Tips For Getting Your Toddler To Want To Brush Their Teeth
Posted on: 8 February 2020
Compromising with a toddler...oh my! Toddlers sure do have a way of trying to, well, get their way. And while sometimes you would just rather stand back, give in, and giggle at them as they throw their tantrums, you can't throw in the towel on important matters, such as teeth brushing. If getting your toddler to want to brush their teeth is a full-out battle twice a day, here are a few suggestions that may (hopefully) help.
Buy an Illustrated Book for Children About Brushing Teeth
Children enjoy when their parents and other read to them, but they really love books that are illustrated. Seeing fun illustrations can help them see that teeth brushing isn't frightening or strange. Buy an illustrated book that helps kids want to brush their teeth. While reading the book to your toddler, be sure to point to the various pictures and make it exciting. It's also a good idea to have your toddler's favorite toothbrush with you while you're reading so your toddler can act out brushing their teeth right along with the characters in the book. Illustrated books to help kids want to brush their teeth should be available at any bookstore that sells books for children.
Make Up a Song About Teeth Brushing
Make up a fun song about teeth brushing by using some of the same words from the children's book about teeth brushing. That way, you can go from reading the story to singing the song on the way to the bathroom so your toddler is in a fun mood when it's time to put the toothbrush in their mouth. If your toddler enjoys singing so much that they don't want to stop singing in order to brush their teeth, include some humming in the song you make up so your toddler can hum those parts as he or she brushes their teeth.
Allow Them to Pick Out Their Toothbrush
Today, many toddler-sized toothbrushes have favorite characters on them and come in fun colors. If your toddler goes along with the story reading and singing but still doesn't want to have anything to do with brushing their teeth, take them to the store and let them select their own toothbrush. If they really enjoy the book and the song yet can't seem to narrow down their selection, show them a toddler toothbrush that is the most similar to the one used in the book. That may be the very thing they need as an incentive to brushing their teeth like the characters in their favorite book.
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