Flavored toothpaste worked pretty well for us, but honestly, the novelty wore off kinda quick. What actually ended up helping was letting them pick their own toothbrushes at the dollar store. Cheap enough to swap out regularly, and they loved having control over something small like that...
That's a thoughtful approach you've taken—giving kids a sense of control can definitely make a difference. I remember when my grandkids were younger, the toothbrush aisle was practically their favorite spot in the store... who knew? Sometimes it's those small things, like choosing their own brushes, that really build healthy habits. You're doing great by encouraging their independence early on. Keep it up!
"Sometimes it's those small things, like choosing their own brushes, that really build healthy habits."
Totally agree with this! My daughter went through a phase where she insisted on having a toothbrush that matched her pajamas... every night. 🙄😂 At first it drove me a little nuts, but honestly, it made bedtime way less stressful. Giving kids a little bit of say in these tiny decisions really helps them feel involved and makes routines way easier. Gotta pick your battles, right?
"Giving kids a little bit of say in these tiny decisions really helps them feel involved and makes routines way easier."
This is spot on. My son used to absolutely dread brushing his teeth—like, full-on meltdown mode every night. Then one day at the store, he spotted this toothbrush with flashing lights and begged me for it. Honestly, I thought it was a gimmick at first, but figured why not give it a shot. Turns out, that silly blinking toothbrush completely changed our bedtime routine. He started looking forward to brushing because he loved watching the lights flash until they stopped (which conveniently lasted exactly two minutes). Who knew something so simple could make such a difference?
I think sometimes we underestimate how much kids value having control over small things. It might seem trivial to us adults, but for them it's huge... and if it means fewer bedtime battles, I'm all for it.
This makes total sense. I mean, think back to when we were kids—didn't we all get excited about the silliest little things? I remember my parents let me pick out bubblegum-flavored toothpaste once, and suddenly brushing felt like dessert time (probably wasn't the healthiest mindset lol).
"I think sometimes we underestimate how much kids value having control over small things."
Exactly. Have you tried letting him pick a fun toothpaste flavor too? Could double down on the excitement factor...
