What a great toothbrush
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| Review Date: July 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Michael, Fairfax County, Virginia |
We have been using the Sonicare brushes for years.... update when new models come out. My dentist suggested it many years ago and it has really helped. Partly because you are 'forced' to brush for two minutes.
The kids brush takes this wonderful brush down to the kids level. The sound emitted during the brush is nowhere as loud as it is on the adult brush so that helps. The ramp up speed is great for them to get used to this new way of brushing. And the idea of knowing when to switch to another side of your teeth and when it is over is so helpful.
The only complaint is the size of the handle....a little bit of getting the hang of it for a 4 year old.
Nonetheless, it does an excellent job. Bravo Sonicare. It's the talk of the household.
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I'm a Big Kid Who Loves this Toothbrush
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| Review Date: August 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ophella Paige, Reno, Nevada |
I got this for myself. I know it's supposed to be a kids toothbrush, but I got a lotta kid in me. I've been using it for almost a month now and my mouth feels fresh and clean. It's way, way better than brushing by hand. I don't use the kid timer, because I'm a big kid and know how long to brush, but if you've got a child, the timer is pretty nifty.
I like the way the brush doesn't vibrate my gums to death. It's made to be gentle for kids, it's gentle for me too. I gotta say, I love this toothbrush. |
a real tooth saver!
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| Review Date: February 18, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jess Thomas, Southern Oregon |
This toothbrush has been a real God-send for us. We use it on both our 3 year old daughter and our 2 year old boy (red head for the girl, blue for the boy). Despite diligent manual tooth-brushing, our daughter was having lots of pre-cavity symptoms like discoloration and white spots. After we started using this toothbrush her teeth cleaned right up and her gums look much healthier. The dentist was very pleased with her last check-up.
With our son the problem was a bit different. It took two of us to brush his teeth - one holding him down and the other trying to pry his mouth open and brush. After watching his sister getting brushed with the sonicare, he walked right up and popped his mouth open to be brushed too, and that has continued ever since! We just had his check-up and were told he has excellent oral hygiene.
One of the things that we like best about it is that the 4-7 year old size heads are just the right size, even for our 2 year old (who has been using it since he was 18 months). We had tried the cheaper oral-B electric toothbrushes and though the kids liked the characters on them, the brush heads were so bulky that it was difficult to get on the cheek side of the teeth and the quality of brushing doesn't even begin to compare to the sonicare. I know one of the reviews complains that the handle is too big, but we have not found that to be so. On the occasions that we let our 2 year old try to do his own teeth, he has no problem with the handle either. We are TOTALLY pleased with this toothbrush. We believe the initial cost and brush replacement costs are more than compensated for in savings at the dentists office. |
Great brush for kids
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| Review Date: August 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Senor Zoidbergo, Washington D.C. |
If your son or daughter is looking for an automatic toothbrush, then look no further than this Philips Sonicare for kids. It's a bit pricey, but it gets the job done, and then some. I do have one concern; the toothbrush is designed for kids 4+, but I'm not sure if it would be safe to use with kids 4+ (unless they're very precocious of course). I'd prefer at least 7+, if not 10+.
The Good:
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- Wave shaped brush heads seemed more efficient at cleaning the teeth.
- Melodic series of beeps indicate when to switch brushing to another part of the mouth, which is fun for kids. Moreover, it's a helpful motivator for encouraging thorough brushing.
- Different brush heads for different ages.
- Personalizable "fun" plastic clip-on templates
- Grip size, though large, is comfortable and easy to hold.
- Base/stand provides power to the brush.
The Bad:
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- Personalizable plastic templates don't adhere to the toothbrush very well. Perhaps magnets would work better.
- Since brush heads are geared for different ages, perhaps the boxes would be packed with heads geared only for a certain age range. Thus, families whose kids are in a particular age bracket will not have unnecessary brush heads.
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Cavity Prone Kids NOW want to brush!
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| Review Date: March 14, 2010 |
| Reviewer: C. J. Syracuse, Miami, FL USA |
| My youngest son(6)has soft enamel and has been getting cavities since he was 2 years old! A children's hygenist recommended this toothbrush and said it really helps the kids clean their teeth effectively. Every night and morning it was a fight, including tears, to get him to brush. Now my both kids ask if it is time to brush! They like the timer that tells them when to switch sides, the motion isn't too much in the automatic toothbrush and they think it is just like the adults toothbrush. I was skeptical but the kids love it. I did buy two because the idea of sharing the same toothbrush base did not work for the 10 year old, and then the youngest child picked the same faceplate as his older brother so we used a sharpie to mark initials on each brush so depending on the ages of your kids you might not be able to share the base. We use our adult Sonicare UV sanitizer case to sanitize the kids brush heads as well. This Sonicare brush is fair superior to the less expensive automatic toothbrush I was giving the kids and they definetly brush longer on their own with no fights! |
My kids LOVE it......
