Flipper Kids' Toothbrush Holder

The brushing of teeth in our household is in a state of transition. On the one hand, Z is often passionate about doing it herself, and will even initiate it without supervision or our knowledge. On the other, she sometimes struggles with getting through our evening routine overall, goaded on primarily by the prospect of having "extra time" for reading that will allow us to peruse more than our usual allotment of books.

On evenings like this I try to integrate the toothbrushing seamlessly into other bedtime routine steps - brushing them while she's already lying in bed, waiting for the first book to be opened.

Regardless of who's in charge, each of us is prone to leaving her toothbrush in various random locations that are difficult to call up the next time we need it.

Z's Flipper toothbrush holder is a big help.

The belly splits open vertically when the handle of the toothbrush is tilted forward. Putting the toothbrush back involves a reversal of the motion, or pinching the sides shut with two fingers.
Z is almost as interested in retrieving and replacing her toothbrush as she is in brushing itself, and although she can't reach the mirror above the sink, "her" bathroom has a glass-walled shower we attached the Flipper to at a height that is convenient for her.

It's more hygienic than leaving the toothbrush on any of the various counters or tables she or I might set it on, and better yet, it gives us a specific and obvious place the toothbrush is supposed to go. Cup-type holders serve the same purpose, but for $7 this pink hippo is a bit more obvious. They're made of ABS plastic with PVC suction cups - there are no pthalates in the PVC.

We also carry Z's Flipper with us when we travel. It works great on the mirrored closet doors in hotel rooms.

Orca Innovation, the company behind the Flipper, makes the device in twenty-two colorful animal designs (ten of them various breeds of dogs), six styles of dinosaurs popping their heads out of eggs, and various non-anthropomorphic adult styles, including a pair of extremely odd-looking eggs. You can buy them on Amazon.com for about $7 each.