How about recording a short little song on a MP3 player and let him or her wear the head phones he/she can to the tooth brush dance! make it fun not dangerous

By Jennifer on 11/13/2009 10:53:08 PM

I would rethink that one kids should never be near flames!

By Jennifer on 11/13/2009 10:50:32 PM

I am not sure that I would use the candle idea either.  My son would spend more time worrying about the candle than cooperating with me on brushing his teeth.  I agree that young children should not be brushing their own teeth.  I sing the Witch Doctor song to my son while we are brushing his teeth.  I change up how I sing it and he is so used to it now that I he will stop my husband if he brushes his teeth and forgets to sing.  It has been a bedtime routine since his teeth started coming in and neither of us really think twice about doing it. 

By Margaret on 11/6/2009 12:57:08 AM

When cleaning your bathroom sink and tile, using rubbling alcohol not only helps kills germs, but it is a great way to make your tile and sink shining....

By Karen on 11/5/2009 9:16:33 AM

I second the light-up toothbrush idea! I buy my 3-year-old the Crayola toothbrush (he gets to pick out the color) and before each session, he loves turning on the light and knows he has to brush until the light turns off.

By Alexis on 11/3/2009 8:52:24 PM

I buy several toothbrushes for my grand child.Each day ask which one today?Seems getting to pick makes her want to brush more.When old I use them around the house for cleaning.

By Barbara on 11/2/2009 11:03:37 AM

the candle while getting a toddler to brush thier teeth is an awesome idea! My three year old fights us every night, so i will try it tonite, thanks!

By Robyn on 10/25/2009 6:06:45 PM

I'm not sure I agree that a toddler should be around a flame or candle. I used an egg timer, half way through they got to turn it upside down to rinse their mouths out. And then use their rinse. I just don't like the idea of fire and kids.By Trish on 10/20/09  11:32 P.M.

By Patricia on 10/21/2009 2:39:12 AM

I just tell my daughter 20 months "i will be so proud of her" and how pretty her teeth are. We also use kiddie tooth paste and brushes. Fire not so much.

By Lisa on 10/16/2009 5:04:11 AM

Sing UP LIKE A ROCKETDOWN LIKE A PLANEBACK AND FORTH LIKE A CHOO-CHOO TRAIN.This is a catchie rhyme and passes the time needed for proper brushing.

By Rene' on 10/15/2009 8:48:35 AM

I just got my 18 mth a electric toothbrush and she brushes better now than ever before!! 

By Mercedes on 10/12/2009 10:43:12 AM

Aaawww!  That's a really cute idea.  I think my almost 2 year old might even go for it.  :)

By Sanya on 10/12/2009 7:27:03 AM

Ladies, I have been a dental hygienist for over 20 years...no child under the age of 8 should be brushing their teeth alone!!! They just are not capable of getting in all the areas needed. It is fine to start teaching them at that age but you MUST always go behind them. It is best to start playing with your childs teeth as soon as they start coming in. This gets them use to objects and hands being in their mouth. I use to lightly tap on my nephews teeth and then take his hand and tap on my teeth. We did this every day as his new teeth were coming in. Never had any issues with helping him brush his teeth or taking him to the dentist. I recommend purchasing one of those dental mirrors and get your child use to that being in their mouth too. Your dentist will love you!Oh, one more thing...never let your child walk around with a tooth brush. I cannot tell you how many times kids have come in with a toothbrush lodged through the back of their neck because the were walking or running around with it in their mouth and fell. It is horrible and can be fatal.

By MELISSA on 10/7/2009 12:13:47 AM

I do not think lighting a candle is a very safe method to get a child to brush their teeth what i did was take my son to the store and let him pick out his own tooth brush and tooth paste because they are themed with different cartoon characters so he likes his tooth brush i also bought the stuff that makes his teeth blue and he loves to brush until it is gone and i let him look at his teeth in the mirror when he finishes brushing

By April on 10/6/2009 8:49:05 AM

Thats interesting...my grandson refuses to brush to music or light up toothbrushes and anything else that would seem to be interesting to a toddler so i cant imagine what trick the candle will have on him.

By Monica on 10/5/2009 11:00:16 PM

I just don't think involving a candle as a treat..or well any fire based anything is a good idea. We use the birthday song method, but we sing it in silly ways. Of couse basically I'm the one singing, but it makes my kids happy as can be, their teeth get cleaned and honestly I'm happier too after spending a silly couple of minutes with them!

By Jennifer on 10/5/2009 9:58:00 PM

Sounds like a great idea to me..I think the "with parental supervision" is implied LOL.  And this is an inappropriate forum in which to hawk your fake candles, Ms. Deane. :P

By Lisa on 10/4/2009 3:45:10 PM

I am totally..........against your suggestion. Light a candle & have a child brush their teeth has to be one of the most absurd things I ever heard.

