Eleanor had her first visit to the dentist yesterday.
I considered bringing her to a pediatric dentist. You know, the kind that not only specializes in taking care of kids’ teeth, but that also excel in entertaining/distracting them in the process. When I called to make the appointment, I was told that it would be $350 for the visit, which included a cleaning and a set of x-rays. For a toddler? Is that standard? It didn’t sit well with us, Brandon especially, so I cancelled the visit and booked with our regular dentist instead.
I don’t know why I thought we had to take her to a little kid dentist just because she’s a little kid. She was treated respectfully and appropriately by the regular dentist, and she was a star patient. They told me in advance that they wouldn’t push for a cleaning on her first visit, but she was so cooperative that the hygienist went ahead. When the dentist came by to check on her, he asked her age, starting with “Three? Four?”, and seemed genuinely surprised to learn that she was only two. Well, she is almost three.
The visit cost just over $100 (much better than the $350 we were quoted elsewhere). Besides the money we saved though, I’m glad for the experience. The whole thing reminds me of her first haircut.
It was last year, about a month before her second birthday. After much deliberation, and much overthinking, I set up an appointment for her with a kids’ salon. There were TV screens with cartoons or video games in front of every station (it felt a little WALL-E), chairs in the shape of cars and spaceships, and a giant wall of merchandise for sale. All for a 5-minute haircut that she would have sat still for anyway.
I do it myself now. Then sometimes she gets a second haircut at a walk-in salon to fix the one I gave her, lucky girl! (Honestly, that only happened once; I shouldn’t have tried to cut layers.)
Anyway, after her visit to the dentist, she and I spent the day wandering around town. We went to the Magic Tree bookstore (I’m not against all things for children), tried on glasses, had lunch at Jerusalem Café, stopped in a new bakery, and did a little window shopping. Eleanor thinks that all of Penzeys smells like soup. “MMmmmmmmm!”
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102 responses to ““Kid-Friendly” Can Be Overrated”
And are you going to give us some sources for her adorable coat and scarf? She is too cute!
I don’t think any of the things she’s wearing are available anymore. I picked up the coat last year on clearance from Boden and held onto it until it fit her. She picked the scarf herself last year (from Gap Kids).
OH MY GOSH. You have THE most stylish toddler in town, no doubt about it. Those shoes! That coat!
I just love your daughter’s style. I got my daughter the Target version of those shoes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/berthume/6918828155/in/photostream and I just adore them on her. At 15 months we haven’t had to tackle first haircuts or dentists yet!
So cute! I would have picked up the Target version too, had I seen them first.
Hooray for fun girl time! BTW is that the Old Navy dog I see? My little boy is obsessed with petting it every time we go there :)
First of all *squeeeeee! Your daughter is just the most! Second of all- $350 for the dentist! Good for you for finding another place. I take the kids to the same dentist I use and they are fine with it. Never had a problem. Third of all, I want your daughter’s coat in my size. Adore your blog.
Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife
Kissing dog pic – Wunderbar!
She’s such a stylish little one!
My mom made me go to a pediatric dentist until I was almost 14. I HATED it. From the time I was about 9, I begged her to take me to the “regular dentist.” Same with my pediatrician. I hated every visit, every hour spent in that horrible waiting room blaring the Disney channel, and every stupid sticker they gave me.
Okay, I probably liked the stickers. But the atmosphere was ridiculous. I completely agree with you, and your girl is one lucky kiddo.
Oh, and those photos are ADORABLE. She’s got the cutest clothes just about ever.
Eleanor is so stylish and cute! I love her little jacket and scarf :)
Why isn’t the whole article showing up in my feedly reader anymore? I think I’ve missed the bottom of every post since the revamp. Time to go search out what I missed!! :)
Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything! I only use a cut (“continue reading”) on posts occasionally, and this was one of them.
