How do you teach a kid to spit?

[UnderTheStars]

As in, spit their toothpaste out?

I just noticed tonight that our training toothpaste says up to 24months, and I'm still using it with my four-year-old because I cannot get her to quit swallowing the darn stuff. If I ask her to spit it out, she makes this big dramatic flem noise and then a big dramatic spit noise, but nothing is there. I realize this is an extremely odd question, but seriously - how do you teach stuff like this? She is two years past the age recommendation so clearly, it's something she should know how to do by now right?

[jenncatsmeow]

I don't know....DD (6) and DS1 (2.5) brush their teeth with me at the same time, and they just mimic me....DD does really well with it, DS is getting the hang of it. I didn't really "teach" them outside of "watch, copy, and learn."

[wordmama]

I agree that letting her watch you is probably the easiest way. Maybe let her rinse with water and spit it to help her get it.

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[HenrysMama]

I'm glad you asked this... I've been wondering the same thing!!

[jbug_4]

They mimic me as well. But when dd got a tube of toothpaste while trick or treating (it was a Dora the Explorer tube and the lady did give candy with the toothpaste) she was so excited about it that we used it as a reward. We told her the toothpaste had stuff in it that she couldn't swallow or it would make her sick and if she wanted to use her Dora toothpaste then she had to spit like mommy and daddy. It didn't take long for her to start spitting- we did have to remind her for a while but not anymore. She picks out her own kids toothpaste every time we need more and lucky us its usually free with coupons and Walmart prices.

[Psychomom]

Mimic! And make an exaggerated noise when actually spitting it out.

[MamaJules]

I would love to know. My son is 3 1/2, and he loves to spit. But not toothpaste. He watches me and DH, and when we spit he will say "Big boys spit!" just like we tell him. But when I try to get him to do it, he will swallow first and then spit out a tiny amount. We are still using the flouride-free kind of toothpaste. I'm not too worried about it, and I figure he will get it eventually.

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

Alex I am cracking up imagining L and her noises!! Are you wanting to switch to fluoride toothpaste? I think if you use non-fluoridated there is no reason why your DD can't swallow it but don't quote me on that. I just started using toothpaste on H that needed to be spit out and sometimes she still swallows before spitting but we are working on it. Maybe have L try with water first? I think spitting toothpaste is weird bc it's such a small amount in the mouth they may confuse it with saliva? I try to brush H's whole mouth before I let her spit so there is a significant amount of slobber and toothpaste to actually spit.

[mibarra]

I need to figure out how to teach my DD NOT to spit. She spits on the floor when she's in time out... :P

[JennTheMomma]

They would just see me spit when brushing and they picked it up around 2 years of age.