First time to the dentist!

What a fun first dentist appointment it was! Garrett went to see Bippo the Hippo at "Bippo's place for Smiles". A pediatric dental practice geared 100% toward kids. Let me start at the beginning...

A month or so ago when I scheduled his appointment they sent a welcome package for Garrett with a poster to color, and a children's book written by the dentist called "Bippo goes to the Dentist". Bippo is the mascot, he is 3 years old! (or so they tell us) When you enter the building there is a kids entrance and a teenager entrance. The kids entrance is a long corridor that is muralized like a forest with a stream and at the end of it is a door that is painted like a big tree with a hole cut out in it for the kids to crawl through into the waiting room! The waiting room is a kids dreamland complete with a saltwater aquarium, a rock cave, a video/playroom, a teen hang out with video games and tv's and there is a huge playground right out the doors. Why would a kid ever want to leave the dentist office?

Sooooo while we are waiting Bippo the Hippo comes out with a woman who is helping him and they say " We are looking for Garrett. Garrett Henderson!" Well Garrett's eyes lit up and he walked right over to them and gave Bippo a big hug and then the lady took his picture with him. After that all of the kids in the waiting room wanted to run and give Bippo a hug! They really make a big deal about a child's first visit to the dentist. When we were in the exam room (filled with toys, I might add) the dentist came in and right off the bat gave Garrett a beanie baby Bippo, a new toothbrush, let him pick a toy from a toy bin, and then stuck stickers all over Garrett's shirt. It was a total ice breaker and Garrett sat still and did wonderful for the exam! when we were leaving they gave Garrett a helium filled balloon and let him pick the color. He picked orange! Our littleman did so good and is definitally trying to grow up on us!