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| Review Date: July 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Tarun Chachra, Hillsborough, NJ |
We have been a Sonicare family for a long time...using the regular adult version with a different color coded brush head for everyone. Everyone loves the usability and I love the fact that its easy to drop on its base so that its charged every time you need to use it. However, as with all kids, brushing requires some motivational skills...this is exactly what did it. Read on...
Kids hate to brush, its a chore for them...so how can you make it more exciting. This product is the answer, at least in our family. We have three kids 12, 7, 7 that already use Sonicare for their daily brushing..but their mom has to remind them regularly to get it done. When this rendition of the Sonicare arrived, it took 10-15 minutes of discussing which face plate would go on it. Once the decision was made it was time to flip a coin to see who would go first. It begins. Day 2 into this and they are up there on their own brushing their teeth. I am sure the novelty will wear off, but for now I think its more exciting for them that they have their own rechargeable electric toothbrush. Time will tell.
The bursh heads from the Sonicare are all inter-compatible and thus you can subscribe and save ( Philips Sonicare ProResults HX6013 Brush Head Standard 3pk ) - I recommend subscribing to get a few replacements every few months...as recommended by dentists.
Box includes the brush, the charger, and 3 face plates that will allow for it to be customized to the kids taste. It also comes with two brush heads, one round and one that resembles a small regular tooth brush.
Quick Note: We have spoken to our dentist numerous times about the Sonicare product and she says it is one of the best in the market...she also stated that all of the $10 or less products that are battery operated are quite useless and do not really help you with oral hygiene.
This is a great product, which is indeed a bit on the pricey side. We have had 2 units running for 1.5yrs+ and they continue to work as if they were brand new. In the end there is a beneficial value to be realized from the upfront investment.
Enjoy! |
Great Product!
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| Review Date: November 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Tammy Lynn Mckaskle, Ruston. LA |
| I purchased the Philips Sonicare for Kids for my two boys. They were 'fast' brushers and this is helping them brush the proper ammount of time. I hope to be able to purchase a Sonicare for my self in the future! |
Great toothbrush for my little one!
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| Review Date: December 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Morgan's Mom, |
My 4-year-old daughter has always HATED brushing her teeth. We tried every toothbrush out there, and every toothpaste, too, but she still hated it, and it was a battle every night to get it done.
And then we bought the Sonicare for kids, and now she loves to brush her teeth. She adores the pacing music, and says it tickles when we brush her teeth. I love the size of the brush head (it's nice and small for her little mouth), and how easy it is to maneuver the brush for her. And her dentist assures me it will help with the horrible stains she gets on her teeth because of her asthma medications.
My husband was really skeptical about this toothbrush, but I'm glad I ignored him. I would recommend it to anyone! |
At least for now, This makes my 7 year old look forward to brushing
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| Review Date: July 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Bryan Newman, St Paul, MN |
I made the jump to electric tooth brushes some time ago and my oldest was a little jealous. So when the opportunity to get a child's electric tooth brush came up, I jumped. It has only been a little over a week, but I am impressed to hear him brushing by himself every morning and evening, and with the timer he is brushing longer than he ever has before.
There are some shortcomings with electric toothbrushes like they are awkward to hold when compared to a regular tooth brush and they tend to be a little messy. But neither of these seem to be any problem, he took to holding it right away and the mirror is still clean. To me it seems like the brush head does not have a wide motion that might help, we'll see how effective it is over time.
Other nice amenities are self adhesive coverlets which allowed my son to "customize" his brush a little. And there is an easy recharging bay which he was able to set up himself. All in all a great experience so far and he is very proud of it. |
Another fantastic Sonicare toothbrush
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| Review Date: July 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Justin Gaines, Northern Virginia |
My wife and I absolutely love our Sonicare rechargeable toothbrushes, so when I heard about the Sonicare for kids I had to give it a try. Our (almost) 4 year old son is just getting to the point where he can brush his teeth on his own, and the Sonicare is great at helping him do it right.
Like the adult Sonicare toothbrushes, the Sonicare for kids has a couple of different settings (speed, sensitivity) that allow you to customize the brushing experience to the child's age. The brush emits a different musical beep to indicate when it's time to change position, and gives a little "victory song" when brushing is complete, all of which my son absolutely loves. It also comes with two different-sized brush heads - one for older kids and a much smaller one that's perfect for my son. I also like how it came with a set of three brightly colored face plates so that kids can decorate their Sonicare.
