My son in 9 months old and, of course, very much on the go...like we have to change his diaper while he's standing up most of the time!
So, I was wondering if anyone had any tricks to getting a very active little one's teeth brushed. I can hold him for such a short time that I feel like I'm may not be brushing thoroughly enough. I look forward to your suggestions. Thanks a million!
Have you tried the toothbrush that fits on the end of your finger?? I find that one works the best and my little guys loves it. It is about the only time he sits still!! He loves the feeling on his gums!! I hope this helps!!
I held mine down for as long as it takes to brush them (head lock, hold head between knees, whatever it takes.) So far, I haven't had to resort to that with my 17 month old- I brush his in the bathtub-- and give him the brush after I'm done and he chews on it for a minute or 2. It's something he'll be doing for the rest of his life so he just needs to get used to it and learn it has to be done. My hygenist said kids don't have the dexterity to really brush every surface of their teeth thoroughly on their own until they are about 6 years old (!) so I brushed my kids' teeth for them for several years and gradually taught them to do it on their own. As little guys, they were held down while I brushed as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and when they were old enough to understand they were given the choice of "easy way or hard way" and they always stopped complaining and picked easy way so I wouldn't have to put them in a head lock! May sound extreme, but our family has great oral hygene now... OK, well, my almost-10-year-old boy has to be reminded 10,000 times to go brush them... but he's never had a cavity!!
Hi there S.,
My son had he teeth come in at ten months....I would put him in his highchair where he was safe and give him a tooth brush...it seemed that his natural reaction was to put it in his mouth and before long he would be biting on the toothbrush and moving it around. He's 15 months now and absolutely loves to brush his teeth several times a day.
Hope this helps...Good Luck!
N.
singing worked for us usually. hope you find something :)
Try one of the power toothbrushes. Luckily at 9 months, they don't have back teeth yet so you don't have to work as hard to get them clean. I brush while they're in the tub then when I feel like I've gotten them mostly clean, I hand them the toothbrush and they chew on it for a while.
I've even got my 3 year old willing to let me floss. He doesn't understand the spit part so I "paint" his teeth with the ACT mouthwash when we're done with a Q-tip.
The other suggestions of singing or yelling or tickling are great. Anything to make them open the mouth.
i just let my little girl chew on the tooth brushes. it massages her sore gums and cleans at the same time. With a bib on and a little yummy paste, and water, she really enjoys it. i always am having to take it away
My son loved screaming, but I never permitted it, except when it was time to brush his teeth. I allowed him to scream as loud as he could so that I could reach his teeth and he got a great kick out of it. Since you're a musician, why don't you try singing his favorite song to get him to open up. Good luck to you.
Is your son ticklish? My husband lays him on the floor and tickles him and blows raspberries while I brush his teeth. Two person job, but I was able to get a lot of good brushing in. This doesn't work now that he is almost three, so teeth brushing is once again a huge struggle for me! good luck!
