I get the whole “let them be the boss” thing, but does that really work long-term? My kid just ends up eating the toothpaste half the time, no matter who’s in charge. Anyone else find that they just get bored and wander off if you don’t mix it up sometimes?
I totally get what you mean—letting them “be the boss” sounds good in theory but honestly, my kid just licks the toothbrush or tries to eat the paste, too. And if I try to step back, she loses interest after like 20 seconds. Does anyone else worry about them swallowing too much toothpaste? I keep wondering if I should just do it for her, but then there’s a meltdown. I’ve tried singing songs and silly voices, but nothing works for long. Is it bad if I just let her chew on the brush some nights and call it good?
Honestly, I wouldn’t stress too much if she just chews on the brush some nights. At this age, it’s more about building the habit than perfect technique. I do worry about the toothpaste swallowing, too—I just use a tiny smear, like the size of a grain of rice, and don’t sweat it if most of it goes down the hatch. Some nights I just let my kid “brush” first, then I do a quick swipe while he’s distracted with a toy. It’s not perfect, but it’s something.
