Decoy toothbrush: FAIL.
Alright moms, I am calling on your experience here.
Lucy's 8th tooth just popped up, and up until recently I've only been "brushing" them with a damp wash cloth at bath time, which she doesn't mind (the girl does not mind an opportunity to bite her mommy). I have 2 baby tooth brushes and some baby toothpaste, but have not been eager to start this new twice-daily routine, because I imagine the experience to be not unlike trying to cut the toenails of a volatile and tantrum throwing hyena.
So the other day we were watching something on Nick Jr. and a cartoon segment came on about the Ugly Teeth Monsters that make your mouth hurty if you don't brush with a TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE. She looked at me like SAY WHAT? And then a 1-ton guilt anvil fell on my head, and now I exist as a flattened version of myself with little birdies flying around my head.
So the next morning, I whipped out the baby tooth brushes. One decoy for her to play with, and one business toothbrush with toothpaste. First I started brushing my teeth with my tooth brush at Lucy's eye level, and she was belly laughing like this was the best slapstick she's ever seen. So then, I take her hand and put it on my tooth brush and let her brush my teeth. Hilarious, thinks she! This just might work! And then I hand over her tooth brush. And she starts smiling at me and brushing her hair with it.
I was a little embarrassed for her. That wasn't the smartest.
So I take the business toothbrush and start to brush her teeth, and she squirms and somehow screams a blood curdling open-mouthed scream with her jaw locked shut (so really I'm just brushing her face. Unsuccessful.) After a few days of face-brushing, I pick up a finger toothbrush thinking it would be easier to maneuver, and the successful use of this results in about 30 minutes of screaming and crying.
So I'm not sure where to go from here. I refuse to hold her head down while she screams and force a toothbrush into her mouth, but she eats pretty much everything so I can't let her fall victim to the Ugly Teeth Monsters. HOW DO I DO THIS??? I am going to try distraction (brushing while she's watching Sesame Street) but beyond that I'm just not sure what to do next. I'm open to anything - even if you tell me to dress as a giant tooth fairy and hang from a harness attached to the ceiling - I'd probably try.
Lucy's 8th tooth just popped up, and up until recently I've only been "brushing" them with a damp wash cloth at bath time, which she doesn't mind (the girl does not mind an opportunity to bite her mommy). I have 2 baby tooth brushes and some baby toothpaste, but have not been eager to start this new twice-daily routine, because I imagine the experience to be not unlike trying to cut the toenails of a volatile and tantrum throwing hyena.
So the other day we were watching something on Nick Jr. and a cartoon segment came on about the Ugly Teeth Monsters that make your mouth hurty if you don't brush with a TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE. She looked at me like SAY WHAT? And then a 1-ton guilt anvil fell on my head, and now I exist as a flattened version of myself with little birdies flying around my head.
So the next morning, I whipped out the baby tooth brushes. One decoy for her to play with, and one business toothbrush with toothpaste. First I started brushing my teeth with my tooth brush at Lucy's eye level, and she was belly laughing like this was the best slapstick she's ever seen. So then, I take her hand and put it on my tooth brush and let her brush my teeth. Hilarious, thinks she! This just might work! And then I hand over her tooth brush. And she starts smiling at me and brushing her hair with it.
I was a little embarrassed for her. That wasn't the smartest.
So I take the business toothbrush and start to brush her teeth, and she squirms and somehow screams a blood curdling open-mouthed scream with her jaw locked shut (so really I'm just brushing her face. Unsuccessful.) After a few days of face-brushing, I pick up a finger toothbrush thinking it would be easier to maneuver, and the successful use of this results in about 30 minutes of screaming and crying.
So I'm not sure where to go from here. I refuse to hold her head down while she screams and force a toothbrush into her mouth, but she eats pretty much everything so I can't let her fall victim to the Ugly Teeth Monsters. HOW DO I DO THIS??? I am going to try distraction (brushing while she's watching Sesame Street) but beyond that I'm just not sure what to do next. I'm open to anything - even if you tell me to dress as a giant tooth fairy and hang from a harness attached to the ceiling - I'd probably try.
Comments
my dentist called me 'dentally retarded' because it took so long for mine to come in.
I dont' know if we'll ever graduate to an actual toothrbush, but the finger tooth brush is a step in the right direction.
Why do I have to buy every single product available before Lucy agrees to cooperate?
-Lindsey
@Hilary - you are a genius. I love the alphabet idea! Amazing that you are doing this with 3!!! AND HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME TO READ BLOGS? I barely have time to read blogs. With 1.
So yesterday, I tried bubble gum flavored toothpaste and she cried when i STOPPED brushing her teeth! However "brushing" we use loosely because it was just Lucy trying to eat the toothpate while i tried to turn the bristles toward her teeth. Baby steps?