When do you start taking kids to the opticans and the dentist?

[TheBlonde]

When do you start taking kids to the opticans and the dentist?

we signed with a new dentist just before dd was 3 and they said from 6 months . DD has only been going since she was 3 though.

Opticians - I think they say 5 (we have asked as both dh and I are glasses/CL wearers) although if you think there is a problem you can take them earlier but you'd have to go to a specialist place.

We have been told 2.5 for the dentist and 3 onwards for the optician. Guess it also depends on the child though - sitting still, doing as they are asked/told etc.

they have always just come with me to my appointments and sat in the chair for a bit first.
DS1 is now 4 and has had his own check up at my appointments for the last 2 years.

2 for dentist just to get dd used to it.
4 for optician - took her before she started school. He gave her a card with text to read to test for longsightedness. Told her to point out any letters she could see. He was a bit flabbergasted when she read off 'some people find this size of text difficult to read'

Both dcs came to the dentist with me from birth (dd slept on me when I was having a root canal and she was 3months old!)

They started having rides on the chair from about a year old and had their first proper check-up aged 2

Used to take dc along with us and dentist would have a quick look and count if they cooperated, first real appointment at 2ish. dd saw an opthamologist for possible eye problem at 2 months anyway then review at 18months -2ish and 3. Otherwise first scheduled screening was at around 4/5.

I took DD to dentist from being about 18 months or so. She didn't get her first toth till 13 months anyway.

Took DD to opticians for first time last year, age 5y just to see how her eyes were as I have worn glasses since childhood. Slight weakness but no problem. Took her again this week, age 6y as she is now doing a lot of reading and wanted to duble check not got worse - still same so so no need for glasses, but need to go annually just to chek.

Thanks everyone
DS used to come to the dentist with me but I now tend to go when he is in preschool

He's been to the eye clinic at the hosp about a possible squint but has been discharged