She is growing up into such a young lady!
aww that whole day just wondering around and having lunch and seeing places, such a cool just-girls day!!!! when can you take ME to the dentist Nicole! :P
Luvs Eleanor’s style, she is way cool!
xo
I couldn’t agree more. I have toddler a bit older than Eleanor, he’s currently 3 and half. And we did the same, considered taking him to a pediatric dentist for his first visit. I was concerned he would freak out and that the dentist wouldn’t be gentle or ‘kid friendly’ enough. I shouldn’t have worried…we ended up taking him to our regular family dentist, and he loved it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/75401409@N08/?saved=1
He looks so happy!
i absolutely love seeing little snippets of your life as a mom! the first and last shots of her are PRICELESS.
Keep telling her that! I’ve been on her for years (two, since Eleanor was born) to share a little more. I think it’s wonderful.
aww that whole day just wondering around and having lunch and seeing places, such a cool just-girls day!!!! when can you take ME to the dentist Nicole! :P
Luvs Eleanor’s style, full of vintage gorgeousness!
xo
Seriously, could she be any cuter???
She is an adorable mini-fashonista!
Adorable! I totally agree, not everything needs to be kid friendly, all they need is to be treated with respect and they usually do just fine. We used a kid hairdresser once for our daughter, they were awful, so now she just visits the one around the corner from our house and she is great. Same with the dentist – we use ours and he is covered by insurance, the paediatric one would not be.
Love her coat and shoes – looks like the weather is milder than here in Canada – we are still wearing bulky snow jackets and boots.1
While Eleanor’s outfits are darling, it’s her expressions that I find so charming. Sweet girl.
She couldn’t be any cuter! :)
Ah! She is such a sweetheart!
My boss recommended me the dentist her grown children saw since they were young kids. My husband and I did a cleaning and our daughter’s initial visit (she was two at the time) concentrated on getting her comfortable. He counted her teeth and showed her how the chair worked and how the instruments worked. He didn’t give her cleaning and we were charged $15 for her part of the visit.
We have always taken the kids to our family dentist. I think it’s perfect for cleanings and xrays. But… when you need a cavity filled in a tiny mouth a pediatric dentist (with all the bells, whistles, and *sigh* anesthesia necessary to do serious work) might be necessary. May you never need one!
We do the same. We’d always taken our kids to our regular dentist, until my daughter had a cavity and had a meltdown in the chair when we went to get it filled. We ended up taking her to a pediatric dentist who was able to administer laughing gas and do the fillings while our girl watched a movie (with the last resort of partial sedation if we needed it – thankfully we didn’t!). But, we’re back at our regular dentist for cleanings and such. If we need to go back to the pediatric dentist for procedures, we’ll certainly do that, but otherwise, we’re perfectly happy with our regular dentist.
I’m not ruling out the possibility of ever seeing a pediatric dentist if we need one, but I think we’re fine for regular checkups and cleanings.
Adorable! I have been meaning to make an appointment for my little Eleanor to have her first dentist’s visit too, so this was just the motivation I needed! Hope ours goes as well as yours did. And love the shot of Eleanor with the Old Navy dog–we have to pet/hug him every time!
Sounds like you had a lovely day, its so nice that you’re able to craft time still for just the two of you. I find kid-friendly to mean in your face unnecessary media, poor quality products and frenetic friendliness that makes it seem like the event should be a bigger deal than it is. And of course none of it is friendly to my child that can’t process regular sensory input and goes on overload with lights and noise. Much better to let them experience the world as it truly exists and help them make sense of that rather than the down the rabbit hole effect you get with these kids places.
Exactly.
Very well said!
Completely agree, Kathryn!
We are about to embark on the dentist odyssey (I would love to know where you went, we live near by) and it is great to know that the Ped dentist is so much (in both sense).
Also where did the adorable dress come from?
So cute! Especially that last photo!
