Adding Teethbrushing to the Night-time Ritual

I would definitely try getting rid of the bottle. My daughter quit taking a bottle shortly after a year. We switched to sippy cups which made it easier. Try giving a cup of water before bed and then eventually eliminating when you start potty training. you could try replacing the bottle with some other form of security like a baby or a blanket. It will take some time but is a must. As far toothbrushing. We do it every night after bath. I brush my teeth and let her do her own and then I say ok let mommy see your teeth and brush hers. and then I tell her what a good job she has done. Hope this helps

Hi L.,

I have a 19 mo. old boy (& 3 1/2) who can be very stubborn - especially when it comes time to brushing teeth. But, I am very persistent and I brush his teeth regardless. I got rid of all my bottles once I saw that he no longer needed a bottle. I just packed them up so he no longer saw them and couldn't want them. My bedtime routine is: he drinks milk before we go upstairs, then we go up change diapers, change into pajamas, we brush teeth (he hates it - I have to force it; but my pediatrician told me that's okay, he had to put his son in a headlock until he was 3 to brush his teeth :) I turn on his lamp and shut off the big light so he knows its story time, we read a book, the lamp goes off, I sit with him and sing a few songs, I give him a hug, a few kisses and into bed he goes (awake). He has a stuffed animal he loves to sleep with. There was a time, I had to keep going back into his room to see him for a few minutes. But, I just kept the routine the same pretty much every night. Now, he falls asleep on his own. Be as persistent and consistent as you can. With time it will work out. Good luck!!

I agree with Jaime, work on getting rid of the bottle. Be creative with teeth brushing like tell her she can do it 1st then its mommys turn to brush her teeth. Or have her brush your teeth then you brush her teeth. Find what works for you & her to make it fun yet effective. Read or sing to her after teeth time instead of giving her a bottle. Let her pick out a book before bath time & talk it up so she gets pumped about reading it & let her know we read a book then its bed time.

I am having a hard time getting rid of the bedtime bottle too. That's the only time of the day my son still gets it. I brush his teeth before bath every night, they have good tasting toddler toothpastes so he doesn't mind. Then I give him the bottle on my lap, when he's done I wipe his teeth with a wet cloth. It's not really working all that well because he doesn't like getting his teeth wiped and I have to change his diaper before I go to bed (midnight?) so he doesn't sleep in a very wet diaper all night. This is the last bottle to go and I want to eliminate it too soon. It's just that he falls asleep right away after a warm bottle of milk. Everyone tells me the bottle should have been gone a long time ago and in a way I agree, it's just that every child and situation is different so you have to do what is right for you. But somehow wipe his teeth before putting him to bed.

We had the same issue and it took a little while (2-3 weeks) to adjust to the routine. I think we put water in a sippy to help transition out of the bottle before bed.

L.,

You may not want to hear this but the best thing is no bottle before bedtime. The bottle of milk is very bad for her teeth. It is okay if she is chewing on the toothbrush it still helps and she is getting used to it. I had my dtr "take a turn" with the toothbrush and then it was "mommy's turn" to help her brush her teeth.
You are eventually going to need her to not have a bottle at night so I would break the habit now before she is two. The longer you wait the worse it will be. Try to substitute something else like reading or singing to her while rocking. Something else soothing.
A good book on these types of issues is Toddler 411. It is written by a Pediatrician and mom.

Hi L.

Had the same problem with getting rid of the bottle over here. I just started to slowly reduce the amount that I gave at that time to get him used to not having much to drink before bed - instead of cold turkey. Then, I tried to replace it with water - but he was too smart for that. So, I just stopped one day and he didn't miss it. I just sit in a chair with him in my lap and put on a musical bedtime thing, it plays for 15, 10, or 5 minutes and then it just makes him wind down. I close my eyes so he thinks I'm sleeping too and once he's asleep, I put him in bed and we're good. The only problem I have is pretending to be asleep and NOT falling asleep myself. HEHE