"At first, I thought it was just another gimmick, but surprisingly, he got really into it."
That's reassuring to hear. Honestly, I've been feeling pretty anxious about this whole brushing thing myself—my daughter is only two, and every night feels like a negotiation session. I've tried singing songs, making silly faces, even brushing my own teeth alongside her, but nothing seems to stick for more than a day or two. Your experience gives me hope that maybe it's just about finding the right trick or tool that clicks with her personality.
I hadn't considered apps or animations yet, but now I'm curious to explore that route. It's interesting how something seemingly small can make such a big difference. And you're right about giving them some control—I guess kids, like adults, appreciate having choices. Thanks for sharing your story; it helps to know others have navigated this successfully.
Apps and animations can definitely help, but have you tried letting her pick out her own toothbrush or toothpaste flavor yet? I've noticed with my own kids—and even some patients—that something as simple as choosing their own brush or a fun-flavored paste can spark their interest. Maybe it's the sense of ownership or independence it gives them?
Also, sometimes it's not about finding the one trick that sticks forever but rotating through a few different tactics to keep things fresh. Kids get bored so quickly, don't they? One week it's a song, next week it's an app, then maybe a sticker chart or something else entirely.
And yeah, giving them some control really does seem key. I wonder if that's partly because brushing teeth is one of those daily routines kids don't naturally have control over, so any small choice feels significant to them. Anyway, sounds like you're doing all the right things... parenting is always trial and error, isn't it?
We went through a similar phase... letting our daughter pick her own toothbrush made a noticeable difference. But honestly, what helped even more was brushing alongside her—seems like kids really mimic what they see us doing. Worth a shot, maybe?
Brushing alongside definitely helps, but I've noticed it's not always a long-term solution. Kids sometimes lose interest once the novelty wears off. I've found that occasionally switching up toothpaste flavors or adding a simple reward chart can keep things fresh and engaging.
Switching toothpaste flavors sounds like a good idea, but does it ever get tricky finding ones they actually like? My niece was super picky about flavors and hated anything minty. Reward charts seem helpful too... do you find they lose their effectiveness over time, or does switching up the rewards help keep things going? Honestly, it's reassuring to see others struggling with this—makes me feel like maybe I'm not doing everything wrong after all.
