How do you brush your babies teeth? He hates it, HELP!

[MrsBreeder]

I usually make some "funny" noise or sing a silly song that distracts them. Usually my kids are so "what is mom doing" that I can get that quick swipe in!

[janendragon]

I never had a problem ds loves it, which I am thankful for. he had his first 3 teeth at 2 1/2mths old though.

[Laniemel]

Oh, my dd HATES to have her teeth brushed. Sometimes funny noises and making a game out it will help but sometimes I have to just bite the bullet and brush those suckers. I feel like such a mean mommy but it has to be done because weak enamel runs in my family and I don't want her ending up with rot mouth. It's actually kind of scary the amount of little kids I've seen on post with decay.

[Timetodance]

Originally Posted by tessa1002 I was thinking about buying this toothbrush, it seems like it would work well even if all they did was chew on it. (To see a pic of the actual brush you have to click on the pic of the girl using it.) http://www.onestepahead.com/product/...22762/117.html Has anyone used it before?

We use it, and I now give it as a shower gift. DD loves it! We use the weleda toothpaste and that, and she chomps on it while I read her bedtime stories. I do a general brushing at the begining but she loves to chew on it. Just be sure to check it, because you will need to replace it every few months as it wears out. Our local children's shop carries the tooth brushes.

This is the toothpaste we use. http://drweilsmarketplace.drugstore...._tooth_gel.htm

DD has declared it "nummy"

[shandi]

Thanks for the review on the special toothbrushy thing timetodance
And for the linky to that toothpaste, I was looking at that exact one at the health food store yesterday!

Great suggestions everyone, I now have a few new tricks up my sleeve now

And the letting them play and chew on the toothbrush is great, he loves it! Now I just need to buy a few more because now the toothbrush keeps disappearing off somewhere LOL!

[jenncatsmeow]

Originally Posted by sesa70 Just give him the toothbrush and let him have fun! I do this for my dd. I use the toms of maine baby toothpaste: http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/prod...%5Fid=LTP%2DGG put a drop of it on the toothbrush, and just let her gave it. She is 1, and she likes to just chew on the brush itself so I figure the teeth are getting clean! She was an early teether so we have been doing this for months. Sometimes, if your uncomfortable letting her do it all by herself, you can sneak it a quick brush before you give him the toothbrush. He might hate it for a second, but once he gets that toothbrush in his hands he will forget all about it!

Yup, this is what I was going to say...

I put my dd on the potty while I'm getting my own teeth brushed, and I fix up her toothbrush too, and hand it to her. (Then I sing the "brush your teeth" song, which dd loves, but I don't think that's needed to get her to brush... ) Mommy and baby brush together....no pinched fingers.

[JackieLyn]

Originally Posted by jkelstaten when we *really* started making an effort to brush their teeth we had to lay them down, straddle them with their head between our knees. just to get them to hold their heads still. It sounds awful, but we would make a game of it. They just wouldn't open their mouths for us otherwise.....this was also how we gave medicine.

I'm sorry I just had to laugh when I read your post! I'm glad you were able to make a game of it...my kids would scream bloody murder if i tried that! LoL *kudos!*

[slomom]

I have the baby orajel toothbrush that goes on your finger and the toothpaste that goes with it.

I've been brushing my DD's gums (and now two front teeth on the bottom) for 2 months. She loves it, giggles and smiles.

The proper toothbrush is probably intimidating to him. You might want to let him watch you brush your teeth for a bit and then make it into a game of Lion Tamer.

HTH!