Persistence pays off though, even if it feels endless sometimes.
You nailed it with that. Getting a little one to brush can feel like a marathon, not a sprint. For us, it helped to let her pick her own toothbrush—suddenly, brushing was a bit more exciting. The snack swaps were easier, but bedtime brushing? Definitely took patience. Hang in there, it really does get easier over time.
Letting kids pick their own toothbrush totally works for some, but did you ever try making brushing a family thing? My nephew actually got more interested once he saw the adults brushing at the same time—like it was just another part of the nightly routine, not a chore. I do wonder, though, about all those snack swaps... did you notice any pushback with that? Sometimes I think it’s harder to change the snacks than the brushing itself.
Sometimes I think it’s harder to change the snacks than the brushing itself.
Totally get this—my kiddo threw a fit when I swapped out his favorite crackers for apples. Honestly, did you find any snacks that were actually an easy win? I feel like every healthy swap is a battle around here.
I’m right there with you—snack swaps are way harder than I expected. My little one used to love those cheesy crackers, and when I tried giving her cucumber slices instead, she acted like I’d betrayed her or something. It was honestly kind of funny in hindsight, but at the time I felt like the world’s meanest parent.
We did have a small win with those freeze-dried fruit things. She calls them “crunchy strawberries” and will eat a handful without too much fuss. But if I try to give her carrot sticks or anything that looks remotely healthy, she just glares at me. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the daily drama, but then I remember how stressed I get about cavities and brushing... It’s like, pick your battles, right?
I’m still figuring it out, honestly. Some days she’ll surprise me and eat a banana, other days she refuses everything except goldfish crackers. It’s exhausting. If anyone has a magic snack, please send help.