I'm completely satisfied with the Sonicare for kids, and my son is much happier about brushing his teeth now that he has a cool toothbrush like mom and dad. I imagine his dentist will be pleased as well. |
Highly recommended
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| Review Date: December 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kurt A. Johnson, North-Central Illinois, USA |
OK, I only recently climbed aboard the Sonicare bandwagon. I had thought that they were something of a gimmick, that is until I asked my dentist about them. When I asked them what he thought about them he responded, "I'm a fan." He then went on to tell me all about the benefits of using a sonic toothbrush. Now, I'm sold.
This toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare for Kids is a real nice product. It's relatively quiet, it's easy to operate, and when it's time to move the brush it plays a little tune. My five-year-old enjoys using this toothbrush, and I do believe that that means that she will brush more, and I will not have the aggravation of having to watch her brush like some sort of prison guard.
My dentist likes this toothbrush and my little one likes it, and as far as I'm concerned that gives it a very high recommendation indeed. Do yourself a favor and order this toothbrush today! |
Very Satisfied
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| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Miles, Woolwich, NJ |
I have two boys using the toothbrush for over a month now and everyone is satisfied. I recommend getting a separate toothbrush for each child. The boys (5 & 7) sharing it and I am worried about when they switch the head, the tip is very pointed and if there is any horseplay then someone could get hurt. So I am going to pick up a second unit to feel better about that. The functionality is very good and the musical chimes keep them in a good pattern.
I have been using the adult version and really like that as well.
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#1 recommended brush
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| Review Date: January 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: DMD, |
| I recommend this brush not just for kids, but for adults with limited dexterity, crowded teeth, heavy stain, and those who found the original Sonicare too strong for their sensitive teeth, but want the toothbrush with the best ability to remove stains. I can agree that I have seen significant stain removal after a week of using the brush, and it is a great investment for anyone who is interested in whitening their teeth. The two head sizes make this a versatile brush for everyone. Safe if you have veneers, implants, etc. Just take the time to read the brushing instructions - this is not like the other brushes on the market. |
Great Product
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| Review Date: March 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Marusa, PA, USA |
| We bought 2 of these for our children and not only have we noticed there teeth are beter taken care of, but they actually have at least a reasonably good time during brushing. The music that plays at intervals helps hem know when to move to the next area and when they are done. Previously we might have goten them to brush for 1 minute tops. Now they continue for the full 2 minutes. Would definitely recommend to others. |
No more pleading!
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| Review Date: May 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Lauer, San Francisco, CA USA |
| My 8 year old son used to spend all of 15 seconds brushing his teeth. When his dentist recommended the Kids Sonicare (I didn't know one existed), I thought it was worth a try. This is a great toothbrush for kids. It is expensive, but not when you compare it to the possibility of multiple dentist visits and fillings and more. Plus it makes a cute beep sound that helps the brusher know how much brushing is left to go! A thumbs up for this one. |
Love it!
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| Review Date: July 31, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R. Gondek, Alaska United States |
| We bought two of these. One for our 7 yr old and one for our 4 yr old. Just to comment on some other reviews on this toothbrush: No child should be left to do his own brushing. They just dont know how to do a good enough job. None of my children have cavities and we do not take flouride. My husband and I brush their teeth every night. My 7 yr old will brush his own teeth in the morning. That is his time to learn how to brush correctly. This toothbrush is wonderful. Both of my children will brush for the full two minutes. They lower level one is only brushing for one minute. In my opinion that is good with starting out with the toothbrush. But kids need to be brushing the full two minutes just like their parents. My four year old can handle this toothbrush wonderful. I think he would have been able to handle this at even three years old. I will not be buying the store bought electric toothbrushes anymore or the manuals. This toothbrush works great and travels great. |
best kid's toothbrush
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| Review Date: September 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Julia Cannistra, Hawai'i, USA |
we highly recommend this one! my son loves it and he even tells me that this
toothbrush does a better job.
even his dad can now brush my son's teeth with ease. it has CUTE music to let my son
know the amount of time to brush every section. we're helping him to understand and use
the brush now and i'm confident that later on he'll do a great job on his own versus the conventional brushes.
highly recommended! easy and quicker teeth-brushing experience every night!
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Our son loves this
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| Review Date: September 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Michael Doyle, Baltimore, MD |
| We were using the disposable battery powered toothbrushes with characters before we got this toothbrush and we heard complaints about the vibrations and how it was uncomfortable when we brushed. Those complaints stopped with this brush the first time we used it and we have not heard any other complaints since we started using it. The timer is great not only because he knows we will stop brushing when it is over, but since it uses multiple tones as the time passes he knows how long he has till it turns off. The brush is easy for him to handle, yet we can brush is teeth with it easily as well. Overall we have been very happy with this brush and recommended it to other parents as well as telling our dentist about it so he could tell other parents if he wanted. |
Handy Dandy
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| Review Date: August 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Gone, |
| This is an excellent gadget. It combines a good electronic brush with a cute set of tunes. Dental Care + entertainment results in an appealing fashion to ward off future "dental panels". |
First Class Product Super highly recommended!!!!!!!!
