18 Month Old Won't Let Me Brush His Teeth Anymore!

[sedux]

Hi Everyone! I have a lil toddler who used to let me brush his teeth with a soft washcloth or a toothbrush. Now he won't let me. =( I've tried brushing his teeth against his will for literally about 2 seconds and called it quits because it absolutely breaks my heart to see him cry. I don't have the heart to make him do something he doesn't want to do. At the same time, I don't feel at peace about not brushing his teeth. It's a really tough situation for me and I'm not sure what to do. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks in advance!

[stupes]

My advice. Use this as practice to make him do something he doesn't want to do. Your children need you to correct them.

I used to squeeze my sons cheeks a little to get him to open his mouth.

[Firefighter]

I have a 22 month old. Sometimes you just gotta let'em cry. You say that you cannot stand for him to cry, but by giving in to his cries, you are guaranteeing that he will cry more and more. If he cries, and you give in, you are actually rewarding the behavior and teaching him to cry to get his way. Fight the small battles now or it will be an all out war in the future full of crying, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[RabbiKnife]

Hold his nose until he opens his mouth. He cannot cry and gasp for air at the same time.

You may cry more than he does now, but if you don't, you will cry much more than he does later.

[The Mighty Sword]

like Nike says, Just do it.

[Moxie]

At this point, he knows if I cry, she'll stop. As you begin to brush his teeth...(don't give him time to think) Tell him, "Mommy's going to brush your teeth until they're clean" "It's okay if you cry, but we have to get them clean". As your brushing them, talk to him in a calm voice (easier said than done...I know).

The important thing is to follow through with what you say and don't give up. What will happen is he will continue to protest (that's what the crying is about) and will even get worse for a couple of days but when he finds that he is not getting his way, he will stop his protest.

I know it's hard, especially when they're little but you're the authority and what you say goes. When we as parents are acting in their best interest and not being abusive then it will all work out...no matter how much they whine.

[sedux]

Hello everyone! Thank you for all your input! Okay... *gulp I know what I have to do now. Wish me luck tomorrow night! *shudder And you're right, I'll probably cry more over this than he does. Thanks for the pep talk though! Definitely needed that one guys!

[beckisted2004]

Apparently, I used to put up quite a fit about teeth brushing myself. I guess I calmed down a lot when my mom took me to the store and let me pick out my own toothbrush and toothpaste. It made me think it was more my idea and then she made it a big deal about, "Ooo...Aren't you excited to use your new pink toothbrush?!" So, by the time it was toothbrushing time, I was so excited about it that there was no fight. Just a thought.

[Ninna]

Apparently, I used to put up quite a fit about teeth brushing myself. I guess I calmed down a lot when my mom took me to the store and let me pick out my own toothbrush and toothpaste. It made me think it was more my idea and then she made it a big deal about, "Ooo...Aren't you excited to use your new pink toothbrush?!" So, by the time it was toothbrushing time, I was so excited about it that there was no fight. Just a thought.

This absolutely makes a difference! There is toddler toothpaste and toddler toothbrushes and they get really excited about being "big kids" and getting to do this. Just stay firm even when he cries and whines.

[The Mighty Sword]

Hello everyone! Thank you for all your input! Okay... *gulp I know what I have to do now. Wish me luck tomorrow night! *shudder And you're right, I'll probably cry more over this than he does. Thanks for the pep talk though! Definitely needed that one guys!

My mom still gets upset when she brushes my teeth and I cry like a baby.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Did I say that out loud?

[Firefighter]

We could all gather around and pray against the demon of plaque...

[Vhayes]

We could all gather around and pray against the demon of plaque...

And don't forget decay.

[Dani H]

At 18 months of age, I'd have to agree with Becky and momof5.

Take the little tyke to the store, buy him a shiny new toothbrush (brownie points if you let him pick one), maybe a battery operated Spiderman brush or whatever he is into, along with an egg timer, and let him do it himself. Tell him he has to get rid of the germs on his teeth like soap gets rid of the germs on his skin.

Then go in after him and give it a once-over and tell him how proud you are that he is handling it and being a big boy.

Him crying and fighting you is probably an indication that he's ready to begin doing it on his own.

[Firefighter]

Take the little tyke to the store, buy him a shiny new toothbrush (brownie points if you let him pick one), maybe a battery operated Spiderman brush or whatever he is into, along with an egg timer, and let him do it himself.

That is exactly what we did.

UNFORTUNATELY - the Lightning McQueen toothbrush makes the exact same sound as the barber's clippers and netted the same result.

Here is my son's first haircut, just so you have a good mental picture...

[Desperaux]

Hold his nose until he opens his mouth. He cannot cry and gasp for air at the same time.

You may cry more than he does now, but if you don't, you will cry much more than he does later.

You crack me up!