I have a dental appointment on Monday and I have no one to watch my 18 month old so I will have to take him with me. Has anyone brought your toddler with you to your dental appointment? My son is super active so I am not sure if he will go berserk at the dentist's office. I don't want him to fuss and scream when I am having my teeth cleaned. My dentist used to work weekends so I was able to leave him with my in laws but now he only work weekdays and I don't usually have help on weekdays. Any advice to keep my little one sane while I am in the dentist chair?
Thanks.
I've done it. For that age, I brought a toy for him to play with. When he got sick of that toy, the dentist revealed her toy closet for kid patients! (I have a great dentist) Then when they were cleaning my teeth, he laid on my belly and watched them investigate my mouth. He even put on goggles! It was a fine experience for him!
I think re-scheduling will be the only thing that will keep your dentist, yourself, your child, and everyone else in the office sane.
I've done it with all 3 of my kids :) Once I had rescheduled 3 times (because my husband kept having to travel unexpectedly for work) and I just decided to go for it. My kids were 5, 3, and 1 at the time and they were fine.
I suggest bringing your stroller - and parking him where he can see you. He will probably be very interested in what the dentist is doing. Bring a fun new toy and a bowl of goldfish snacks. He'll do ok.
J.
You could try books or a small bag of toys, but honestly I think it will be an impossible situation for you, for your child and for your dentist. I would just reschedule for a day you can get a sitter.
I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea. You will probably be more stressed by worrying what he's up to. It will probably be a distraction to the dentist, which can't be good. And, I don't think it's fair to the people who work there to feel they have to entertain your child instead of doing their job. The appointment can't take that long. Surely you can find SOMEONE to babysit. And if you're not comfortable leaving your son with someone, then bring the someone with you to watch him in the waiting room.
Good luck.
Don't bring your child to the dentist office. It will be distracting to other patients and distracting for you. I went to the dentist with my 16 month child and had my mother watch him in the office and it was distracting. The appointment will be a minimum of 30 minutes in which you will not be able to hold him or her and it is dangerous and not sanitary for a 18 month to be in the office without direct supervision. Cancel your appointment until someone can watch your child or find a new dentist.
I've done it with my son when he was around 13 months old. I just kept him inthe carseat and put him on the floor right next to the chair so he could face me. And I made sure I had lots of toys for him when he woke up. I did it around his nap time so he was asleep when we arrived for the appt.
I know when I had to take my daughter in with me, the staff automatically fell in love with her. So they watched her (I didnt even have to ask!)...showed her around the dental office, played with her and colored with her. And she was only about 14 months old. Now, everytime I go in there...they ask me why shes not with me lol.
I would suggest taking him in there in a stroller and giving him toys n such to play with. If it's not extremely busy when you are there, they might even take him over for you :)
I would do it, personally. First, I'd feel out the receptionist. The one at my dental office is phenomenal, and would love to have a kidlet to hang out with *once in a while*. Second, I'd have him on my lap for as much of the appointment as was practicable. It's just helping him become familiar with the process. But when he's too distracting, he should either go down on the floor with toys or off to another adult.
life happens - i've had to bring my kids to all kinds of appointments. i also bring a little toy, but, usually, they want stuff in the office, so i would give a pencil and pamphlet. the most annoying appointment that i had to do was my annual at the gyn!! dentist should be nothing!
good luck! treat your selves to a smoothie afterwards!
Hmm. Maybe you could get one of those booster seats that has a tray with toys attached, and strap him onto a chair. He's going to have to be strapped to something, since you are going to be watching the ceiling, and the dentist and his assistants will be busy doing their work... But I would try to find any possible alternative, maybe a college student who doesn't have class during that time... something. It will be next to impossible to watch him...
Ha! I just got my teeth cleaned on Tuesday with my 13 m.o. on my chest. It was so funny, he just layed there and stared in my mouth as the hygenist worked. I definitely would not do it again! All four of us had appointments and I thought they'd do 1 parent and 1 child at a time, but they did my husband and I at the same time.
You may want to buy a new toy that he hasn't seen before.
Um...I wouldn't take an 18 mth old there frankly. If there is some kind of toy that could engage his attention for that long, it might work except he'll be freaked out by seeing you laying down with a strange guy working in your mouth. Diff than a doctor appt where you can manuever around and all. Got a portable DVD player and would he sit long enough anyway? Good luck if you do! Tough situation I know!
I agree with Red with the booster thing. This is why I havent been to the dentist in over a year. :( Dont tell anybody!