She is toooo adorable! My son and E are just a couple of weeks apart in age, and I don’t think he would behave quite as well as she did for the dentist, hence the reason we haven’t visited one yet. I didn’t realize how pricey they can be – it’s good to know! You are so lucky to have such a sweet little girl!
I have a feeling it may be a completely different experience when it’s August’s turn to go.
I love our pediatric dentist. They discount for those who don’t have dental insurance. Both my older boys get a cleaning and X-rays for $150 total. It works out perfectly for us :) glad her first visit went smoothly.
She is too cute! Glad the first trip went so well! Love love LOVE her adorable little wardrobe! She is just like her mama. :)
I adore that Eleanor shares your love of glasses. She is the cutest. What a perfect mother & daughter day!
I would have fawned all over your little girl if I would have seen her walking down the street looking that cute! Completely adorable! Have you seen it when adults try to recreate an old photo of themselves when they were young by copying the location/ clothing in a modern way? I can see her doing that in 20 years with this last photo in the post.
She is looking so grown up! I can’t believe she’s only 2! Adorable!
Your daughter is seriously gorgeous! I used to work for a dentist. We saw children too. A good dentist is good with anyone. Finding a good dentist…that seems to be the key. Glad your daughter did so well. She seems so much older!
I’m with you on the haircut thing – we cut our kids’ hair ourselves and it always looks great IMHO. They’re kids – they’re pretty adorable no matter what you do to them. We just pop on a movie on my hub’s ipad and they’re perfectly content to sit still for 20-30 minutes. We were also lucky enough to inherit a pair of great haircutting scissors from my grandmother.
The dentist though…well, I had very, very unpleasant experiences with dentists growing up. I hate going to the dentist, I avoid going for YEARS at a time. Nothing gives me anxiety quite like a trip to see the dentist. I just really didn’t want my kids growing up with the same fear of the dentist that I have so we take them to one of those super fun pediatric dentists and I feel like, so far, mission accomplished since they don’t mind going to the dentist at all and the whole experience is actually fun for them. But more than any of the bells and whistles, I really, really like the dentists and hygenists at their practice. They’re great with kids, they talk them through everything, they’re encouraging and, most of all, they’re careful. They’re so good that I want to go to them. :)
She is so darn cute. I pay the same to our pediatric dentist as you did to a regular dentist. You may want to call around for her next visit. There really are other benefits of using a speciality pediatric dentist other than the playground in the waiting room.
We never used a pediatric dentist for you and Ashley, and I still don’t for Ross and Francesca. I don’t see the point of the games and such distractions- if they learn that the visit is what it is, they’re fine. Eleanor looks so stylish!
Good for you! I think you made the right choice. People don’t give their kids enough credit when it comes to attention and behavior, they’ll rise to the occasion if given the opportunity.
I know this is completely off-topic, but where did you get Eleanor’s adorable stuffed elephant??
Yes where did you get that elephant?
It’s from Pier 1.
So, this is a totally biased comment, since I am admittedly both a pediatric dentist and long time reader of your blog. First of all, I am glad she did so well at the dentist! That is totally the goal!!! I just wanted to share a secret here anonymously about general dentists seeing kids that no other dentist will ever tell you: we routinely get patients from general dentists that have missed things such as early orthodontic referrals that should have been made, unfavorable tooth eruption which can resorb roots of permanent teeth, as well as kids that have been traumatized/work could not be completed because the general dentist was not used to treating children every day. My general dentist friends from dental school call me all the time when a child comes to their office because they are not sure how to proceed, their patients have no idea. Your general dentist sounds wonderful, and this absolutely does not apply to everyone– also, I actually totally agree with you about the haircuts!! — but just consider that teeth are a serious and important medical issue and attitudes about dentists can affect someone for the rest of their lives. The pediatric dentist is not just for “bells and whistles”, pediatric dentists themselves are just more in tune with treating kids and their teeth. They are usually better at managing not only behavior, but are more familiar with the specifics of primary teeth since that is all they do. Children have different dental issues than adults– there are many differences between baby teeth and adult teeth, and kid’s growth needs to constantly be monitored to pick up any problems. If you were a dentist that decided to go even further into debt to train a few more years just to see kids, and ONLY saw kids every day… don’t you think you’d be a little better at it? Of course, it would be silly to go into debt over dental visits though– you can absolutely call around and find someone who is good and takes your insurance. If you want to stick with the general dentist, that is still cool, just some things to keep in mind. There is a reason pediatric dentists exist, and I swear it is not to just take your money or overload your children. There is a reason that I went 170,000$ (on top of dental school’s 100,000) more into debt!!!!!!
