Parenting advice needed

amother

Thu, Jan 07 2021, 7:50 pm

I have an almost 2 year old and a 3.5 year old. For the past few days when its time to brush their teeth they laugh and run away copying each other. Usually its a whole drawn out thing. Today I decided I will just say that it's time for me to brush and do it even if they're not on board. Usually they first brush themselves and then I finish brushing. So today I took the 2 year old and held her down a bit to brush and she didn't mind at all was just laughing and giggling and let me brush. My 3 year old even after seeing her sister laughing didnt like it at all. She ended up having a huge tantrum and it took a while to calm her down and I totally understand her. I was very controlling but I just wanted their teeth brushed. Bedtime already takes a while.
What would you do in such a situation so I know what to do next time something like this happens.

Speaking positively etc.. wouldn't work o tried that and it was already a huge game for them. Maybe a prize? Telling her she can't brush first herself if she won't let me?
Any advice?

amother

Pumpkin

Thu, Jan 07 2021, 7:59 pm

I would bring one child at a time into the bathroom and lock the door so there's no riling each other up. Just calmly so what you normally do. There's no need to turn it into a power struggle, nor should you stop brushing teeth altogether.

amother

Thu, Jan 07 2021, 8:08 pm

amother [ Pumpkin ] wrote:

This is good advice thanks.

meeze

Thu, Jan 07 2021, 9:04 pm

I count till 10 when I brush my toddlers teeth. So he knows when to expect it to be over. Then, as a treat, he can sometimes hold a big handheld mirror so he see his white teeth while I brush.
I talk to him while I brush his teeth and tell him that his freind "shimmy" (or whomever your child will stop to listen to you when u mention that name) also likes to brush their teeth

amother

Thu, Jan 07 2021, 9:17 pm

meeze wrote:

Love the mirror idea, as well as the friend convo..thank you!