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| Review Date: July 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: ED, USA |
| It is so well made! It is their latest technology! It is a bargain for the whole family. The kids love it -- I think the vibrant colors attract the kids. Just a great product at a great price point. Super highly recommended. |
Fantastic product for kids
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| Review Date: July 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Brian Smith, West Chester, OH USA |
I have been using Philips Sonicare toothbrushes for years and years. I've owned several as I've worn them out over the years and as they have improved the design. I was excited to see that they have a model specifically for kids and wondered what the differences might be.
The toothbrush is almost the same as the Sonicare I currently own for myself. The similarities are:
1.) Different power levels for different users (in the case of the kids' brush one setting for ages 4-7 and one for ages 7-10.
2.) Quadrapace timer- the children's version has a musical tone every 30 seconds to let your child know to move to the next quadrant of her mouth.
3.) Ramped up power and time- the feeling of a Sonicare is a little off-putting to some people at first as it can cause a kind of tingling in the mouth from the rapid vibrations. The power (in both modes) and the time (in the low power mode) are ramped up over the first several uses to allow people to get used to it. It starts off with lower power and for little kids, a shorter overall brushing time.
4.) Different size heads- the head is actually interchangeable with the regular Sonicare brush that I have. The shape at the base is just slightly different. I was worried about finding heads for the kids' brush. But, if I can't, I'll just buy a regular head for her when this one wears out. The heads come in two sizes. But, I found the larger one is pretty much exactly like my normal Sonicare head. The bristles seem to be about the same stiffness and the shape of the bristles and the head is just about the same.
The differences are:
1.) Cute kids colors and interchangeable face plate. Read the directions. The face plate has a protective back that should be removed so it doesn't keep falling off. It'll come with one face plate on it. But, you can change it.
2.) Charger is a two piece device- I don't like this. My Sonicare came with a travel charge in addition to the regular charger. This kids version seems to have used a travel charger (which doesn't have a place to store the extra heads) and they just made a piece to fit over it. The problem is it doesn't snap together. So, it's just kind of tacky and unstable.
3.) Instead of just pausing between quadrants, the kids version of the brush actually plays a musical tone.
My 9 year old squealed with glee when she saw the toothbrush. She couldn't wait to use it. She even asked if she could brush three times a day instead of two. I worked with her the first couple of times she used it, as you will have to with your kids. The timer is great because we have bought timers for she and her older sister before to get them to brush for two minutes with their manual brushes. But, they don't use the timer consistently and two minutes is a long time for a child (especially if they're thinking about doing something else). The other thing you'll have to work with your child on is not using this like a regular toothbrush. Children tend to brush too hard anyway and we have been working with both our children about not scrubbing their teeth. With the Sonicare, you just place the brush against the teeth and move it from section to section. It took a while for her to get this concept as she kept wanting to use a back and forth motion. She laughed saying the brush "tickled". But, the sensation was not uncomfortable for her.
Overall, I give the brush a very good rating. There are only a couple of things I don't like about it. The charger could be better constructed. In addition to being two parts, the spare head doesn't fit on the post very well and tends to pop off. Another thing that could concern me with a younger child is the way you change the power setting from the lower level (for 4-7) to the higher level is a simple button that is easily accessible to children. Curious children may push the button and end up brushing their teeth with either too much power or too little power. I honestly don't find this brush to be significantly different than the Sonicare I already own, which is a good thing. This is not a water-down version of a Sonicare. I was wondering what features it might be missing. It's got all of their advanced features in terms of the guts of the brush (I have the one with the Ultraviolet cleaner). The novelty of it and the built-in timer will get kids excited about brushing and make sure they brush thoroughly. I highly recommend it.
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My Son-In-Law, The Dentist, Likes This!
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| Review Date: July 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Linda Painchaud-Steinman, MA, USA |
This is probably the first time I'm able to post an early review for a "Vine" Product, and I feel priveliged to do so!
My (step) son-in-law, a dentist, gets to "preview" items like this, and already has his three children using it. (Ages: 10, 8, 6.) So I KNOW this is a great item. (Hey, Dentist endorsed :>)
He used to manually brush their teeth for them, (just to be sure they were brushing correctly), but switched them to these electronic models (via professional samples) since he believes they do a more thorough job, and the kids really enjoy using them. Because of the unique handle design, he was still able to "guide" their brushing until they got the hang of it (which didn't take long, even for the youngest), and until he was sure they were using the device as it's meant to be used.