Thank you Jenna, for your comment! As a former dental assistant for a pediatric dental practice, and current dental hygiene student, I felt compelled to mention some of the same points as well. Oh, and sealants! Placement of sealants on newly erupted permanent dentition is something that, in my experiences, general dentists often overlook.
Thanks, Jenna and Allison. I don’t mean to knock the concept of pediatric dentistry; it’s really just all the bells and whistles that seem to accompany it that I dislike. Also, we don’t have dental insurance, so cost is a concern (especially right now, since Brandon just lost his job). I think in our case we’ll stick with our family dentist, since their practice does treat children regularly (including all of our nephews), but I’m glad to hear that there are convincing reasons to consider a specialist.
I’m obsessed with everything she is wearing! Good for her for being such a good girl, if it were my kid she would be stealing tools and telling the dentist it was HIS turn! Hehe
The two comments above (on pediatric dentistry) bring up some interesting points. I’ll have to discuss it with my friend, who is an endodontist and see what she thinks.
I know pediatric dentists are only responding to demand and market competition, but I wish they would tone down the stimulation. I went to a pediatric dentist growing up and, granted it was in the dark ages, the big thing about it was the 10″ TV hanging from the ceiling in one corner and the posters of Ricky Schroeder. That was pretty much it. Oh, and smaller chairs.
Eleanor is adorable.
Eleanor is the most chic toddler I’ve ever seen. I’ve got to step it up with my 5 year old!
i’ve been taking my girls (now 10 and 7) with me to our “regular” dentist since they were 2. They knew the office from trips with me as babes and I too wasn’t comfortable with the bells and whistles of the pediatric offices I had visited. Our dentist has been exceptional with the girls – and I feel confident they are getting top-knotch care. I believe if there is something he wasn’t comfortable with, or unsure of, he would refer us elsewhere. Most importantly both girls adore him – and have no fear of visits to the dentist.
And last – oh those shoes! xo
Is that the dentist in the Scoville Building? That’s my dentist and I’ve been thinking I need to take my 3-year-old in and wondered how they would do with her. She’s a bit more rambunctious that Eleanor seems…
Yes, that’s the one. They were really great with Eleanor; I was impressed.
I am pretty sure that I made an appointment with the same dentist, and, like you, cancelled after I found out the cost (also no dental insurance). Agree about kid haircut places too. After a few “Kid Snips” experiences and begging for/expecting to get toys afterward, we are now fine going to Supercuts (and the cuts are adorable!).
Thanks for this! I have been needing to schedule dentist appointments for the lot of us, and have been wondering if I should schedule my two-year-old’s at the pediatric dentist. The fact is, I never even knew such a thing existed until about 6 months ago when I saw a pediatric dentist’s office while we were out and about. I always went to a regular dentist as a kid, and I rather liked it. (Of course, my grandma worked there, but it was still a treat. I wish I still enjoyed going to the dentist as much as I once did!) Now I’m at peace about taking him to the regular dentist. I’m not going to lie, your breakdown of the cost helped too. :)
My GOODNESS! I can’t believe how big she looks in the 1st pic of this post. Love her in the glasses too!
Oh you must be one proud Mamma! How exciting – go Eleanor! I hate the dentist so I only anticipate my daughter hating it when it comes time but maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised. Hooray for a girls day out. You two are adorable.
