You truly never know how a toddler is going to act when faced with a new unfamiliar situation or do you? As John's mommy, I have always played the good and bad reactions out in my head previous to ever setting foot in the actual situation so I could "prepare" effectively. Never have really truly ever had a horrible reaction to anything we have taken John to, which is rather nice but has left us with a mega curious little boy.
For those who don't know John has been dealt his hand of things you would think a infant or toddler would freak out about such as getting an ultrasound on his bottom at roughly 3 months for his extra deep pocket, his Coloboma at 2 months, PDA at 4 months including an EEG and ECHO done roughly 5 times before he was even 2, he is known for having low iron, which means finger pricks every six months, blood being drawn for various reasons, and any other medical visits. He has always loved getting his hair cut {special thank you to my amazing Auntie Sarah for being amazing with him and explaining everything before hand} and watches your every move while doing it. He has grown to be okay with getting his finger pricked since a nurse explained to him what all she was doing. At the ophthalmologist he became okay with getting eye drops, having lights shined in his eyes, and various apparatus' out on or near his face to test his vision because someone explained to him what they were doing. He will tell you about his heart because his cardiologist explained to him how he healed his little heart. Do you see the common pattern that while John is only 3 almost 4 years old {sob fest over here}, if you explain what could be expected to him not in super little kid language but as almost adult like then he is usually ok with it. Well the dentist wasn't anything different.
We began talking with him about what happens at the dentist such as you get to ride in a cool moving chair that lays you down, then they have this special light that let's them see into your tiny mouth, and then they have lots of cool looking tools to tickle your teeth. Explaining everything in good terms to not cause a panic over someone putting things in his mouth.
So we arrived for his first visit, which was long overdue, I just wasn't sure how he would react and I didn't want it to be too stressful for him. It was finally our turn to go back and he crawled up in the chair like he had been their before and began watching Tom and Jerry. The hygienist got him all ready and explained every step she would be doing even tickling his hand with the toothbrush.
He laid perfectly still and opened his mouth like an alligator without ever flinching
She counted his teeth/cleaned but he didn't need to know that.
Checkout that alligator mouth! Mommy was so proud of how brave he was but not so happy that we are now heading to the pediatric dentist for a cavity...which I feel as if I could have prevented.
Checkout those handsome clean teeth!! He loved the dentist and still talks about going. In the days following and even now, we have to brush and floss our teeth constantly or so he thinks but it isn't a battle to do it anymore.
Such a big boy! When did my baby get so big?
At the end of February we are heading to the pediatric dentist, which I have been told that he is pretty much amazing but we shall see. Hopefully John will still love the dentist as much as he loves it now!
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