The power-modes on the brush (I've listened and watched) are SOMEWHAT quieter than models like this meant for adults (I use a Phillips Sonicare ProResults--love it, but it's LOUD), so there's no "scary" drill-like sound, AND, the scrub-factor is more gentle than on adult models.
It's colorful (the handle), it does a good job, and it trains kids to brush for the recommended 2 minutes (there's a timer on it).
I removed one star from this review, because, in my observations, it seems the handle isn't MUCH smaller than adult size models, and the littlest grandkid just made it, when it came to holding the handle. Another reason for the removal of one star: this isn't something you can just hand the kids and say "brush your teeth." They'll need some instruction, and maybe even help with their first couple of uses.
Still, the above are small issues, because overall, this product does what it says, and what it should, which is: providing young kids with good, proper, and effective brushing. |
Another great Sonicare product, this time for kids!
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| Review Date: August 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Bond... James Bond, Denver, CO |
As a long-time user of Sonicare electric toothbrushes (I am currently using their FlexCare), this product marks Philips' first foray into making a similar toothbrush for kids. Overall, the unit is of excellent design and quality. In fact, this kid toothbrush has two design features that I wished my more-expensive Sonicare FlexCare adult brush also had: (1) its handle is coated with more of a tackier non-slip compound than my FlexCare uses and has prominent knobby bumps along the handle to aid in better grip, and (2) a flattened part of the handle allows the brush to be laid down horizontally with the bristles facing upward, whereas if I lay my FlexCare horizontally, it may roll around and end up with its bristles touching the sink counter surface. It has a two different power levels (low power for 4+ and high power for 7+ years old), and in both power levels, both the vibration of the handle and the buzzing sound is far less than than my adult FlexCare model. At low power, I would describe the buzzing sound as "housefly" volume, at high level it is a "bumblebee", compared to the "large bumblebee on steroids" buzzing and vibration of the adult FlexCare model. Also different from my FlexCare is that the Quadpacer 30-second interval timer on this Kids model plays music to tell your child that it is time to brush another quadrant of the mouth. All of these are great improvements, not just for child usage, but also for an electric toothbrush in general. (If anyone from Philips reads this: I want my next adult Sonicare to have the same non-slip grip with knobby bumps, horizontal brush rest, and lower noise level too!)
But there are two miscues with Philips' first Sonicare design for kids:
1) The unit is only slightly shorter in length compared to my adult FlexCare toothbrush. Without having any of the three supplied faceplates mounted on it, it weighs the same 4.8 ounces as my adult model; once the faceplate is mounted onto the brush, its 5.0 ounce weight is actually heavier than my adult model. On top of that, the barrel-shaped handle of the Kids model is also bigger in circumference than the adult model. This added length, weight, and thickness of the brush handle may make it more cumbersome to use for smaller kids or those with small hands.
2) The three supplied faceplate panels are lacking in originality and pizazz in an age when kids can personalize their MP3 players, cell phones, and other personal electronics using a myriad of interchangeable faceplates or skins. The three supplied faceplates are just boring variations of dot patterns against a black, blue, or yellow background. The faceplate is mounted to the toothbrush via an adhesive backing, so I do not really think of it as being "interchangeable" as advertised. Once you pry off the now-glued-on faceplate, to re-use it again, you would have to supply your own adhesive to re-attach it to the brush again. I presume that Philips engineers assume that the child will just pick one faceplate design and never want to change it again. For the not-inexpensive price of the brush, I would have much preferred that the faceplate panels were designed so that: (a) the panel firmly snaps onto the brush body (like how battery compartment doors often snap on) so the child can change their toothbrush's look more frequently and easily, and (b) the three faceplates varied more in their themes (one abstract dot pattern is enough, let's also have some floral, animal, or cartoon themes!). There are various suppliers of after-market skins and covers for personal electronics, but I doubt that there is a high enough of a demand for personalizing electric toothbrush handles.
Overall, another fine high-quality brush from Philips. As was the case when I purchased my FlexCare brush shortly after it was introduced, I think that the price is a bit on the high side, but one could justify that it is worth the dental health benefits if it helps your child brush better and longer each time.
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Makes brushing much more interesting and fun!
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| Review Date: July 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Paul, SF Bay Area, CA |
So I ordered the kids toothbrush without realizing that the it's meant for ages 4+. I decided to try it anyway since it's more gentle than manual brushing.
We're currently brushing my kid's teeth manually (morning and night) and it's really tough to get in there because she keeps closing her mouth.
But when we use the Sonicare she looks forward to it and complies much more readily. Also, because we don't have to move the brush head itself too much it's easier to get coverage of all tooth surfaces.
