We took our little guy in pretty early, around his first birthday, mostly just to get him comfortable with the dentist. Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed too—so much info about teeth he didn't even have yet... but looking back, it did ease my worries later on.
"Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed too—so much info about teeth he didn't even have yet..."
Haha, totally get that feeling... we waited until closer to 18 months mostly because of budget concerns. Did you find going earlier helped with your little one's comfort level later on? I'm thinking maybe earlier visits could save us from bigger (and pricier!) issues down the road. Curious if anyone else noticed a difference in anxiety levels or dental costs by starting early.
We started around 12 months, mostly because I was paranoid about cavities (runs in the family...). Honestly, I didn't notice a huge difference in anxiety—my kid still freaked out at every visit until he was about three. But catching a tiny cavity early did save us from bigger fillings later, so maybe there's something to it. Still, not sure if earlier visits alone make them calmer...might just depend on the kid.
We just had our first dentist visit at 13 months, and honestly, I was probably more nervous than my little one. It wasn't exactly smooth sailing (some tears were definitely shed), but your experience gives me hope that starting early might pay off down the road...fingers crossed!
Totally get you being nervous—I remember my first dentist visit as a kid, and it was no picnic either. But you're definitely on the right track starting early. My orthodontist mentioned something interesting last time I went in for an adjustment (and trust me, I've spent plenty of time in that chair)...she said taking kids in early, even before they have a full set of teeth, helps them get comfortable with the environment and the routine. Basically, it makes the dentist feel less scary and more familiar later on.
When kids start visits young, they also learn good oral hygiene habits sooner. The dentist can guide parents step-by-step on how to brush those tiny teeth properly, what toothpaste to use, and even how diet can affect dental health. It might seem like overkill at first—especially when your little one's barely got enough teeth to chew anything—but it really does pay off down the road.
I didn't go regularly until I was around five or six, and by then I already had some cavities forming because we just didn't know better about sugary snacks and juice...you know how it goes. If we'd started earlier, maybe I'd have avoided some of those fillings and the braces I'm stuck with now.
So yeah, even if there were tears this time (yours or baby's!), you're doing great by getting ahead of things. It gets easier each visit as they get used to it—honestly, by the third or fourth appointment, they'll probably be showing off their teeth proudly rather than crying about it. Hang in there...it'll be worth it.
