r/sleeptrain • u/OtterLove89 • Jan 10 '26

1-2 years old Toothbrushing is ruining bed time

Our gal has always been amazing with bedtime; while we "sleep trained" in that she's been going into her crib awake & falling asleep on her own, we were doing a bottle before bed until recently (she's 15 months). We probably *should* have been brushing her teeth after the bottle but she loved having milk before bed so much that we didn't (we brushed before, after bath, before books). When we finally switched to a straw cup of milk we decided we really should be brushing after the milk. So, we tried to integrate tooth brushing after milk, followed by a story, then her usual routine (sleep sack, one verse of a song, then into her crib). First of all, she HATES having her teeth brushed, and each night since we started she's resisted more and more. All of the tips on toothbrushing are very high-energy, chipper, rile-her-up kinds of things. Even the story seems to wind her up, and suddenly when we try to put her in her crib she either: a) cries out mama mama mama when I leave the room or b) chats with her stuffies for a while. I don't mind b) at all, that seems like nice self-soothing behaviour. But the first is breaking my heart and she just seems upset and confused. She really only *truly* calms down/gets sleepy during milk, so I'm feeling a bit lost! I suppose my ask is... anyone have any tips for getting a toddler who hates having her teeth brushed to accept this without it making her super sad right before bed?!

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u/SnooAvocados6932 [MOD] 2.5 & 5.5yo | snoo, sleep hygiene, schedules Jan 10 '26

At that age, I see it more as introducing the routine and less about function. If she’s holding the brush and it touches the teeth at all you praise like crazy, act like she won a marathon, and that’s it for the night. The adults never did a thing with the actual teeth or tried to step in.

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u/OtterLove89 Jan 10 '26

I was of that mindset before but she’s had teeth for quite a while and now her molars are coming in… while I’ve never had a cavity (I’m 36), my husband has had many, and we don’t know whose genes she has, teeth wise, so I’m worried!

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u/SnooAvocados6932 [MOD] 2.5 & 5.5yo | snoo, sleep hygiene, schedules Jan 10 '26

Our pediatric dentist said it’s just about introduction of the practice at this age. I’ve never once had a teeth brushing protest because the adults don’t get involved in early toddlerhood except to celebrate progress. By the time both my kids were 2, they would stand on the stool in front of the mirror with the toothbrush and do it themselves, and then let us do whatever needed to finish because by then it was a non-event. And eventually they do it all without an adult. I think youre forcing too much too soon and it’s at the cost of bedtime. And could make her fight the whole practice long-term. This is also how toddlers end up taking a year to potty train when parents force perfection over progress and then kids just resist the entire situation. Anyway, I digress! Good luck!