 1 second, and then when I let him do it, he just sucks off the toothpaste and tries to scrub the floor with the toothbrush We are still trying to figure out a system obviously... any advice let me know