tooth lotion

Dylan,

We've been making a real effort to brush your teeth every night after your bath. I say "real effort" because every day it's a struggle to get you to cooperate.

The toothbrush we have for you is actually a rubbery blue finger sleeve with a patch of bristles on one side. It even has the outline of what is supposed to be a fingernail on the reverse. It fits Mommy's hand okay, but I can barely squeeze it onto my pinky.

Until recently, brushing always left you agitated or fussy if not outright crying. And then I introduced tooth paste.

Due to a skin issue you had many months ago we ended up with a fairly good-sized container of prescription skin cream that got incorporated into your nighttime routine and has become something you look forward to sticking your fingers into. Recently, following what must have been a major nose-wiping day at school, we applied a little healing ointment to your nose for a couple nights. By the third night you were requesting "nose lotion" (your words, honest!) even though you no longer actually needed it.

The lotion theme was such a big hit with you that introduced toothpaste as "tooth lotion" to see if it would help soften your anti-brushing stance a bit.

Boy howdy.

Now you're so eager to brush your teeth that it's a struggle to just get you diapered first. I'll put just a tiny bit of Tom's of Maine fluoride-free Silly Strawberry flavored toothpaste on the bristles and it's the difference between night and day.

And I think the way you say "toodtokin" is super adorable. Every time.

Dad