Q&A: My son hates brushing his teeth
Q&A: My son hates brushing his teeth
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Q My son is 22 months old. Lately he won't brush his teeth. I can do it for him but he puts up an awlful fight, and then I hate to do it. What do you suggest?
A I would try to let him take a turn and then you need to take a turn. You might tell him that he will get a sticker, or you can buy some of those kid tattos, if he lets you do it without crying. Sometimes, if you let him pick a fun new toothbrush or even an electric toothbrush can be a novelty that will entice his cooperation. Unfortunately, there really is no choice. It is important for him to do it.
Christine Wood, MD
Click here to Ask Dr. Christine Wood questions about your baby's health
Dr. Christine Wood is a practicing pediatrician in Southern California. She attended the University of Detroit for her undergraduate degree in chemistry and received her medical degree from the University of Michigan. She completed her pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. She was Chief Resident there and then worked in the emergency room at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. After three years doing pediatric emergency room medicine she went into private practice. She received her lactation educator certification from the University of California, San Diego.
She is the author of "How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It," a book that addresses the issues of why and how to feed kids healthy. The book also covers information about environmental threats and the role of nutritional supplementation for children. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.
Christine is also the cofounder of Call Your Ped.com a website designed to give concerned parents with non-emergency medical questions, solid, no-nonsense information that can give them information in deciding when to call the doctor and some home treatment advice. You can visit her website at http://www.callyourped.com
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