Letting my son brush my teeth was a hit for a while—he thought it was hilarious, and it definitely made him more interested in brushing his own. I do think having some control helps; picking out a toothbrush with his favorite character made a difference too. The sticker chart worked for us, but only when we actually remembered to use it... Consistency is tough, but the little rituals seem to matter more than the toothpaste flavor in the long run.
Can’t say the sticker chart ever worked for us—my youngest just lost interest after a week or two, no matter how shiny the stickers. What actually clicked was making up silly toothbrushing songs together. Sometimes the mess and the giggles made it more memorable than any chart or cartoon toothbrush. Funny how the routines stick when you don’t force them too much…
Sticker charts fizzled out fast at our place too. My kid just wanted the stickers for everything BUT brushing. What worked? Letting her “brush” my teeth with her own brush first… sure, it’s weird, but she cracked up every time and then actually brushed hers. Cheaper than buying fancy gadgets, anyway.
