Brushing my kid’s teeth is impossible.!

Brushing my kid’s teeth is impossible. How am I supposed to do this 2-3 times a day?

The thing I notice most, especially in new parents, Brushing my kid’s teeth is that they’re making it too difficult. Here are my tips for making it easier on you.

1. Don’t be in a rush

Always brush when you’re not in a rush!

The guideline is two minutes for brushing, but at young ages, aim for four to five minutes—or longer, if your kid is having a lot of fun!

If you go 4 minutes, it’s more likely your child will have a solid two minutes worth of good brushing.

2. Lose the toothpaste

Don’t let toothpaste limit when and where you brush. Toothpaste can make kids want to gag or need to spit, and can make things unnecessarily messy, especially when they’re young.

My dad often says he’s found that toothpaste will make parents less likely to brush their kids’ teeth. It just means they have to go into the bathroom with a bottle of Windex to wipe down the sink afterwards.

Dry brushing is just as effective, in most cases, as brushing with toothpaste. That means you can even do your brushing dance in the car, the waiting room, or anywhere else you have a few extra minutes with your little one.

If your child is the kind who’s motivated by toothpaste, here’s my recommendation for the best baby toothpaste.

Keep in mind that, according to the CDC, most kids are using way too much toothpaste. If you choose to go with a fluoride toothpaste, make sure that your baby is getting just a sliver of toothpaste. Even adults should never use more than a pea-sized squeeze.

That being said, I recommend fluoride-free toothpaste…Check out my fluoride facts article if you want to know more on that.

3. Get in front of the mirror

Have you tried sitting your child on the closed toilet seat and going for their teeth with a brush?

Probably didn’t go too well, huh?

Instead, have your child stand at the mirror while you brush his/her teeth (or assist, depending on the age) from behind while you both look into the mirror. This lets your kiddo see exactly what’s going happening. Plus, looking in the mirror makes it easier to do little dances, songs, and games.

Sitting on the toilet is for other activities. 🚽 Don’t associate it with cleaning teeth.

4. Use music

Put a speaker in the bathroom to play your child’s latest favorite song. Better yet, just choose a song to brush to!

I loved “Brush Your Teeth” by Raffi growing up. In fact, I use it with my toddler for brushing time. (It’s adorable, as I’m sure you can imagine.)

Here’s our favorite, plus a few more fun songs your child might love:

5. Use an hourglass

I recommend an hourglass rather than a digital timer for timing brushing. Most kids under the age of seven are very kinesthetic and an hourglass gives a tangible concept of how much time is left to brush.

An hourglass also can’t be manipulated like a digital timer can.

Try this easy sand timer to teach how to brush your teeth for kids.

Common Mistakes

Here are two of the most common mistakes parents might make when starting a new brushing habit with their kiddos. (If you’ve done these, don’t fear—don’t be afraid to start over and make brushing fun again!)

Don’t lie them down to brush

If you can, try something for me…grab a bottle of water and lie down flat on the ground. While lying flat, take a drink of water.

You can get the drink down, but it probably made you feel like you had to gag a little.