The current method of him locking his jaw and then me waiting until he is yelling to get the toothbrush in to brush is not my favorite thing. Does anyone have any suggestions?

When my DS was young I let him chew on the toothbursh (we didn't use toothpaste) nd then I would finish off and then once he got older we took turns. Him first and then me next....

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Can you get his big sister to show him? Don't know if that works yet. I showed mine to open and say "ahhhhhh". Then I'd brush. I forget what works at each stage but I also have them take turns. Let him brush and then you brush. Of course we went through phases of it not going so well.

Diva is so totally into Thomas the Train, so I use it to our advantage. Her mouth is the tunnel and she has to open it to let Thomas come in. She's actually going to get a little electric Thomas toothbrush as part of her birthday. We also do a car into the tunnel or garage and an airplane into a hanger. We've done candy into a clown's mouth, but she's going thru a fear of clowns right now, since seeing a real one.

When DS was younger, he liked the donkey on Shrek, so to get the front done, we'd say "donkey grin" so he's show his teeth.

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According to the DDS I worked with this is actually the best way. Usually under 2, they don't need to be "brushed ~ brushed" unless they are big sugar eaters, night milk bottle drinkers, etc... For MOST just chewing on the toothbrush will do the job just fine. Kids teeth are spaced differently than adult teeth, and this also will help in the keeping them clean. Toothpaste is an important item, but often on young kids it's worse because they end up swallowing it anyway.

Getting in there so the habit forms is a good idea, but don't sweat it if they aren't letting you brush like your used too.

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There isn't much "brushing" going on but I want him to get used to it being in his mouth.
On really bad nights I hand him mommy's toothbrush and let him "brush" my teeth. This completely tickles him so I get to get in there while he's laughing away!

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Don't flame me but I didn't brush any of mine when they were babies! I did let them chew on the toothbrush but there really wasn't any brushing going on! (however in my defense I don't give my babies sugar -including juices-and the dentist has never said anything to me-they are all perfectly healthy)

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