To be honest, manual brushing and manual brushes are cheaper, cheaper to replace, and do a better job. But a big part of getting young children to brush their teeth is to make it fun and to make it something that they look forward to.
Based on that alone the Sonicare Kids is well worth it. |
Sonicare Quality, in Fun Kid-Friendly Form Factor
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| Review Date: July 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. WIlliams, USA |
My husband and I both use Sonicare for our own toothbrushes, and have for years, and thought we'd give this a try for our son. He likes that it's his "own" brush, just like mommy and daddy's, and appreciates the "fun" elements--interchangeable front plates, musical notes for instructional brushing--even if he doesn't fully use/understand the latter at this point.
My complaint about the former (front plate) is that they're not really that useful. They're just stick on things, so they'll eventually come off--my son removed his within two days--and they can't be changed on a whim (one-time use only), which any parent knows kids have--frequently. (Making a choice and sticking to it is not any preschooler's strong point.) Perhaps a calculated move on Sonicare's part to sell more front plate replacements?
I like the kid-sized brush, which fits his little mouth well, and the adjustable power/speed, though I will say that, for younger kids, it's way too easy for them to change the setting/restart, even if you're supervising their brushing as instructed. And, for the very young, even the low power mode can be off-putting in their mouths. (Sonicare recommends this brush for ages 4+ and my son isn't quite there yet.) The brush handle is a bit thick for little hands (seems the same size as adult models), but the non-slip rubber grip that covers the entire thing is appreciated.
All in all, this brush seems to have the quality of the regular Sonicare line, with a few noteworthy kid-friendly features. It also has the same drawbacks as all Sonicare products, namely it's pricey (though not as $$$ as the adult models), especially when you're talking about something for a youngster. (And when you can buy disposable kids' electrics for around $5 at any grocery store.) On the other hand, if it helps kids brush better (and prevents cavities), especially in those too young to floss, it might be worth it. |
Fun for the kids
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| Review Date: August 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Green, Los Angeles, California |
| I got this Sonicare toothbrush for my daughters (ages 10 and 7) who have been using an adult Braun Oral B electric toothbrush for almost 2 years now. They were excited to have their own and one that's more geared toward kids, which perhaps helps with solidifying the brushing habit. The three different decorative templates were certainly an enticement, and they had fun picking which one they wanted to use on it first (I had my doubts but it's still holding on over a month later). The different speeds are a good idea for the younger kids, but mine were already used to switching areas every 30 seconds (this one actually plays a little musical tone instead of just a different vibration). The handle is a bit large but I thought that was more of a plus than a minus (except for maybe the smallest hands). My only complaints are that it would be nice to be able to buy the brush with just larger heads, since my kids are both big enough for them. Also that the charger base is in 2 pieces instead of one, but these issues are really minor. |
getting kids hooked...on serious electric toothbrushes, with cartoony design
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| Review Date: October 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: almosthappy, San Diego, CA, California |
| Despite the cartoony and colorful facade, Philips Sonicare for Kids is every bit a serious electric toothbrush that's not going to kid around about dental hygiene. Feature by feature, this kid version is as sophisticated as my adult Sonicare model. The "kid-friendly" sound that is integrated with the timer, also encourages young 'uns to brush correctly and adequately. If there's one personal luxury parents should encourage their kids to adopt, IMHO getting used to a fine electric toothbrush is a good one. And Philips Soincare doesn't sacrifice any dental benefits from making its product more kid-friendly. |
Great Device
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| Review Date: October 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Arturo Fukuda Ll, PERU |
| Great device works fine, it comes with two replacement brushes, one for child and one for adults, the engine power is enough to clean your teeth or at least for giving you that kind of sensation. You can not wrong by buying this item, if you have the money go for it. |
BOTH boys WILLINGLY brush now!! WOOOHOOOO!!!
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| Review Date: August 9, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Gratitude, Texas |
We have a 5 and a 9yr old. After a much postponed trip to a dentist for myself and found out that I need LOTS of dental work, I didn't want the same for my kids so I decided to ramp up their proactive care and purchased this Phillips Sonicare for Kids HX6311/02 Rechargeable Toothbrush set. When I took them to their dentist a few days later, she was thrilled that they had this already as she sold it in her office.
The BEST thing about this is that BOTH of my boys now WILLINGLY brush their teeth with no complaints whatsoever. The set was perfect for my family because it comes with 2 different sized brush heads. Here is what comes in the box:
**Rechargeable toothbrush with 3 different changeable 'face plates' (if you look at the picture, it's the yellow portion of the handle). Ours came with black, navy and yellow and all had some sort of designs on them. It has some sort of clear peel that you peel off and the faceplate sticks to the front part of the toothbrush handle.
