https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:33:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158085 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:35:45 +0000 edelweiss 2158085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i have forced it a few times, but just for a few seconds because i don't want to traumatize him. not sure how effective the actual few-second-cleaning is, but i want to send the message that tooth brushing is non-negotiable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158080 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:33:02 +0000 Mama Bird 2158080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I let him go. He always brushes his own teeth, so at least some cleaning happens. Or I let DH deal with the brushing, DS knows he can't get away with that if dad is involved. But that only works if DS is in a good mood, if he's tired or grumpy he only lets me do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158032 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:15:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 2158032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't force it - but if she won't brush, I wipe/scrub her teeth with a wet washcloth, which she doesn't particularly like. So, she can pick. Brush her teeth, or get them wiped with a washcloth. Either way, teeth are getting cleaned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158024 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:12:56 +0000 looch 2158024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it were up to me alone, I would not force it. I let him chew on his toothbrush, make a big deal out of letting him pick a few that he wanted, etc. Eventually he got over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158020 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:11:47 +0000 blackbird 2158020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sorta man handle her. Dh turns it into a game but....tooth brushing is non-negotiable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158014 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:10:01 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2158014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I forced it. LO hated getting his teeth brushed from the very beginning, but it's not an option not to brush for us. He's gotten better with letting me do it, but he still refuses to do it himself at 2.5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2158005 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:05:19 +0000 yellowbird 2158005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: we do the same as you. If she's being especially rebellious we just have to force it and she cries! Luckily thats pretty rare these days. We have several different pastes she can pick from and she knows it's a non negotiable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2157998 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:58:05 +0000 travelgirl1 2157998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do the same as you, then if she still won't cooperate I force it. I felt terrible about it last night, I was holding her down and she was crying so I stopped and hugged her, told her I was sorry, that I didn't mean to upset her, but that I HAD to brush her teeth, then held her down again and did it. I feel like a terrible person forcing her but brushing is really non negotiable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2157993 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:54:44 +0000 hilsy85 2157993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Force it if necessary. Letting him watch a short video has done the trick for the last several months though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2157989 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:52:58 +0000 autumnlove 2157989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will force it if we have to. Not brushing is not an option for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-lo-absolutely-refuses-to-let-you-brush-their-teeth#post-2157976 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:47:16 +0000 mrbee 2157976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...how do you handle it?</p> <p>This used to happen with our son, but he grew out of it. Hoping our daughter does the same, as it still happens now and then!</p> <p>We usually try to make toothbrushing more fun with special toothbrushes, brushing together, singing songs, etc. We also always let the kids brush their teeth first, and then we "check" it by rebrushing their teeth. But when nothing works and the kids absolutely refuse to let us brush their teeth, we would either wait and try a little later... or if need be, force a quick tooth brushing. Otherwise if I let it slide once or twice, then the kids start refusing to brush their teeth more. Now it's non-negotiable, and there have been a lot less incidents.</p> <p>When your LO absolutely refuses to let you brush their teeth, how do you handle it? </p>