I've noticed the same thing—mornings definitely easier than evenings. But weirdly enough, afternoons after nap time were sometimes toughest for us... ever had trouble brushing right after naps? Curious if that's common or just my little one's quirk.
"But weirdly enough, afternoons after nap time were sometimes toughest for us... ever had trouble brushing right after naps?"
You're definitely not alone there. My little one was exactly the same—after naps, it felt like brushing teeth was suddenly a huge ordeal. I wondered if maybe their gums were more sensitive right after waking up, or perhaps they were just cranky from being interrupted mid-dream? Either way, we found giving a small snack or drink first helped ease them into it. Might be worth trying if you haven't already... toddlers can be so particular sometimes.
"Either way, we found giving a small snack or drink first helped ease them into it."
That's interesting... hadn't thought about gums being sensitive after naps. My daughter gets super cranky if I try brushing right after she wakes up, too. I always assumed she was just groggy or annoyed at being woken up fully. Usually, I give her a few minutes to cuddle or play quietly before even attempting the toothbrush. It seems to help her mood a bit, but honestly, some days nothing works and it's just a battle. Glad to know it's not just us struggling with this—toddlers really do have their own logic sometimes.
"Usually, I give her a few minutes to cuddle or play quietly before even attempting the toothbrush."
This is actually a really good approach. Toddlers can be particularly sensitive after waking up, and their gums might be slightly swollen or tender, especially if they're teething. Waiting a bit definitely helps ease any discomfort. Also, choosing a toothbrush with extra-soft bristles or even letting them hold it themselves first can sometimes reduce resistance... though honestly, some days nothing seems to work perfectly. You're definitely not alone in this struggle!
"though honestly, some days nothing seems to work perfectly. You're definitely not alone in this struggle!"
Glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. It's reassuring to hear someone else say it, because honestly, some mornings I feel like I'm negotiating with a tiny, grumpy dictator. 😂
I've tried the cuddling and quiet playtime approach too, and it does help a bit. But lately, my toddler has started to catch on—she sees the toothbrush coming and immediately clamps her mouth shut. I've even tried letting her pick out her own toothbrush at the store (we ended up with a bright pink unicorn one), and that worked great...for about three days. Then it was back to square one.
The extra-soft bristles tip is a good one, though. I switched recently, and it seems to have made brushing slightly less dramatic. Still, some days I wonder if I'm doing enough or if I'm being too gentle. I worry about cavities, but then again, I don't want to traumatize her either. It's such a tricky balance.
One thing that sometimes helps us is singing silly songs or making funny faces in the mirror while brushing. It doesn't always work, but occasionally it distracts her just long enough to get the job done. And honestly, at this point, I'll take whatever small victories I can get.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences. It's comforting to know we're all just figuring this out as we go along...
