Ever since
Mira got her first teeth I've been "brushing" her teeth with a washcloth wrapped over my finger. We do it after every solid food meal, as part of the clean up procedure (2 to 3 times a day). She's actually really good about it. She'll open her mouth for it and sometimes she giggles while I'm brushing. Only thing is, every time I try to get the back side of her top teeth it's like I trigger a reflex or something and she bites down. I'm not really sure how to get her to stop doing it and keep her mouth open. I try making open-mouth faces at her to demonstrate, and saying "Say AAAHHH" like they do in the doctor's office. But that doesn't seem to work. I can get her to open her mouth by putting my finger on the tip of her chin, but then when I put the "brush" back behind her front teeth CHOMP. It may just be one of those things that will have to wait till she can understand what I'm saying a little better, but if anyone has any tips or tricks, let me know.
Anyway, here are some cute tooth-brushing pics:
1 comment:
There are only two bite reflexes in babies that I know of - one is only seen in neurologically impaired infants (tonic bite; also seen in neurologically impaired adults) and the clampdown bite reflex, which you would have been complaining about from the get-go during breastfeeding. Given that she's only doing this for teeth cleaning time, my best guess is that the rough texture of the wash cloth, combined with cold water, feels good against her gums and she's basically using it as a teething toy. :D
Anjea
Anjea
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