**2 DIFFERENT sized toothbrush heads: 1 red smaller toothbrush head for children who are UNDER 7yrs old (4-6yrs old) and 1 slightly larger light blue toothbrush head for children who are 7+ yrs old.
**Toothbrush stand & corded charger in one: The toothbrush charger 'holder' is in the front and the two 'holders' in the back are for 2 toothbrush heads. (This is perfect for my family as we only have 2 children but with those with more kids may want something else to store the other children's toothbrush heads...I was thinking a UV light disinfecting chamber would be great)
It really can't be more simple to get started. You simply plug in the charger and let the toothbrush charge for 24hrs before it's first use. Then you are good to go!
PROS / What we love about this:
The boys like that it's JUST FOR KIDS!
I love that the 'sonic' movement is truly different that my adult Oral0-B Professional version which they were sharing with me before they got this, our dentist said the kids version is MUCH more gentle on their teeth.
This one definitely has more of a vibrational movement and causes more 'bubbles' in the mouth from our tooth powder / liquid that we use.
The boys love that the sound indicator is a happy / silly sound.
With my Oral-B Professional, I also have a sound indicator to tell me when to move to a different quadrant but it's a generic beep and the boys didn't always pay attention to it. With this kid friendly version, it's a series of a happy 1-2 second beep and the 'beeps' that tell them they are finished with brushing is a bit longer like a beeping song (it's short don't worry, it's not annoying) are totally distinctive and different so they know what the differences are and it automatically turns off after the 'finished brushing beep.
CONS:
None that are real deal breakers but...
* Only time will tell but I want to make sure that the faceplate doesn't come loose over time since it's used in a wet environment. I hope that nothing icky grows under it. SO FAR, it seems to be sealed tightly but I'll keep checking.
*I wish the button that indicates whether it is a small child or older child brushing (this determines the difference in how long each child brushes...ie: shorter for younger child and longer for older child - BOTH start out a bit shorter and then over time, add time eventually leading up to the recommended 2 minute brushing session) is EASIER to push. My younger 5 yr old has a hard time pushing his 'side' of the button.
*I wish that the toothbrush handle part was a bit slimmer in diameter. Both of my kids CAN hold it just fine but it seems that if it was meant for smaller hands, the device would be smaller in size for little hands.
This IS worth getting and both Mom and kids are happy to have it!
If you click on the link below, it will lead you to a PDF file you can download for a rebate that is good for purchases made by December 31, 2010.
For some reason, it is not readily posted on the Sonicare website but of course, you could email them to request it be emailed to you as well. So you can make your purchase here on Amazon, send in your reciept and rebate coupon and receive $5-$15 back depending on which Sonicare toothbrush model you purchase.
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A good toothbrush, but improvements needed
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| Review Date: August 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: buru buru piggu, New York, NY USA |
This is a pretty good product with excellent battery life. One charge lasts more than 2 weeks. The brush is soft and gentle on young teeth and enamel. There are some flaws, however, that you may wish to consider:
- Surprisingly big for a kids product. It's even taller than an adults electric toothbrush, making it potentially cumbersome for little hands.
- Takes a few days to get used to. The vibrating head tingles the gums when first used and it's explicitly written in the manual that "The Sonicare may feel ticklish upon first use". This sensation may make it difficult for your child to "ease into the Sonicare experience".
- Comes with 3 ugly faceplates that are the same. They are designed to appeal to kids, but are rather boring. You get a yellow one, a blue one, and a black one. All just dots or bubbles (see gallery). The entire back of the faceplate is covered with strong adhesive which is very difficult to peel off once applied. Faceplate will probably get destroyed in the removal attempt. I used my finger nails and couldn't pry one off.
- During the beeping of the KidTimer intervals every 30 seconds, brushing stops temporarily.
Still a good toothbrush, but the above points are worth thinking about.
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An adult's toothbrush with kid-friendly sounds and paint job
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| Review Date: August 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: FaceForRadio, San Francisco, CA USA |
I've been using an Oral-B Buzz Lightyear rechargeable toothbrush on my four-year-old for a couple of years now; I wanted to see what benefits this model might have over the older unit. Frankly, I haven't found anything compelling in the Philips Sonicare, and neither has my son. I usually offer him the choice of which toothbrush to use, and he picks the older model about 75 percent of the time.
And that's when I'm doing the brushing--he's still not that adept at brushing his own teeth, so I still do most of the brushing. I thought the Sonicare might help him to learn, but it's even bigger and heavier than the Oral-B, so he has a hard time maneuvering it. He usually tries to hold it with two hands--often with one hand up on the brushhead. If it were better designed for a kid, it'd be about half as long (or even shorter). This seems a dead giveaway that Philips simply slapped a pretty paint job on one of its adult models, added some kid-friendly sounds, and called it a kid's toothbrush.
