I started my little one a bit younger and would hold him while I brushed mine and gave him his tooth brush to do it with me at the same time. Him watching me has helped a lot – I do a good few brush strokes at the end for him just to be sure those teeth are clean 🙂

My son is 5 and I still do it for him first and let him have a go after I’m done. When he looks like he’s doing it properly I’ll let him do it all himself. Teeth are just too precious to risk. The stronger his baby teeth the better his adult teeth.

I still brush my 2.5 yo dd teeth, but I always show her how she should do, so once I finish brushing her teeth I give her the toothbrush and she has a turn on her own.

I brushed my kids teeth until they were about 3, then I got them an electric toothbrush. It plays a song and they have to brush for the length of the song. Helped them to learn how long they need to brush for.

I brush my little ones teeth until they are 5. I find that they don’t have the ability to clean properly. Once they are about 3 they do a turn then I finish off ie clean properly.

I brush my boys teeth first and then let them have a go reminding them if they miss any bits.

my son learnt from watching me, watching his brothers and sisters and then me doing it for him.

Yes apps are great, thanx

OralB have an App that you activate with a barcode from 1 of their products. My granddaughter wouldn’t use it the whole time at first but she does now. Doesn’t always get all her teeth, but I’ve been told it’s about getting them into the habit at the young age

Thanx mums, it seems that letting them watch you do it is the key

How to teach your children to brush their teeth an idea is to do yours with them, like it is a game (there is even an old song this is the way you brush your teeth, brush your teeth on a cold and frosty morning (sung to me long time ago but still fun for kid to here you sing, particularly at this age!) and both of you looking intro a mirror (child on your level both facing mirror go through the actions. Repeat daily for a while and hopefully it will become a habit for your little one. Hope this helps

How frustrating for you. My little one has learnt by reading a book wear the bear brushes his teeth to get ready for they day. Also there is a song about brushing teeth that I sing when he does. And I often brush my teeth with him so he’s copied… But he picked it up himself so I didn’t have to battle 🙂
Maybe don’t add toothpaste for a while?

You really have to do it for them and give them a mirror so that they can compare what you are doing to what they are.

They all seem to go through this. let them try and then do it for them. I agree that letting them watch you is a good idea. The novelty of sucking on the toothbrush and playing does wear off…eventually!

Brush your teeth with them and let them see you do it. Then help them out when they are doing theirs. They will get it in time.

I find my kids still need help to brush their teeth at times, if i dont watch them closely they pretend to i usually make up a song to sing while they brush their teeth sometning like brush brush brush your teeth up and down, all around do the top to the right to the left now for the bottom to the right to the left and all around. I ususally sing this two to three times while watching them closely.

I got my toothbrush and brushed my teeth in front of her and then asked her to open her mouth like mine and I brushed it, my daughter is 2 1/2 and I still do the majority of brushing so that it gets done properly

By doing it yourself to begin with. Talk your way through it as you go. 18 months is a but too young to be doing it on their own….if you want it done properly