Our dentist hasn't tried puppets or stuffed animals yet, but I really like the idea of letting them pick music. My daughter always seems calmer when she has some control over the environment, and music might be a budget-friendly way to do that. The scrub color idea is cool too, though I wonder if that's practical for smaller practices? Maybe stickers or fun toothbrushes could be another simple choice—our dentist offers themed toothbrushes at the end, and my daughter spends ages deciding between princesses and superheroes.
I'm curious though...did anyone specifically ask about these kid-friendly approaches when choosing a dentist, or did you just happen to luck out with someone who's naturally good with kids? I'm thinking about switching dentists soon and wondering how upfront I should be about asking for these kinds of things.
We didn't specifically ask about kid-friendly stuff when we chose our dentist, but looking back, I kinda wish we had. We lucked out with someone who's naturally good with kids, but I've heard from friends who weren't so lucky. One friend actually called around and asked directly about how they handle nervous kids, and she said most offices were pretty open about their approach. I think dentists who are good with kids usually know it's a selling point, so they're happy to talk about it.
The music idea is great, btw. Our dentist has a little Bluetooth speaker and lets my son pick songs from my phone. Last time he chose the Spider-Man soundtrack, and honestly, it made the whole appointment way easier (and kinda fun for me too, haha). Stickers and toothbrushes are always a hit, but I think giving kids some control during the actual appointment makes a bigger difference.
If you're thinking of switching anyway, I'd just be upfront and ask. Worst case scenario, you get a weird look or two—but hey, better to know upfront than find out mid-appointment that they're not great with kids, right?
"Stickers and toothbrushes are always a hit, but I think giving kids some control during the actual appointment makes a bigger difference."
Totally agree with this. We chose our dentist for cosmetic reasons initially, but turns out he's amazing with kids too—letting my daughter hold the mirror herself was a game changer.
That's a great point about giving kids some control... my niece used to be terrified until our dentist let her choose the toothpaste flavor and hold the suction thingy. Now she actually looks forward to appointments, go figure.
We haven't tried the toothpaste trick yet, but that's a good one to remember. Honestly, finding the right dentist for my son took forever... I asked around at daycare and playdates, got recommendations, and then scheduled visits just to meet the dentists first. Sounds extra cautious, I know, but I needed to see how patient they were with kids. Glad I did—our current dentist is super chill and doesn't rush things, which helps calm my nerves too, haha.
