I need to trim DD's nails and brush her teeth without fights!!

Does anyone use certain tricks to trim their LO's nails and brush their teeth?  My one year old is giving me such a hard time!  When I brush her teeth, she just grabs the brush and starts chewing on it.  Trimming nails is another battle.  She just doesn't let me do it.  I've tried to do it while she's sleeping but she wakes up every time and is cranky...Please, share your tricks!!  

[mamaofonetrying42]

With my little one I tryed making it a game to cut his nails and now he will seat very nice and lets me do them. When he was smaller papa or Gpa could alway get him to seat and do them. Does she have anyone she favors?? brushing the teeth is still hard but I did buy a brush at spins so all he really had to do is hold it to his teeth.

[snagglepuss1]

with my dd (she is 2yr 7m now) i say i will brush your teeth first then you can do it, i have done that since she was one and she knows the rountine now. as for cutting nails my ds who is 13 months goes all tense and gets upset when i cut his finger or toe nails but i constantly say to him good boy well done and do it when he is watching a favourite kids programme to help distract his attention, if he gets really irate i break for a few secs then carry on, both my kids know that brushing teeth and nail cutting isnt a time to mess and they have to sit still i always have a firm tone if they mess about.
hope this helps

[Me2mommy2b]

I can say what a good girl she is until I'm blue in the face.  She's very strong willed (ok, ok, stubborn as heck) so when/if she doesn't want to do something, nothing I do will make her feel otherwise.

[snagglepuss1]

would a favourite tv programme on help distract? it is about the only thing that works with my ds right now.

[AnnieBrooke]

I wait until my boy is DEEPLY asleep for the nails.  

[daprincess21]

I have the same problem with the nail business, but i just get a good grip and go for it. She never used to like to brush her teeth till she went to school and saw the other kids doing it. I dont think its that big of an issue tho if they just chew on the tooth brush, i think he/she is still prolly getting some cleanseing.

[SeeingSpots]

My 10mo. old HATES having his nails done.  What I usually do is have my dh come in to the bathroom to help distract my son.  Also, what's worked the last two times is to actually do his nails while he's in the tub (he's in a safety ring).  I give him a novel toy (only comes out for fingernail trimming) in the "off" hand I'm not trimming, and snip away on the other.  He's never minded his toenails, so that's usually done after the bath when he's laying on the towel getting dried off.  (I too tried the cutting nails when he's sleeping, and it NEVER worked with us... he sleeps like a little pretzel, so you have to move his limbs to access the nails, which always woke him up.  My infant care book recommends doing it after a bath anyway, since the nails are softer and easier to cut.)

As for teeth brushing, he's only got 5 teeth so far, so it doesn't take too long.  He's not thrilled with me actually "brushing", but I just do it quickly then let him hold the brush and "chew" on it once I'm done.  He likes the flavored/safe toothpaste.  Somedays it's a battle, others he lets me do it without a fuss.

[jjerzeegirl]

As far as the nails go...my dd gives a fight as well. I normally let my dh do it...b/c it upsets me as she fights it so much. BUT...i do help distract her most of the time by putting on my dh's sunglasses (which she loves to play with) and I made up a silly song and bop my head around as i sing. She loves it and gets a big kick out of it...it works...lol...
As far a the teeth...i'm just starting to get her in a routine...i feel like a bad mom that i haven't started this sooner..but she popped 4 teeth out since she turned a yr (she's just about 14 months) I still use that rummer finger brush but should i use a toddler toothbrush? Which toothpaste to you use?

[decogrl]

Okay, are you SURE Ameera and Ariella are not twins separated at birth?  I swear I have the most bull-headed child on the planet and you are describing what Ameera does to a T.  I cannot clip her nails either but I try first thing in the AM when she is up cause she is still a little out of it.  I count each finger as I trim them and that amusement lasts about 1 minute and then she puts up a fight.  Ameera has 10 teeth!  She is still biting everything and every one and yes, she only wants to chew on the toothbrush.  Forget about getting the brush out of her mouth....major tantrum!   Oh, it is true what they say about the colicky child...smart and difficult to the end!  Good Luck, oh, by the way...send me birthday pics please!  I will reply to you with mine.

[ZevasMom]

AnnieBrooke and I must have read the same "baby owner manual"... I also wait until DD is deeply sleeping to take care of her nails... Because trimming nailing still leaves them sharp, I file DD nails... I don't feel like fighting with her, so if she is sleeping, she never knew what hit her, so to speak!

[myproblem]

Take her in the bathroom, and start brushing your own teeth in front of her. She will want to do hers. Hand her a toothbrush, and then get a second toothbrush for yourself to do her teeth. The same works great for cutting nails. They always want to do what we do.

[Me2mommy2b]

Hey, I do not use any toothpaste yet b/c it's really the mechanical aspect of the brushing that gets the plaque off..not really the toothpaste.  I'll start using flouride free toothpaste soon (I guess) b/c I cannot control what she's swallowing and not swallowing at this point (and they can't exactly spit yet).  I'll probably go to the dental convention in November and see what new products for kids they have out now. :))

[Me2mommy2b]

you're hilarious.  I think they were separated at birth :))  Ariella's cutting her canines now (she's got 8 so far so with these she'll have either 10 or 12, depending on how many will come out at the same time).  I will send you her b-day pics as soon as I upload them (you know how good I am with that :)

[Me2mommy2b]

True, she always wants to eat what I'm eating so I'm wondering if this trick will fly with her.