Bedtime Drama – Toddler Bed & Kids Sleep Problems
Theresea Hughes asked:
Our active, energetic children often resist the rest time period, whether it is naptime or bedtime they may turn it into a chase time, crying time, tantrum time or may be read another time to avoid the dreaded bed.
Stand firm with your child, stick to a time you have set for your child to rest, you may need to help your child wind down before naptime or bedtime and perhaps a short story or may be a gentle massage to help relax the unwilling at sleep time.
As your child gets older his sleep pattern is likely to change, and you may find you will need to start again, it may require letting him stay up later or shorten his daytime naps as he grows.
Preventing The Problem:
Firstly, establish a bedtime routine. Before bedtime or naptime ensure a calm approach with a special feeling, only you and your child enjoys at these times of the day or night maybe a short story, a gentle back rub or very softly stroking his hair as part of going-to-bed routine.
Putting in the effort to make bedtime and naptimes a special event gives your child more than just going to bed to look forward to.
It may even involve a story you both tell by making it up as you go along, or maybe a talk on a subject your child is interested in.
Include exercise a daily habit
Plain for your child to get plenty of exercise during his day, as this helps his body letting his mind know going to bed has a good feeling.
Setting A Regular Rest Time:
Don’t let your child control his rest time with late afternoon or evening rests, it becomes a problem at bedtime to expect him to wind down for the night.
Putting your child down early in the day for his rest period will ensure less drama for bedtime.
Quality Time Before Bed:
Spending time with your child before bed will help prevent him from putting on a performance just to get more of your attention.
Keep Bedtime Consistent.
To find out how much sleep your child may need by taking note of how he acts when he has had his daytime nap and when he hasn’t, and when he has gone to bed at nine o’clock compared to seven o’clock.
Establish a regular sleep timetable that suits your child’s needs, this pattern is likely to change, as he gets older.
A Solution:
An hour before bedtime or even at naptime this idea can be used, set an alarm clock for five minutes and let your child know when the alarm goes off its telling him its time to start getting ready for bed.
This avoids unexpected surprises and helps your child except what is required in the next stage, when the alarm sounds, simply say, “The alarm is telling us its time to start getting ready for bed. Let’s have a bath, or wash up and put our pajamas on.”
Reset the alarm for fifteen minutes and say to your child, “let’s see how we go with beating the alarm at getting ready.” This gives you the opening to positively reward your child for his efforts at getting himself all the way through the basic bedtime routine.
Make sure you allow a fair amount of time for your child to get the job done.
When the routine is completed, reset the alarm for what’s left of the hour you set aside for bedtime and then say, “Because you were very good and beat the alarm, you now get to stay up and play until the alarm goes off again telling us it’s time to hop into bed.
Now it’s time to set the alarm for brushing our teeth, having a little drink, and using the potty (if old enough) or going to the toilet before getting into bed.
Using the alarm bedtime routine helps you and your child have fun preparing for bedtime, your child will enjoy the game involved in the bedtime routine.
Follow The Same Custom Regardless Of Time:
Even if it is past his normal bedtime, it is important to go through the same pattern as the usual bedtime to help your child learn what’s expected of him when its time for going to bed.
Don’t mention how late he’s been up, speed up the pace give your child a hand getting ready, using the alarm set it for shorter times. Although the pressure is on its important you don’t leave out any of the regular steps.
Keep The Same organized Routine:
Because young children find comfort in regularity, have your child take his bath, brush his teeth, and put his pajamas on, in the same order each night.
Ask your child to tell you what he thinks the next step is in the routine; this helps him feel he has some say and being more involved.
Offer Rewards For Good Bedtime Behavior:
Speak to your child upon waking making a comment about him going to so bed nicely is worthwhile. Say to him, “Seems you were so good going off to bed, I would like to read you an extra story.” Or another idea is, have a special calendar for your child and get him to place stickers on his good bedtime days, your child will find this very rewarding.
What Not To Do:
Don’t Let Your Child Be In Charge Of Bed time:
Stand firm with your selected bedtime regardless of your child’s performance.
Keeping in mind you know why he doesn’t want to go to bed-and why he should. Tell yourself, “He’s crying because he doesn’t want to go to bed and take a nap as he’s happy to play, but you know with him having his nap now he will be happier later.
Don’t Intimidate Or Smack Your Child:
Threatening your child to make him go to bed may cause bad dreams; fear’s and leaves your child unsettled, not to mention how you are going to feel when his performance continues.
Punishing your child won’t teach him suitable behavior.
