My 4-year-old son Leo has his first dent
Ask
My 4-year-old son Leo has his first dental checkup tomorrow morning. He is nervous about the big recliner chair, the bright light, and having someone count and brush his teeth with the little mirror.
Can you tell him an honest, gentle read-aloud bedtime story tonight featuring a little bear named Leo?
Please make sure:
- It acknowledges what he will actually see and feel (the chair tipping back, the light, the cold little mirror counting teeth) without falsely promising "it won't feel strange at all".
- Shows that a parent stays right there holding his hand.
- Gradually slows down in the last 40% with shorter, soothing sentences, ending peacefully with Leo safe and sound in his bed.
Answer
Leo was a little bear with soft brown fur and a tummy that loved strawberries. Tomorrow morning, Leo was going to the dentist for the very first time. The dentist was going to count his teeth and brush them clean. Leo did not know what the office looked like. He only knew what Mama had told him.
Mama had told him about the chair.
"It tips back, little bear. Like a soft chair that leans all the way back, like resting on a cloud."
Mama had told him about the light.
"A little lamp shines so the dentist can see your teeth. It looks bright. It doesn't burn."
Mama had told him about the mirror.
"A tiny round mirror on a stick. It will feel cold when it touches your teeth. Counting takes a little while."
Leo listened. He felt his tummy go fluttery.
Tomorrow came.
The dentist's room smelled like mint. The chair was big. It really did tip back. Leo climbed up. Mama sat on a little stool right beside him. Her paw held his paw.
The dentist, a kind beaver with round glasses, smiled. "Hi, Leo. Let's count your teeth."
The little lamp came on. It was bright. Leo squeezed Mama's paw.
Then came the little mirror. Cold. So cold! It tip-tapped across his teeth. "One, two, three…" The beaver counted all the way to twenty. Leo breathed in. Breathed out. The mirror tickled.
Then the brush went round and round. Buzz-buzz. It tickled and rumbled. Leo held very still. Mama's paw stayed.
"All done, little bear," said the beaver. A shiny gold star went on Leo's paw. A tiny cup of cold water. Swish, swish, spit. The chair tipped back up.
Outside, the sun was warm. Leo held Mama's paw to the car.
At home, the bath was warm. Pajamas were soft. The towel smelled like Leo.
The house grew quieter. The lamp on the nightstand made a small yellow circle. Leo's blanket smelled like home.
Mama sat on the edge of the bed.
"The chair was strange," Leo said.
"I was there," said Mama.
Leo yawned.
His pillow was cool.
His blanket was warm.
His bear was soft.
His teeth were clean.
Leo closed his eyes.
Goodnight, Leo.
The bed is here.
Mama is here.
Home is here.