She shows so much character in the photos you take, I love how she owns the chair in the first one. This post reminded me so much of the relationship I had with my Mom when I was a kid. So, so beautiful. I hope you enjoy each other’s company in many years to come, as we do.
Wow she’s getting so big! What a cutie! And I love hearing about your “about town” adventures since I’m around Chicago/Oak Park also!
Your kiddo is on Pinterest!
Just went from there to your blog and by the second or third pic iwas thinking “those tights/shoes look familiar…”
I can’t get over how completely adorable she is. Especially the two of you in your complimentary stylish coats. So sweet!
Our daughters are about the same age, mine is a September baby so I think she’s a few months behind Eleanor. When I saw that first photo of her I thought, “Wow! She’s so grown up. The baby is almost gone.” Then that made me think of my own baby girl and how grown up she is. Oh jeez, where does the time go? :)
She’s beyond sweet, it’s been so great watching her grow up and turn into this little girl! I’m glad she did so good at the dentist. My daughter had always taken to everything so easily, doctors, hair cutting but she didn’t want to have anything to do with my dentist when I first took her or the second or third…finally my dentist recommended a pediatric dentist, I was skeptical but she loved it. The office wasn’t too kiddy but I think it was the office layout she liked it was an open concept with other children getting their teeth cleaned all at once, I think maybe seeing all the other kids ok she was ok. Regardless she’s 13 now and still goes to the same dentist and loves him!! P.S. Isn’t great being able to have a nice day out at the end of February!! Looks like you had fun!!
I have came by your blog several times, but now i’m a confirmed follower. You have the most stylist child ever!! I made my husband ‘come over and look at this cute oufit!!’ ‘omg, both of them, look at the mother!’ haha…
anyway, happy to hear the dentist when well!
I love those tights! And her coat, and her scarf, and her glasses, and her shoes,…. :) Can you be my personal shopper?
seeing the stylish clothes you dress your children in makes me a lot less nervous about becoming a mother one day. although it does make me nervous about facing the jealous glares of all the other moms on the playground.
I am reading this post AT THE DENTIST’S office while I wait for my 9 year old’s appointment to be over. He’s doing great, but was a pretty wiggly guy when he was Eleanor’s age. Haircuts, too. But now he’s a champ and I get a few minutes to read.
she is very cute! and how excellent that she was cooperative. I also take my kids to a standard dentist.
Also, although we have full coverage so we pay nothing out of pocket, our dentist revealed that unless you have some plaque build-up, there is no need for him (well, his hygienist) to clean my teeth. He explained that most people don’t need it but many dentists make you think it required maintenance b/c it makes them extra money. I was surprised by this not b/c he was disclosing (he’s a do-only-what’s-necessary-not-make-as-much-money-as-possible kinda guy) but I really had been convinced by my previous dentist that it needed to be done every check-up.
I’d be willing to bet that it’s even less necessary for a toddler- unless she has coffee & cigarette staining to worry about ; )
She’s such a good girl! I adore that last photo, so hip!
I totally agree! I went to a pediatric dentist for years and when my parents finally took me to the “grown-up” dentist, I remember that they were MUCH gentler and more patient-focused (ie not gossiping while cleaning my teeth).
I am 71 so I doubt I will be around when she is an adult but I can’t help wondering what she will be when she is grown. She has a calm and mature personality and for some reason I keep seeing her as a Senator. I wonder if she will have any interest in Politics. What ever she becomes I’m sure it will be interesting since she comes from a very interesting family. It isn’t many people who can hold peoples attention with the everyday minutia of life. I love it.
Thank you.
She wears the cutest clothes. OMG. Good job, Mommy!
jbhat
she is so adorable! love her little outfit, she sure is stylin’!
I totally agree $350 for a routine dentist visit is ridiculous! I don’t pay that much, and I don’t even have insurance.
