Dentist and Eye Dr.

My dentist said wait until they are 2, they usually have all of their baby teeth by then.
Eye Dr. said about 2 also.

I just took my daughter to the dentist yesterday. We have been going since she was 18 months. We were referred by our Pediatrician because her one top tooth wasn't coming down. Now she is 2 1/2. I asked the dentist when I should take my baby (my other baby) who is 14 months and they suggested 18 months. Welcome to the area! Sorry I don't have any knowledge about when to take them to the eye doctor. I'm a Pediatric nurse. I work 4.5-8 hours a week in the evening when my husband comes home. It's really the best of both worlds.

Hi M. -

My sister-in-law is a dental hygenist and both she and my dentist said it isn't necessary to bring them in until they are 2, maybe even 3 (depends of the teeth they have etc.) for a real check-up, but that it is good to bring them in anytime after 12 months just so they get used to being there. I have also heard to bring them in at 12 mos. if they have not gotten any teeth yet, but obviously that isn't an issue!

Not sure about the eye doctor!

My pediatrician recommends 3 years for both.

I've been told to take babies to the dentist. Prevention is key, right?

Also, an eye exam is a great idea at a younger age. My daughter was 3 in preschool when she had a "screening" there. They indicated a possible muscle problem. When I finally got the referral to the pediatric ophthalmologist, she was diagnosed with amblyopia (not to be confused with "lazy eye"). I cut a brief synopsis:

[ While a large eye turn or deviation (strabismus) is easily spotted by the layman, amblyopia without strabismus or associated with a small deviation is usually not noticed by parents or pediatricians. Only an eye doctor comfortable in examining young children and infants can detect this type of amblyopia. This is why early infant and pre-school eye examinations are so necessary.]

From very early on, like a year old, she would squint one eye in very bright sunlight. Her pediatrician looked at her and said there was no abnormality in her eyes. Obviously, the pediatrician is not trained in ophthalmology so she missed it. Thank God for the preschool screening, because I may not have seen it. Her eyes both waver about 25% and it's rarely noticeable, even now at 9 years old. If we hadn't caught it at 3years old and had patched her eyes for a few hours every day for many months, she would very likely have needed surgery. She still may need it one day.