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Original poster

Dentist visit with baby - how?!

20 replies

pamplemousse · 20/05/2007 23:43

Have 6 mo baby and a dentist appointment.. how to combine the 2? I know she won't be asleep at that time, she won't entertain sitting in her pushachair for more than 5 minutes without getting bored and I have noone to ask to come with me......
Ideas please, or am I missing something blindly obvious here...?

OP posts:

fireflyfairy2 · 20/05/2007 23:44

The dental nurse will be there.

I remember having to take both my 3yr old and 6 month old when I had an appointment. The dental nurse came in from reception & held ds whilst I had my teeth checked.

mamazon · 20/05/2007 23:44

take her in her pushchair, im sure the dental nurse will be more than happy to coo over her while your being seen.

essanel · 21/05/2007 00:00

I have had to take dd3 and ds at 6mths to dentist - for extraction and the receptionist was brilliant and without me asking took both of them off me and played with them till after the appointment was over!

twentypence · 21/05/2007 00:04

Receptionist baby sat ds at this age.

nappyaddict · 21/05/2007 00:26

im sure the nurse or receptionist will help. but how do you manage do to anything if she won't sit in her pushchair for longer than 5 mins? surely you don't just do 5 minute journeys!

lyrabelacqua · 21/05/2007 00:30

Receptionist should help you out. I used to take ds2 to all my appointments and it wasn't a problem. he even slept on my chest once for about 45 mins while I was having a root filling (but he was only about 3 months old at the time).

sandcastles · 21/05/2007 00:32

Please don't assume that the nurse/receptionist can help, although they often are happy to...They will have other things to do & really shouldn't be given the responsibility of looking after children.

lyrabelacqua · 21/05/2007 00:37

In my experience they're usually happy to if it's just a check-up. Of course they're not obliged to help.

sandcastles · 21/05/2007 01:21

But it may be 'just a check up' to you, but they use this time to make notes, turn the surgery around for the next patients.

I can see the point if there is a floater nurse, or more then 1 receptionist, but this isn't always the case.

I think you should always have a back up plan just in case.

twentypence · 21/05/2007 06:44

Yes, but each customer will only have a 6 month old baby once, but then all dentists here are private so maybe are more accomodating.

SofiaAmes · 21/05/2007 07:05

I have always brought both of mine with me to the dentist. They sit in my lap. I just went recently for a cleaning with dd who is 4. She sat in my lap and sat on a stool watching the dentist. Certainly helps keep them from being afraid of the dentist.

Jelley · 21/05/2007 07:20

I've always taken mine in with me, and had the baby (or babies at one point) in the buggy.
What happens after 5 mins? If she cries, she cries, she won't come to any harm, and may well surprise you and watch quietly.

Jelley · 21/05/2007 07:20

KTeePee · 21/05/2007 07:24

I've always waited until I had family visiting when mine were little so I could leave them at home. I had an appointment recently and it was the first time mine were all at school/nurserry so I didn't need to arrange any childcare - bliss!

Fillyjonk · 21/05/2007 07:39

i think you do what you have to do

if you need the check up and can't eg get a late one so dp can look after kids-if she has to scream, she has to scream.

if it was me i'd probably not want them there but i have piss poor teeth and usually need some painful work doing.

DontCallMeBaby · 21/05/2007 08:30

She may find it unexpectedly fascinating ... I dreaded having to take DD to a dentist's appointment at a similar age (a little younger, I think, justu before I went back to work). She was a very disgruntled baby, not happy sitting-and-watching soul at all, but that's exactly what she did. Sat in her carseat, watched the proceedings, that was it. She's still surprisingly good at the dentist's at 3, for a child who fights teeth cleaning with such vigour.

sandcastles · 21/05/2007 09:40

I am not saying the staff wont help, just not to expect it, that's all...

Original poster

pamplemousse · 21/05/2007 11:44

Nappyaddict - she screams after 5 minutes if we are not moving, she gets bored extemely fast. And I don't know how to cope with the dentist prodding my teeth which I hate and my baby screaming which upsets me!
I will take her and see I think, if others have reported some sucess even with fidgets, I'll take all her favourite toys and hope for the best, after all it shouldn't be for long. If the nurse/receptionist want to cuddle her then fine, but if they are busy I wouldn't expect them too, I was a receptionist before I had DD and was terrified of babies!
Sofia, unfortunately sitting on my lap wouldn't be an option either my dd has permanent ants in her pants she doesn't sit still for 10 seconds and would ber jumping on my belly or something!

OP posts:

3sEnough · 21/05/2007 11:46

pamplemouse - I think sofia might be right - I had a big time fidget who sat still on my tummy at the dentists - they are rather fascinating - mask, strange implements!!

mummydoit · 21/05/2007 11:48

Have you starteded her on any finger food at all? Just wondering if something like a bread stick or piece of banana would occupy her long enough for you to be seen.

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