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If you had asked me earlier this week how I thought Maya’s first trip to the dentist was going to go I probably won’t have had a very positive answer for you. After Monday’s fiasco at gymnastics class I certainly didn’t have high hopes that things were going to go smoothly, especially when she found out she would have to go back for her cleaning and visit with the dentist by herself.
I had been talking it up all week, trying to get her excited. The dentist sent her a little book a couple of weeks ago that talks all about what to expect at her very first appointment (they even personalized the story with her name, love this dentist!!). So, we’ve been looking through this book and learning all about the dentist this week. Yesterday and this morning when I asked her if she was excited about going to the dentist (or the doctor for your teeth as she calls it) she said yes. Of course, she had no idea they were going to try to take her back by herself, but I still let myself get a little hopeful.
Let me tell you, Maya did absolutely amazing. I couldn’t have dreamed of it going any better. When they called her back the dental assistant was super friendly with her and talked about what was going to happen. She told her that she had to come back by herself to get her teeth cleaned but that I would come back a little bit later. She clung to me and cried and didn’t want to go. I passed her off to the dental assistant and told her I would see her really soon, and off they went. The dental assistant assured me that almost all kids settle down as soon as they get back to the exam room and they would keep me posted.
I sat and waited, trying to be patient, trying not to think about what might have been going on back in the exam room. A few minutes after they took her back another dental assistant came out to the waiting room and called me. My heart sank, I thought immediately that they were going to tell me she wasn’t settling down and that I needed to go back with her. That isn’t what she said at all. Instead she was there to tell me that my child who screamed through a 60 minute gymnastics class just 4 days ago was actually sitting nicely in the dental chair getting her teeth brushed, no tears, just smiles!! I was flabbergasted and oh so proud of my sweet girl.
Once her appointment was over they called me back so I could talk to the dentist. Everything went great. As soon as she found out she was going to get to pick out her very own princess tooth brush the tears stopped. She cooperated with everything they wanted to do except the x-rays (but I was told that is pretty common and they usually get them at the second appointment). Her teeth and gums look fantastic. We were sent on our way with instructions to keep up the good work and a little bag of goodies including an adorable necklace, a picture of her first visit and her princess tooth brush. In 6 months time we’ll do it all over again.
I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of her. In a million years I never would have imagined we would have left that dentist’s office with smiles all around and a little girl excited to go back next time. Wonders never cease.
Maya has her very first dentist appointment coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m nervous about how it will go. I found this great pediatric dentist who is very highly rated and whose office is a kid’s paradise based on the pictures I’ve seen. And yet, I’m still nervous.
Maya is not a fan of those in the medical profession. It isn’t that she has ever had a bad experience or anything she just has never liked them. She only just now has started enjoying and engaging in conversation with her pediatrician instead of screaming her head off or cowering in fear on my lap. The nurse in her office is another story, she clearly remembers who gives the needles so there is no chance in hell that she will ever like the nurse.
When I called the dentist’s office and spoke with the receptionist to set up the appointment they said they will have her go back by herself for the appointment. She said the office is all open so I’ll still be able to see her but they like the kids to have the experience on their own. My heart sank. My kiddo, who won’t even go into her beloved gymnastics class on her own, will not take kindly to a person in scrubs trying to escort her back to a completely foreign environment by herself. I wish I knew it would go well. I wish I knew she would happily go off and there would be no epic fit throwing. I asked what happens if she won’t go by herself and she said they will just see how it goes and the last thing they want is for her to be afraid. Well that’s good. Maybe it’ll go better than I think.
My biggest fear in all of this is that Maya will develop my fear of the dentist. To say I’m not a fan of the dentist is an understatement. I have no reason to fear the dentist. I’ve never even had a single filling. But for whatever reason, I just do. I don’t want that for my child.
My fingers are crossed that this first appointment goes well. That she doesn’t throw a fit of epic proportions when they try to usher her back to the dental chair by herself. That she doesn’t cry out in fear of the dental assistant the way she does the minute she sees the nurse at the doctor’s office. That my little girl has a good first experience and doesn’t grow up to hate the dentist just like her momma.
Any tips or suggestions on how to make this work would be greatly appreciated.
Cold and flu season is upon us. No one likes being sick, and no parents likes to see their child suffer from an illness. Though it is probably impossible to keep your child free and clear of all viruses, it is possible to help keep the cold and flu bugs away at least some of the time. There are steps you can take, things you can do, things you can teach your child to do, that will help keep them healthy during this cold and flu season.
Viruses spread easily and quickly among children. Between the tendency for children to constantly put their hands in their mouth and a tendency to forget about the coughing and sneezing into your elbow rules it isn’t any wonder germs make their way around a group of children so easily. Kids share toys, food and inevitably germs. Here are a few things you can do to help your child avoid cold and flu bugs this season:
- Talk to your child’s doctor about getting a flu vaccine this season. Flu vaccines are effective at preventing the spread of the flu.
