My DD is 22 months old & she used to love it when I brush her teeth, now she wants to do it on her own. I let her have her turn, then I tell her it's my turn. Problem is when my turn comes she screams and shakes her head around & grabs at the toothbrush, or worse...clamps her mouth shut. I've tried being silly & making silly noises & singing to her while I do it, but she still hates it.

I'm worried her teeth aren't getting clean enough...any suggestions. I know I've posted something similar to this before, but it's gotten worse the past couple months. I hate having to hold her down just to brush her teeth:(

My daughter is the same age. She has been wanting to brush her own teeth for months. I let her brush by herself and it is a rare occasion if she lets me help her. She still bites on the brush some, but I brush my teeth along with her and I show her everyday how I do it and eventually she will catch on. She naps on my lap on the couch everyday at noon and I take a dental pick and I will pick in between her teeth and make sure that they are getting clean. For the most part they are actually pretty clean. I also let her try to floss and she will let me floss her teeth, but the brushing is her thing. I think it is just something that you will have to let go off for the most part because she is becoming independent and wants to be gbog and do it on her own too. Thats my story and take on it anyways.

You could try one of those motorized toothbrushes. That way when you do get it in there you can get more clean than with just a manual toothbrush. They have them specifically for kids too so they have a smaller head and soft bristles. Even with their favorite characters!!:D

Yes, it helps, we have the Shrek battery toothbrush and we also have a regular character toothbrush, I let Alexa decide which one she feels like brushing with.

tell her mommy has to do it first and then she can have her turn. if she screams and throws a fit, say okay, no teeth tonight. and put the toothbrush away. it won't hurt her to miss a night or two. once she sees that her screaming just gets the toothbrush put away, she'll let you do it. it took my daughter (who is so freaking opinionated about EVERYTHING) one time of doing this and now she always lets us brush her teeth first! :)

I have the same problem she sometimes lets me get in there and give it a quick once over but Im afraid Im not cleaning them well enough before she starts screaming and clamps her mouth shut because she wants the brush to do it herself she hardly will let me do it at all now and I dont want her teeth falling out before she gets them all in. shes 21 mo. And it does no good to let her see me brush mine that just makes her want to do her own even more. so Im at a loss.

So unfortunately I'm not the only one who has this problem! I've been trying everyone's tips and if she doesn't give me "my turn" then I put it away. It isn't working as well with her b/c she just screams and cries and beats on the bathroom door. I just ignore it hoping she will realize the next night what's going to happen...but it doesn't work for me:(

She did let me get in there last night for a lot longer than usual and the whole time as I was brushing I made a huge deal and started gushing about what a good girl she was being and "thank you for letting mommy help..." you know, just trying to make a really big deal out of it hoping that maybe this will make her want to let me help her next time. It's a hit or miss situation for me though...maybe I'm not being consistent enough with how I handle her behavior?