As an alternative, use an alarm as an impartial influence to control when naptime or bedtime arrives.
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Bedtime, Toddler Bed
How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Sherry Frewerd asked:
If you’re a pet owner, are you aware that dogs get cavities in their teeth just like humans? If left untreated and uncared for, dogs get cavities which result in not only bad breath, but other physical ailments as well. Dogs do not get cavities as frequently as humans do, but many of the problems of bad dental care in dogs can be prevented.
People who feed their dogs only soft food are potentially contributing to dental issues. The soft food is left in the gums of the dog causing bad breath and infections. Also, people who live in areas of the country where the water is hard will very likely have dogs with tooth problems since the hard water leaves tartar that builds up on dog teeth just as it does in humans.
So what are you supposed to do other than buy hard food and give your dog filtered water? Number one; regularly brush your dog’s teeth. Some folks are extremely intimidated by the idea of opening their dog’s mouth and brushing the rows of sharp teeth, however, if you slowly get your dog used to regular teeth brushing you should be able to get the job done without too much trouble.
There are many different kinds of dog toothbrushes and flavored toothpaste now that help make your dog more interested in the idea.
If your dog is young you can start off brushing his teeth from the get go and he’ll ease into the idea rather quickly most likely. Dogs simply do not like having their mouths messed with, so it may take some time to instill the habit. One way to begin easily is to start by lifting his lips and examining his teeth several times a week, each time giving him a small treat when you’re done. Both you and your dog will be more relaxed when you are handling his mouth, and your dog will be more comfortable with the idea when he knows there will be a treat when it’s over.
Now that your dog is used to having you handle his mouth regularly, it’s time to start brushing his teeth. Some products that you’ll need to brush his teeth are a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. The toothpaste has been specially formulated for animals. Never use human toothpaste on your dog. You can find a dog toothbrush and toothpaste at pet stores, large retail stores and of course from your veterinarian. Dogs like the taste of dog toothpaste, and since it does come in different flavors you can find one that your dog loves which will make the job of brushing his teeth even easier.
The process of actually brushing your dog’s teeth is very much the same as brushing your own teeth. If your dog is a large breed, the most comfortable position is on the floor, with your dog in front of you. If you have a small breed or a puppy, simply hold the dog in your lap. When you’re ready to start brushing, lift your dog’s upper lip and brush the teeth in a circular motion, making sure to brush at the base of each tooth where it meets the gum line. Also make sure to brush the back teeth or molars, because these teeth are more likely than the front teeth to develop dental problems. A good idea is to only brush one or two teeth the first few times. As your dog becomes accustomed to teeth brushing, you can brush more teeth each time. To instill the positive aspect of the process, always remember to give your dog a small treat after each teeth brushing session.
For the most part, brush your dog’s teeth twice a week. If you have an older dog with lots of tartar build up, and if he’s never had his teeth brushed before, you should take him to the vet to have them professionally cleaned. Also, feeding your dog dry dog food or hard dog biscuits every day is the best way of preventing tartar build-up. There specially made dog dental bones on the market that help tremendously with preventing tartar build up. These dental chew bones come in various sizes, so choose a bone based on the size of your dog.
Brushing your dog’s teeth needn’t be a big chore, and certainly nothing to fear. Your dog depends on you to make proper health choices for him, and dental care is one of them. Start off slowly and follow the tips mentioned above, and you’ll be able to clean your dog’s teeth with no trouble and your dog will feel great as a result.
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Dental Issues, Dog Teeth, Mouths
Toddler teeth?
Stitch & Hatter strike again! asked:
My 2 yr old HATES, and I mean runs, screams, cries SO hard when I try to get her to brush her teeth. I feel SO bad. Weve tried “Look , Mommy does it too”…”Look, Teddy does it too”…”Lets make it a game”… “Iris can do it all by herself” and making a silly story out of it…but she just caterwauls at EVERYTHING. Shes got to have her teeth brushed obviously…so almost every night I end up holding her down and I feel terrible, but what else is there to do to get her to enjoy brushing her teeth? Or in the very least put up with it…
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Iris, Mommy, Screams
Sometimes I forget to brush my toddler teeth twice a day?
Isis Grace asked:
Most of the time, I brush them really good once a day. I always forget before she goes to bed. Plus, she screams and cries when she is getting her teeth brushed and I’ve tried everything, singing, making it a game, everything. Is it ok to brush them once a day or should I always do it twice?