- Teach your child to wash their hands frequently. Clean hands are less likely to spread germs and contract germs.
- Teach your child to sneeze or cough into the crease of their elbow to help avoid getting germs on their hands that they then spread to others. A child who is used to this rule will likely encourage their friends to do the same.
- Encourage your child to keep his or her hands of their face, and especially out of their mouth.
- Encourage your child to be active. A healthy, active child is far less likely to get sick.
- Encourage good sleep habits. A well rested person is better able to fight and avoid cold and flu bugs.
- Provide your child with a healthy diet. Encourage healthy meals and snacks.
The more active and well rested your child is the better chance they have of avoiding the cold and flu bugs that will inevitably go around their classroom this year. Teaching your child good habits for washing their hands and avoiding putting their hands on their face or mouth is a great way to further help your child avoid the bugs this season. If you have questions about the flu vaccine or steps you can take to help your child avoid the cold and flu this season talk to your child’s doctor.
Happy cold and flu season. Here’s hoping you and your family can avoid as many bugs as possible this winter.
Cold and flu season is upon us. I really dislike cold and flu season. It isn’t even the middle of October yet and Maya is already working on cold #3 and Lorne is on cold #2. It is going to be a long winter if we keep up at this rate. Luckily, so far (knock on wood), I’ve been able to avoid the cold bugs that have been making their rounds, but I’m sure my time will come.
Last year it felt like we were fighting one virus after another. We hardly went a week without Maya coming down with one thing or another. It was exhausting. I know kids this age catch a lot of bugs since they haven’t built up the necessary immunities yet, but still. Last winter left me exhausted and begging for the warmer weather and the end of the cold and flu season. I was kind of hoping that maybe, just maybe this season wouldn’t be as bad. So far I’m not having any luck in that department.
I spent about an hour last night curled up in Maya’s toddler bed with her (not at all comfortable) while she whined about her nose. And, this morning has been more of the same. She has this thing against any snot running out of her nose. There doesn’t have to be anything running out, just the idea that it might sends her into a panic and she comes whining (sometimes screaming) to me to wipe her nose. After the first 50 or so times of this I’m usually done and ready to scream myself, which usually happens within the first couple of hours of a cold. Hopefully, this cold runs it’s course quickly and we’ll get a bit of a reprieve around here for a while.
Last night, well actually in the wee hours of this morning if you want to get specific, I found myself curled up with Maya in her toddler bed. I quickly discovered that although they may be perfectly comfortable if you are a mere 3 feet tall and weigh only 25lbs or so, for a 5’7″ 125lb adult they are definitely not comfortable, far from it in fact.
So, just how did I find myself in this most uncomfortable position at 2:30am this morning? Well let me tell you…
Tuesday Maya started coming down with a bit of a cold. She was getting sniffly and was a bit irritable. Then yesterday she woke up with a raging fever, her body was definitely in full battle mode. We spent the day quietly at home, resting. It seemed to do the trick and by the time she got up from her nap her fever seemed to be gone and she was in a much better mood. I thought we were out of the woods. That was until the fever kicked back in just before bed.
When I put Maya to bed last night I knew there was a possibility that the night would be a rough one since she was going to sleep with a fever and really stuffy. Sure enough at 2:00am I woke to the sounds of her crying. I went to her room and she told me she had to pee. As I reached down to help her out of bed I could feel the heat radiating from her. I knew before I touched her that her fever had kicked into high gear. When I touched her skin the heat was unbelievable. I took her to the bathroom so she could pee and I could take her temperature. I gasped when I saw the number flash up on the screen, 104.2, holy cow. That is by far the highest fever she has ever had, EVER. I was scared, and worried and just wanted to make her feel better. After rubbing her down with a cool wet cloth and dosing her with Tylenol again we headed back to her bedroom.
I tucked her in, kissed her and started to leave the room when I heard a tiny little whisper “Mommy sleep with me little bit”. It broke my heart and I couldn’t say no. I mean who could resist such a request in the middle of the night, not to mention my fried nerves and worried heart needed the reassurance of laying there next to her. So, I crawled into her bed, one leg still on the floor and rubbed her arm as she fell asleep. I listened to her sniffle and whimper and just wished her temperature would go down and she could get some rest. Slowly the sniffles turned into the soft rhythmic breathing of sleep.
I stayed with her for about half an hour, curled up in that way too small bed in the most uncomfortable position possible because I knew she needed me there, and because I needed to be there. I needed to feel the temperature of her body begin to cool, I need to hear her soft breathing to reassure myself that everything was okay.
Toddler beds may not be comfortable but sometimes the comfort of our heart is more important than the comfort of our body.