It’s no secret I hate brushing my kids’ teeth.
On top of all the other traumas associated with this nighttime ritual, we now have issues with toothpaste. I am tired of purchasing expensive, okay-to-swallow kid toothpaste, only to watch my son suck it out of the tube like it’s a Freezie.
To rectify this problem, I suggest adult toothpaste. William freaks.
“I don’t want to die, Mom!” he says. Evidently, my exaggerated warning from a couple of years ago has stuck with him. I didn’t want him slurping our tube of toothpaste, so I may have insinuated he could become very ill (i.e. croak) if he swallowed it.
The other day, when we were grocery shopping, I purchased a different tube of kids’ toothpaste: a slightly bigger one that’s cheaper and still fluoride free. I’ll call this Option A.
Fast forward to bedtime.
Vivian and William began brushing their teeth, and within seconds, they were gagging. Both twins proceeded to spit most of the paste/drool mixture onto the floor and counter. Some may have hit the sink.
So last night, I told them they were going to use adult toothpaste, Option B. I reassured them that they wouldn’t die, even if they swallowed a bit. They started brushing, and within seconds, they sounded like two cats coughing up hairballs.
“It’s horrible!” William said, foaming at the mouth.
“It’s peppermint!” Vivian gasped, equally aghast. Suffice it to say that mint is not the flavour-of-the-month around here.
After they gagged it out, I reintroduced last night’s toothpaste. Suddenly, Option A, the cheaper kids’ paste, didn’t seem so bad.
Here, then, is the parenting tip I’ve learned from this: If your kids hate Thing A, introduce something worse as Thing B. Suddenly, the first option is much more palatable.
Once again, the illusion of choice as a form of coercion.
That’s a tip I’ll be putting in my back pocket. I think I’ll try it out on my husband for a while until the baby realizes that I’m making all the decisions in our house.
your brilliance knows no bounds. also I’m loving the new look!
Ah so very wise – it’s like when you say it’s time to do something and your child says no so you answer “well either we leave now or you can go in time out.” The original option suddenly sounds much more appealing, although it doesn’t always work around here 🙂
What is it with kids toothpaste? My daughter only likes one brand and one flavor and would happily eat an entire tube of it every night. She also does not like mint flavored anything.
Gonna have to try that in a couple years. (My daughter HATES having her teeth brushed by someone who is not, um, HER. Which is not terribly helpful considering that she’s ONE. *sigh*)
I too hate brushing my kids teeth so I just don’t. I figure they can all just get dentures. It will be awesome. 😉
I love it! The illusion of choice!
That is a strategy I’ll need to use.
I’m going to remember this! The illusion of choice, love it!
I do this all the time, particuarly when serving dinner. Choice A carrots, Choice B salad. The carrots are eaten all the time! And adult toothpaste? My son insisted on trying one day…his reaction? “Mommy it’ s spicy!”.
So, so true. I’d always give choices-
the one they were going to choose
or
else.
It worked sometimes…which was better than nothing.
Unlike yourself, I am amazed at the number of adults who don’t realize, gee, my kid CAN make choices. We do have to make decisions for kids from the “absolute” approach at times; however, I tend to think unconditional approaches that encourage their confidence and thinking are better.
Best of luck to you and yours.
Love this – I always called it the “false choice” and it is wonderful. It works a treat on husbands too….
My other partenting “trick” is to make a deal with my boys – you can wear what you want for PJs or when we are not in public, and in exchange I get final veto on “public” clothing.
Well, ok, I don’t let them wear hooded shirts to bed, or shoes/coats; otherwise, I figure what does it hurt if my 7 year old wears swim trunks to bed? And then – no arguments about church or picture day clothes!