5 Hacks You’ll Thank Me For As Your Toddler Starts Learning To Brush Their Teeth:

Teaching a toddler new things can be a joy and a struggle.

Here are 5 things that I am using to help me as I'm teaching Jeremy how to brush his teeth.

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HACK #1

Sing a Song:  I know it sounds crazy.  But for my little one brushing his teeth was an odd thing for him.  Sure I did it and he was cool with that but he was initially a little resistant to the actual brush and not my finger brush.  So capitalizing on his love of music I made up a song and involved him in the process

HACK #2

Take one for the team:  Sacrifice is sometimes needed to achieve your ultimate goal.  You mouth might be sore as well as your gums and tongue but letting your little on practice on you can be a great way to demonstrate there is nothing to fear and you can show you little one the correct way to hold her/his mouth as your brush their teeth to make sure the job is done.

Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

HACK #4

Go to the Dollar Store:  Trust me!  I got suckered and bought my little one a character toothbrush and it lasted all of a week.  Before I knew it it was chewed up and the bristles were bent 🤦🏾‍♀️.  Imagine spending between $3.99 to $6.99 every week on a toothbrush.  So I quickly went to my local Dollar Store and picked up some tooth brushes.  They were a huge hit!  They came two to a pack which was $0.50 a brush and they had a little suction cup bottom which he finds entertaining.

HACK #3

Fluoride Free Toothpaste:  Yep it’s a bit expensive I’m not going to lie but at the beginning your little one is going to be eating and swallowing the toothpaste so you may end up having to use more than the recommended amount.  As your little one gets used to brushing their teeth and spitting vs swallowing then you can make the switch.

HACK #5

Brush together:  Kids mimic what they see us do.  As much as you may cherish your private bathroom time opening your door up and allowing your little one to see you engage in your grooming ritual will help them figure out what to do and how to do it.

As with anything that centers around children trial an error is essential.  I hope these tools help.  If you have any other tools or suggestions please share them in the comments below 👇🏾 to help others.