I agree, it's definitely more about how those early visits are handled rather than just the age itself. My grandson had his first appointment around 18 months, and the dentist was fantastic—let him hold the little mirror, showed him how the chair moved up and down... basically turned it into a mini adventure. He's six now and genuinely enjoys going. But his older sister started around the same age with a different dentist who was a bit more rushed, and she's still nervous every time. Personality matters too, but that initial experience makes a huge difference.
That's a good point about the dentist's approach, but honestly, sometimes even the best dentist can't win over every kid. My niece had an amazing dentist who did everything right, yet she still dreaded visits until she was about eight... some kids just take longer to warm up.
Totally agree, some kids just need more time. I've seen kids who cried at every visit suddenly become our biggest fans around 7 or 8. Patience and consistency usually pay off... every kid's timeline is different, and that's perfectly okay.
Glad you mentioned patience—it's definitely key. Have you noticed if certain distractions or comfort items help ease their anxiety at visits? My grandson used to dread dental appointments, but once we let him bring his favorite stuffed animal along, things slowly changed. Now he's chatting away with the dentist like they're old pals...funny how quickly things can turn around, right? Each kid really does find their own rhythm eventually.
Totally agree, comfort items can really help. Another thing I've found useful is gradually introducing dental visits—like first just visiting the office without any procedures, then slowly progressing to a quick check-up. Makes the whole thing way less overwhelming for kids.
