So the last time I wrote about dental hygiene(Dental Hygiene for babies- When to start and how!!) was when I was dealing with a baby and this time I am dealing with a toddler.
A simple thing like brushing teeth can be a reason for great misery atleast for parents.I have seen a whole episode of meltdown because I asked someone to brush his teeth.
When we started with the real brush it was all fun, my baby was 13 months and had a fixed routine of getting up and sitting on his high chair while I combed his hair and brushed his teeth.Before that I use to wash his teeth and gums with washcloth.It went on well for few days then he started snatching the brush from my hand.Attimes he would try to brush on his own which was fine with me and most of the time throw it away.It went on for quite sometime and then I realised I need to break the monotony.
I tried different fun ways to teach him how to brush and today he waits for his brushing time.
Let them watch
So the first mistake I realised was making him brush sitting or for that matter not in the proper place.I started taking him to the washroom while me and my husband brushed our teeth.Initially he use to stand there and ask for brush and cry for our brush if we handed him over his own.So we bought a brush for him our size off course.After few days he wanted his brush.
ToothPaste in not important Brushing is
All of us make this mistake I did as well,I would stress on using toothpaste and hence he got a feeling of something being forced into his mouth.I stopped giving him toothpaste for sometime to make him comfortable with brush and introduced the paste again when he was comfortable with toothbrush.
Make Brushing fun
This may sound silly but me and my husband use to sing and dance while brushing.That made him feel he is missing out on something and to join us he would take his brush and shake his bum.
Brush Brush Brush your teeth, every morning every night is his favourite.
Role Play
Make everything brush their teeth in the house, my sons makes his doll brush his teeth every morning now.We have a brush for the doll similar to what he has.
Give them Options/Freedom
This is very important let them choose keep few brushes and let them choose.Most of the time they end up making their favourite.Sometimes when even after making so much effort and even after making it as a habit my son doesn’t feel like brushing I let him be.Forcing will make him hate it which I don’t want to.
Make the area accessible
Let them brush their teeth where everyone in the family does.We bought a stool for him to stand and he comfortably reaches the wash basin for brushing and yes some fun with the running water is a daily activity.
Show them how to
Instead of taking their hand and making them brush, show them how to.Children are curious and they try to imitate.Take advantage and show them how you do it.
Switch Brushing Buddies
This was so far the most effective in making him brush.I stay with my son the whole day so brushing was taken over by his father and this is something they look upto now.They both sing and brush together.Once he gets bored I will takeover again.Hopefully he would not get bored ever.
Just like any other thing with babies brushing requires lot of patience from the parents end.When we make it a routine it becomes boring add some spice to it and let them enjoy and you will see the difference.
Wishing you guys happy Gums and teeth and Dental Hygiene is important always remember that.
Watch this video and see how my little one loves brushing now
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Very helpful for new parents
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Thanks dear
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My baby loves to brush her teeth
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I remmbr when i was a kid, how i irritated and annoyed my mom when she forced me to brush! ๐๐๐
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such a useful post!! Thanks for sharing ๐
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I so much agree with toothpaste is not important brushing is..
lovely post and must read for al moms
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thanks Dipika
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This is nice and informative. My son love brushing and he cand do that 2ice or 3ice everytime he come to me and say mumma brush your teeth. It means I wish to brush my teeth. Lols
https://themommytale.com/motherhood-celebration/
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Good subject to cover! Very helpful and nicely done๐๐ป
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I tried to brush always in front of my kids to show them that brushing is a daily practice. And they fussed over it thinking whether to brush or not?
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So cute! Karma loves brushing her teeth! She heard sesame street’s brush your teeth song and would do what they did. So it started with that. Now she’s become better at actually doing it herself. But we still listen to the song because its very catchy!
http://raisingkarma.in/5-things-you-must-never-tell-a-pregnant-woman/
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This is a new battleground I am at right now. She just loves to play with toothbrush, so entire wall might be painted with it but she make sure that it wouldn’t even touch her teeth..๐๐ thank you for this post, these are some great tips. Would surely try these.
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Ha ha That is another use of brush right
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I have faced the same thing,My kid is 2.9 yrs old and now he brushes his teeth. But we dont give him toothpaste, I give some salt on his brush. Salt is good for teeth, and at the same time he is happy for the taste :)..Will give him paste after 3 only. Anyway, very informative post. ๐
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Thanks so much will try salt too
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My 1 yo has started showing interest in brushing his own teeth…these tips are going to be very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for visiting
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This is a very useful post. We have been looking out for ways in which we can make our brush time easy and fun. This really helps.
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Thanks so much
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Wonderful post.. Even my two yrs son dnt know how to brush ur teeth.. Many times i tried to do but he dont want to do.. Just want to hold his own brush like us.. I will try some of ur tips too.. Hope he will learn
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Yes pls and keep me posted if it works out
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Fantastic post. Loved it. I had to put lot of efforts to make my son understand that brushing is important. There are awesome tips ๐
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Thanks so much Shipra
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These are some great tips Priya and I absolutely love the way he brushes in the video. hehehe I am going to follow this tip too.
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Thanks Tara
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My older one hates brushing his teeth and my younger ones can go on for days! This is a very well written post.
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Thanks so much
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usefull post
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ThesI are great tips not just for toddlers, but also for those with children with special needs…. I do many of these suggestions with my developmentally disabled child who is 16…
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Thank God I read your post..now I know when to start brushing training & all how to…tugged & ready
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