By Theresa on 10/3/2009 1:32:38 PM

Not sure if fire is the answer...try a funky toothbrush or some childrens toothpaste.

By Dana on 9/30/2009 10:22:04 AM

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!!!!!!!

By Tammy on 9/30/2009 6:24:09 AM

My son has a Thomas & Friends Brushing Chart and he gets to 'give Thomas a sticker' after brushing. The chart (found at orajel.com) has two trains on each day, for morning and night. I have small smiley stickers and stars and he gets to give Thomas one and pick one for himself after brushing.

By Rachel on 9/30/2009 2:13:46 AM

When my son & I have "tooth brushing" time he brushes while I sinco now it's timme to brush my teeth...e,i,e,i,o...for full lyrics; you may email me at vero616@bellsouth.net.

By Veronika on 9/29/2009 7:45:04 PM

I LOVE this idea.  I am going to try it tonight with my two year old.  I am already in the bathroom coaching her on how to brush so the concern of her catching our house on fire isn't an issue.  Which ever trick it takes to get your child to enjoy brushing I say is awesome.  Thank you so much for sharing this!!

By Corry on 9/29/2009 6:19:36 PM

love this idea, not only does it get the job done but gives you some time with your child in the process

By PAT on 9/29/2009 4:29:57 PM

Purchase tooth paste designed for children, it does burn, so our little one enjoy brushing more.

By Anita on 9/29/2009 3:14:33 PM

Wow, that is a creative idea!  I think I will try that...Kids love to blow out candles!

By Beth on 9/29/2009 2:18:06 PM

Wow!  That seems like a lot of work to keep a child away from a lit flame.  (aren't kids drawn to lit flames?)  We tell our kids that Dora, Spongebob, etc. are in their mouths and we need to get them out. It never fails to make the kids laugh and open up!

By Kelly on 9/28/2009 4:33:11 PM

Since very few two year olds have the dexterity to brush their own teeth, I used to let my kiddo "brush" a toy pet's teeth while I brushed her teeth for her.  After I was done, she was allowed to take another toothbrush and "clean off the spots that Mama missed."  Afterward, she would run to her grandmother to show off her "beautiful, shiny teeth!"Later, she would brush her teeth while I brushed mine.  Because she was always concerned with doing everything better than Mama did, she would brush her teeth for a second or two longer than I had brushed mine.  It was a great way to make sure she didn't get slurp the toothpaste and run.

By Kathy on 9/28/2009 4:25:04 PM

There's only one thing wrong with that. What if she decides to play with the candle & burns herself or sets the house on fire? The dental office will give you a little timer with the sand in it to let you know when to stop brushing. They last for two minutes & they can watch the sand disappear & know they did a good job!It's better to be safe than sorry.There are over 23,000 fires a year caused by candles. Go to www.scentsy.com/pdeane. We carry a safe wickless candle! Your home or office will smell heavenly!

By Patty on 9/28/2009 2:47:34 PM

i like the idea of having an activity to do after brushing, but i'm not sure a candle is the right idea for us.  i love the fact that the original poster has found something to work for them!  and now i will put my mind to work for something that will make our brushing time more interesting ...

By Laura on 9/28/2009 1:08:44 PM

My grandson is 3 and learning the ABC's.  He likes for me to sing thee ABC song while he's brushing so he knows how long to brush.  It's lots of fun.  Robyn in Georgia.
                                                                             

By Robyn on 9/28/2009 12:09:15 PM

I purchased for my children a toothbrush that when you push the bottom, it lights up and flickers. It will do this for 60 seconds. My kids (6 & 7) will turn off the light and brush in the dark until the flickering stops. You can find them at any grocery / drug store. Very inexpensive.

By Leisa on 9/28/2009 9:19:12 AM

Fire... not good.We used to have a small blacklight & my daughter enjoyed brushing her teeth with it.

By Brynna on 9/28/2009 8:08:59 AM

Interesting. Worth a try!

By Julie on 9/28/2009 8:03:05 AM

Not sure if this would work for me either... think the toddler would just be messing with the candle. My daughter loves to blow out candles. I think we would be in the dark and not sure if the teeth were brushed.

By Rachael on 9/28/2009 7:53:36 AM

That is a wonderful idea!  I have a little while before that will  work for us, but I'll be sure to remember it! 

By Alison on 9/28/2009 1:44:53 AM

not sure if this will work for me. she would probably blow it out anyway :)

By Shari on 9/28/2009 12:53:30 AM