When should child lie down at dentist?

[Canopop]

Got a 3 year old, always sat on my knee before now at dentist to get a quick check… but when do kids start to lie on the couch?

There's no legal requirement, it just depends on the individual child. I would say 3 or 4 is old enough to lie on the chair by themselves as long as a parent is still in the room.

Mine always have. It’s good to get them in the habit even before they can walk or have teeth (if possible). Just a quick check lying down - take something to hold above them if necessary and ask the nurse to be on guard on the other side of the chair.

Mine always did, never on my knee.

Mine always have so I think it’s entirely down to your choice

I don’t think I ever had them on my knee- don’t know that was a thing!

I had mine on my knee the first time but she was 9 month, other than that she has sat on her own

Why have you been keeping them on your knee? My have been lying down since they first went age ~2 years. Why are you reluctant to let them lie down?

DC have always lain in the dentists chair. Having gone along to my appointments from before they had teeth, my dentist encouraged them to sit in the special chair and open their mouth, they got great stickers for their effort and gave carried on the same way...

I’m not reluctant the dentist told me to sit her on my knee 🤣 I’m just wondering if maybe this time it’ll be different so I can tell her before we go 🤷🏼‍♀️

I never had DS on my knee. He's always laid down himself.

Mine always go directly on the chair, with me next to them and holding hand when little.

Took my 2yo recently and she was terrified so I sat her on my knee and the dentist turned on the TV. I even had the dentist pretend to check my teeth first before she would open her mouth.
I dont think its a requirement, is just whatever the child is comfortable with.

My 6yo still sits on my knee. He has SEN. Dentist doesn't bat an eyelid. Just happy he sits still!

I would say when they’re happy to do so, I wouldn’t force a young child who was nervous to do this or it could make them scared of the dentist. I would say as soon as they’re happy to really but with an aim to be doing it by the time they start reception

I think that as long as the dentist can easily check inside the mouth that they won’t mind.

My DS always has done. His dentist is amazing with him, always checks his teddy’s teeth before she looks at DS’s teeth. Gets him used to being in the chair.

My DS1 started at age 2 on his first visit. He happily went and lay down and I was up by his head and there to praise him. He has always been fantastic. Even sat and did a fental X-Ray on his own. I always prep gim for apts days in advance and almost a countdown and tell him what we will do after or what treat he will have. And make aure he sees it before heading out. Or of it is the park i make that a bigger deal and it never has backfired. The same at the Gp he is so coorperative. He just complains after when we get home " I didn't like that man/woman throw them in the bin" 😂