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Game, Teeth, Toddler
Caring For Your Baby’s Teeth
Christine Albury asked:
Keeping your baby’s teeth clean may not always be easy — when he clamps his jaws shut, it can be difficult to persuade him to open them — but it is very important.
Ideally, you should start cleaning your baby’s mouth from birth, using a piece of damp gauze or a soft, damp washcloth to wipe any milk residue from his gums and teeth. It’s a good idea to start this early, as it gives your baby time to get used to the whole routine and may make him less likely to object to having his teeth brushed later on!
Once his baby teeth start appearing, it’s crucial to clean them carefully at least twice a day. The bacteria that live naturally in your baby’s mouth turn the sugars (including natural sugars) from foods into acid. This acid may then attack the enamel of your baby’s teeth.
The importance of your baby’s first teeth
Although your baby will eventually lose his first teeth, don’t be fooled into thinking that caring for them is any less important than caring for his permanent teeth later on. Baby teeth “reserve” a place for the permanent teeth to grow into. If a baby tooth is lost, the permanent teeth may shift, potentially leading to orthodontic problems later on. Babies need their milk teeth in order to learn to speak clearly and correctly. Baby teeth are needed for biting and chewing. The excessive loss of baby teeth due to decay can affect your child’s confidence at pre-school level — after all, we all want to look our best!
Choosing a toothbrush
Once your baby has his first tooth, it’s time to buy an appropriate toothbrush. A long handled brush with a small head is best at first, as this design makes it easy to reach all parts of your baby’s mouth quite easily. The brush should have soft, rounded filaments and should be replaced every 10-12 weeks, or as soon as the filaments start to splay.
Alternatively, you could use the type of infant toothbrush that fits over your finger and some babies do prefer this — but beware if your baby is a biter, as they don’t offer much protection to your vulnerable finger!
When your baby is older and wants to hold the brush himself, then buy him a chunkier-handled design, which will be easier for him to hold — although you will still need to do the bulk of the brushing yourself!
Toothpaste and fluoride
You don’t have to use toothpaste to clean your baby’s teeth — the action of brushing is the most important factor in keeping them clean. If you do use toothpaste, then choose one specifically designed for infants — these usually contain very little fluoride. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry actually recommends that babies under the age of 2 should receive NO fluoride at all.
Although fluoride can help strengthen the enamel of the teeth, too much of it can lead to fluorosis – a condition which can cause white spots to appear on the permanent teeth. Young babies tend to swallow toothpaste rather than spit it out — if you use an adult toothpaste, then they will be swallowing too much fluoride.
Speak to your child’s dentist for more information about the fluoride requirements for your child.
For further information, see How Much Fluoride Is Enough?
Tips for brushing baby’s teeth
If your baby is reluctant to open his mouth, try putting a brush in your own mouth — babies love to copy whatever Mum’s doing! Try singing a musical scale with your mouth wide open (no-one’s looking!) He may try to copy the singing — or he may laugh — but either way, he’ll open his mouth! Sit your baby in whatever position works best for you — standing or sitting behind your baby as he looks up is a great position, because it enables you to reach all parts of his mouth very easily. Be gentle — firm brushing isn’t necessary at this stage and can put your baby off the whole experience.
Visiting the dentist
So when should your baby pay his first visit to the dentist?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and many other dental authorities worldwide, you should take him for a dental check-up at some point during his first year.
This gives your baby’s dentist the opportunity to identify potential problems at an early stage and also to establish a good prevention program. It also gets your baby accustomed to the routine of dental visits and can help ensure he is calm on future visits.
Tips to keep your baby’s teeth healthy
Avoid giving your baby juice. Nearly 90% of infants in the US are drinking juice before their first birthday. Yet whole fruit is nutritionally superior to fruit juice and contains dietary fiber, which juice lacks. Giving water to your baby is the healthiest option when he needs additional fluids. If you do give your baby fruit juice, then make sure he drinks it from a sippy cup, not a bottle. Drinking juice from a bottle causes it to “pool” around your baby’s teeth and puts him at a very high risk of dental decay. Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice or milk. The lactose in milk can react with the bacteria in your baby’s mouth, forming the acids that attack tooth enamel. Do not dip your baby’s dummy/pacifier into any sweet substance. Do not add sugar to your baby’s food. (NEVER use honey as a sweetener for babies less than 1 year of age — honey may contain botulism spores, which can be fatal to a young baby). Ensure that baby’s teeth get an extra good clean at bedtime! During the night, his natural production of saliva decreases, so its rinsing action diminishes too. This means that any harmful bacteria in the mouth are able to settle on the teeth more easily. If your baby is receiving oral medication, give it to him before you brush his teeth, not afterwards. Almost all oral medications for infants contain sucrose.