As for taking kids to pediatric dentists; taking them to a general dentist is okay until it come time for more than cleanings and x-rays. Pediatric dentists are better prepared and educated to administer Novocain and pain medications as the dosage for children is different , and can be potentially harmful if not dosed correctly.
Not to be a buzz kill, just saying.
i work at a general dentist, and we LOVE getting kids! i understand the appeal of pediatric offices, but we love them just as much, we TOO have a prize box, and we don’t overcharge for simple services. we often get 15 year olds out of a pediatric office full of rampant decay and lack of hygiene education, and that alone has made me wary of pediatric offices. go eleanor!
Amen to that, Nicole! I think it’s great to treat our kiddos like little adults. They don’t need race cars and princesses everywhere they go.
Also, how adorable is little Eleanor’s outfit? Too cute for words.
Been thinking about you lately. Hope Brandon’s finding work. I also spent something like a half hour with my intern talking about how awesome your site redesign is. It’s gorgeous. You’ve thought of everything.
I covet her shoes. For myself. There, I said it.
Oh my goodness she is too cute for words! Where do you find such cute and unique outfits for her!? I wish her shoes were still available from norstroms – I think I’d buy them in every size :)
Love her outerwear!
Can you say where you found her overcoat??? It’s gorgeous! I have a similar textured one for my 2.5 yo girl, but it’s just in blah brown.
I am so glad you posted this. My daughter also went to a regular dentist, and same thing, they gave her the royal treatment, she was so brave, and she has been asking when she can go back. I also had the exact same experience with her hair (my daughter has similar hair to Eleanor’s). So funny. Coincidentally, I also noticed her yellow Boden coat. My daughter Lyla has the same one (since she was two–she’s now 4!), and it still fits! After this year, I’ll save it for my second. Looks great, and was made famous in the “We Bought a Zoo” movie. Cheers.
I had to comment on this adorable post, as a native Oak Parker-turned-New York-transplant (who commented years ago about your unmistakeably ‘OP’ back porch and have been a loyal reader ever since!). Your mothering seems so relaxed and unfussy in the way I remember my Mom to be. AND…The Magic Tree Bookstore, are you kidding?!? Yes! I used to LOVE going in there with Mom and am so happy to hear it’s survived the decline of bookshops. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
What a cutie she is growing up to be! I am glad to read this post because last year our pediatrician recommended a ped. dentist and suggested we take our 2 year old for a visit. We were quoted around $300 and were shocked at the cost, especially since they said they might not even do a cleaning. We later realized he was not on our dental insurance yet and we cancelled the appointment since open enrollment had just started at my husband’s place of employment. I think before I jump on the ped. dentist wagon I might check prices elsewhere.
Thanks!
Erika
I did the pediatric dentist and was not at all impressed, you did a good thing. We need to let our kids, almost babies, impress us and make us proud. By the way, I did the kids hair place for my daughter’s first hair cut and it was no different than the walk in place that she goes to now. She is just as excited to be getting her “corta corta”, which is what she calls everything from the haircut itself to the stylist and place where is being done.
She looks like a tiny adult! So stinking cute. Reminds me of Roald Dahl’s character Matilda.
Oh my GOSH this is the most stylin’ kid ever!
She is adorable, and that looks like a super fun day! Thanks for sharing.
OMG, her outfit is amazing! I just love the little coat/scarf/shoes/tights…
You’ve got a such lovely girl !
I am French and really schocked by the cost of a simple visit to the dentist !! We don’t pay more than 30 euros (around 35 USD) for the same thing !!
She is so darn cute! Love hearing about you fun mommy-daughter days!
What a fun Mother/Daughter day! Glad she did so well with her first dentist appt. She is just adorable!! Love her outfit!
Dentist and muffins? Can I go next time, please?
Hi, could you please share the name of the dentist Eleanor saw back then? I live in River Forest and I have a daughter ready to see a dentist, I would like her to be a woman. Do you recommend this dentist?
Thanks!