When should we schedule the first visit to the dentist and the optometrist for a young child?

It is recommended to schedule the first visit to the dentist for a child around the age of 3. At this age, the dentist's examination is usually free, but the cleaning by the hygienist may come at a cost. Similarly, it is advised to have the child's eyes checked around the age of 3 (or earlier if there are concerns) as the examination will be covered by the RAMQ until the age of 17. It is also important to avoid exposing babies to screens before the age of 3, as recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Society. For more information on children's vision, you can refer to a well-written article by the Quebec Association of Optometrists.