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Baby Time, Bacteria, Teeth Decay
Getting Your Child to Brush Their Teeth
Veronica Scott asked:
Getting your child to brush their teeth sounds simple enough, right? But if you’ve ever had to hold a struggling toddler down to brush their teeth than you know it’s easier said than done. For whatever reason, some kids just hate to brush or have their teeth brushed. However, the alternative of not brushing leads to a whole host of problems like rotten teeth.
Get Them Started Early
To establish good oral habits in your child, start cleaning their teeth from the start. In fact, the American Dental Association suggests that you begin cleaning your baby’s mouth the first few days after birth. The ADA recommends that you take a wet washcloth and clean your baby’s gums after each feeding.
After those first teeth appear, take a cotton ball and gently clean each tooth. Your baby will become accustomed to you cleaning their teeth and will be less resistant as they get older.
Follow these Rules
Most children don’t have the capacity to correctly brush their teeth until the age of six and need your assistance. When brushing your child’s teeth remember…
o Use only a pea-size amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush as larger amounts tend to create excessive foam making it more difficult for your child to brush.
o Make sure that your child gets in the habit of spitting out the toothpaste. Swallowing toothpaste on a consistent basis can lead to a condition known as fluorosis, in which spots may appear on your child’s teeth.
o Be careful of the toothpaste you use. Almost all toothpastes contain harsh flavorings that adults barely notice, but that can sting young mouths. Choose toothpaste designed for young children and a flavor that your child likes. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the right flavor for your child.
Make it Fun!
Many children just don’t like to brush their teeth because it isn’t fun or takes away time from more desirable activities. Try and make brushing their teeth a fun activity.
o Let your child brush your teeth. You should laugh a lot and make it a fun activity. Then allow them to “brush” their own teeth. Finish by brushing your child’s teeth.
o Have your child brush their favorite doll’s teeth before you brush theirs. Remember always allow them to “brush” their own teeth and then follow up by brushing their teeth correctly.
o Hang a piece of bright construction paper on the bathroom wall. Each time your child has a thorough brushing, he or she can choose a sticker or star and put it on the poster.
o Get a toothbrush or toothpaste with their favorite character on it. Or better yet purchase one of those toothbrushes that light up or play music. These toothbrushes are fun and usually have a timer on them to let the kids know how long to brush.
Remember instilling good brushing habits now will stay with your child for the rest of their life and preserve those beautiful smiles that parents love so much!
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Brushing Teeth, Flavorings, Rotten Teeth
Toddler Teeth-Brushing?
mexican_curse asked:
How old should my child be before we start to teach him to brush his teeth?
Are there special products for this?
Anything special I should have a heads up for?
Thanks
p.s. he’s 20 mo. old
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Special Products, Teeth
Brushing toddler’s teeth: HELP?
ruby’s mom asked:
i have brushed ruby’s teeth since the first one popped. it had never been a problem. in the last month or so, she has started to freak out and refuse to open her mouth for me. last night i had to force her — she was crying so hard. it was perhaps the worst experience of my life, forcing something on her while she cried. but she has 8 teeth, and i know i have to brush them at least once. (she is 16 months old). any special secrets for getting her to like it again — or at least not hate it. i mean, she was screaming last night as if i were torturing her. help???
oh: i have tried every different kind of toothbrush (even letting her pick one)…tried doing it in the mirror…tried clapping every time we managed to get one tooth brushed….
edit: she will eat the toothpaste straight if i let her, so she does like it….
edit: yes, i try to let her do it herself, and i always brush mine while brushing hers…doesn’t seem to work anymore.
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Ruby, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
How do you brush a toddler’s teeth?
Southern B asked:
I have a 13 month old toddler with 8 teeth: four at the top, four at the bottom. Her pediatrician said I can start brushing her teeth, but I have no clue of what kind of toothpaste or tootbrush to use.
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Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Brushing Teeth, Pediatrician, Toothpaste
Kids Teeth – 5 Tips For Getting Your Child to Brush Their Teeth Regularly
Rick Stevens asked:
Getting your child to brush their teeth shouldn’t be too difficult. It just takes a bit of mental discipline and time for the child to develop the habit of doing it. There are some basic things that you can focus on in order to get them on the right track.
1. While you want your child to get their teeth clean, this does not mean that they need a large amount of toothpaste on the brush.
Categories: Toddler Teeth Brushing Tags: Adults, Timeouts, Toothbrush