We waited until about 18 months, mostly because I was so anxious about how he'd react. Honestly, I kept picturing a meltdown scenario in my head—like full-on screaming and kicking. But surprisingly, it wasn't nearly as dramatic as I'd imagined. The dentist was super patient and just did a quick look-around, mostly to get him comfortable with the whole idea. They even gave him this little rubber ducky toothbrush thing that he ended up loving way more than any of his actual toys.
I do wish we'd gone a bit earlier though, just to ease my own anxiety about it. I spent months worrying unnecessarily. And yeah, yogurt pouches were our lifesaver too...funny how universal that seems to be. Glad your experience went smoothly!
Totally get the anxiety part, but honestly, earlier visits can make a huge difference. Dentists usually recommend around 12 months just to catch any early issues and get kiddos comfy with the whole thing. Plus, those little toothbrush freebies are gold...my grandson still carries his everywhere, lol.
I can see why the anxiety kicks in—dentist visits aren't exactly a walk in the park, even for us grown-ups. But honestly, starting early really pays off. My own kids didn't go until they were around three, and we had to deal with some cavities that probably could've been caught sooner. Looking back, I wish we'd started around that 12-month mark too. It seems young, sure, but it's mostly about building comfort and trust at that age. Plus, those early visits are pretty low-key—mostly just checking gums and teeth coming in properly.
And yeah, those toothbrush freebies are surprisingly effective motivators...my granddaughter was obsessed with hers for months. She'd carry it around like a security blanket, haha. Anyway, you're definitely on the right track with thinking about this early on. Anxiety is normal, but the long-term benefits outweigh the nerves every time.
I definitely get the anxiety around early dentist visits—I remember my parents dragging me in at around two, and yeah, wasn't exactly thrilled about it. But honestly, it really helped me feel comfortable later on when I needed orthodontics. Starting young made those braces appointments way less intimidating, because the dentist was already familiar territory. You're doing great thinking about this stuff now...it'll pay off down the road for sure.
I get what you're saying, but isn't two a bit early? I'm genuinely curious because my dentist said around one year...seems super young to me. Did anyone else actually start that early and find it helpful later on?
