In early childhood, we teach routines to help children feel safe. When children know what is happening next in their world, they are less likely to feel anxious or worried. Brush, Book, Bed is a routine and structure you can create for children to help them prepare for bed. Brush, Book, Bed is a program by the American Academy of Pediatrics to educate families with children to combine oral health and bedtime routines. This program has been implemented by safety net clinics, Parents as Teachers, and Healthy families in Kansas.
Brush: Each night assist your child in brushing their teeth. If teeth haven’t come in use a soft washcloth to wipe your baby’s gums before bed. This helps them get used to the sensory experience of having something put into their mouth, which will hopefully make brushing teeth easier when those pearly whites pop through. Be gentle, make it a game, smile and help your baby feel comfortable. It’s okay to let your child practice brushing, but they need your help to do the best job. Until they can write in cursive or tie their own shoes, they do not have the fine motor skills to be able to properly brush their teeth on their own.
Book: After you have helped them brush their teeth, it is time to read. Let your child pick a book. Let them be in charge, follow their lead. You don’t have to read word for word for them to have fun. Ask them questions about the pictures. Even as kids get older and can read on their own, this may be a good time to connect with your child at the end of the day. Many parents have fond memories of reading a chapter or two of longer novels with their children in the evening.
Bed: After brushing teeth and reading together, it’s time to go to bed. Make daytime playtime! Play and exercise during the day will help your children sleep at night. To prevent tooth decay, avoid putting babies in bed with a bottle of milk or juice. Breastfeeding at night is okay, since breastmilk alone does not cause cavities, according to Kansas Cavity Free Kids.
Try to start this routine at about the same time every night, about 30 minutes before bedtime, so that you have enough time to brush teeth, read together, and go to sleep.
For more tips visit: www.healthychildren.org/brushbookbed
Brush, Book, Bed
Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Level 1 and Level 2 is your ticket to better health
Our bodies are made for activity, but modern conveniences allow us to be increasingly inactive. Physical inactivity can place our health, physical and mental, at risk.
Here’s the good news! We have something fun planned to get you up and moving. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Level 1 and Level 2 will begin in January 2024.
Save the date for January 9 @ 10:00 for the Orientation Class. Registration required. Cost is $20. Location: Cottonwood Extension Office, 601 Main Street
First day of classes will be January 16, 2024. Level 2 will be at 9:30 and Level 1 will be at 11:00. We will meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 8 weeks. Please call the office at 785-628-9430 or email Monique at [email protected] if you have any questions.