The other problem is due to "sonic" design--i.e., how the brushhead moves. It vibrates instead of rotates, as the Oral-B does, and if I don't press the brushhead to the teeth pretty firmly, it tickles his gums. Whereas, with the Oral-B, the point is to let the toothbrush do all the work, so you don't have to press all that firmly. Philips says the toothbrush is quiet, and it is--but not that much quieter than the Oral-B.
Then there's the fact that this toothbrush costs two-and-a-half times as much as the Oral-B does--or did. Oral-B has discontinued its kid models, though you can still find them; here's a link to one on Amazon: Braun D9513K Oral B Kids Power Toothbrushes- 950TX The Incredibles.
On the other hand, my kid is at the lower end of the advertised age range for this product; older kids--I'd say six and up--would probably have a better time of it. And, the product seems very well made and sturdy.
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Great for older kids, but not fidgety four-year-olds
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| Review Date: June 22, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Elaine R. Palmer, Goldens Bridge, NY USA |
| First, let me say that I LOVE my adult Sonicare toothbrush. When the kids toothbrush came out, I was anxious to get it for my three boys, ages 7, 4, and 4, thinking it would help develop good brushing habits. We gave it to them at Easter. It is now late June, and I wanted to share my experiences and suggestions for improvement. The seven-year-old is doing fine with it, and he uses the "left" side for a gentler brushing. My complaints revolve around my younger boys. For some reason, the Sonicare brushes, at least in our family, generate a LOT of saliva. Even though we do the inside bottom last (where the salivary glands are), we have to make the child hang over the bowl to catch the volumes of drips. For some reason, this is not an issue with manual brushes, nor with other brands of electric toothbrushes. Yes, we only use a tiny dot of toothpaste. The trick is getting a fidgety four-year-old boy to stand still leaning over the sink for the full cycle. One of my boys can't stand the saliva build-up, and has to spit in between beeps. If I take the brush out of his mouth while it's still running, then the brush sprays saliva and toothpaste everywhere. If I turn it off, it forgets where it was in the cycle, and it thinks it's starting all over again, so we lose the built-in programming. On nights when they are extremely tired or grouchy, I can't do a quick brushing (just to maintain the rule of brushing every night). If I do, then I have to break another rule of going through the whole brushing sequence. Every parent knows that there are times that some things must be compromised (e.g. do I generate a bed time tantrum trying to make an exhausted child stand still for two minutes?) I understand that children should not be allowed to compromise the program. What I'd like to see is a 'refresh' button on the device, or a "secret" multi-button push that parents can use to get a shorter cycle. Lacking that, I'd suggest that you keep a manual brush available for those nights when you don't have the parental stamina to try to make your wiggly child stand still over the bowl for the full cycle. Or, get a drool cup :-) . |
Gret concept, one improvement needed
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| Review Date: July 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Peggy, Norfolk, VA United States |
| I think it is great that children 4 years old and older now have access to a rechargeable toothbrush just like their parents or grandparents. For that reason it should be an incentive for teeth brushing to be something fun and they will brush longer due to the timer. I was surprised at the adult size of the handle, especially for a 4 y.o.'s use. I suggest the length and girth be shorter and narrower. Also the decorative panels (3) are 2 dark blue ones and 1 bright yellow which seems geared towards little boys. Little girls like pastels, especially pinks and lavender to purples combined. I think it would be better to have the entire handle white and then 2 panels for each gender. As for use, this is a nice solid toothbrush. It is pre-programmed to gradually increase the power over 14 brushings. This feature can be de-and re-activated as needed. This is a nice feature if it becomes a hand-me-down (w/ new brush heads of course) for a younger sibling since the current price point is around 70. Another great feature is the recyclable battery. All in all I think Phillips has a potential winner if the few modifications are made. The reason 2 stars were absent, one is due to the cost and the second due to handle size and absence of little girl colors. The 2 year warranty is the same as the adult versions. |
Sonicare for Kids -
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| Review Date: August 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Kerri Hunsicker, Slatington, Pa United States |
| Warning this is only for kids 10 years old and under. Although this is a great product for kids, I am disappointed that this toothbrush will not grow with your kids. My dentist sold this to me for my 10 year old for $69. Now that my child is 11 years old and has clearly outgrown these brush heads, there are no other bigger heads for this appliance. I have spoken to the manufacturer and the only replacement heads for this toothbrush are the 4-7 and the 7 -10 years old replacement heads. This is a big wast of money. I should have just bought the adult electric toothbrush. Now i am going back to another brand. This toothbrush is just another gimmic from a big corporation to make more money from consumers. Philips Sonicare for Kids HX6311/02 Rechargeable Toothbrush |
FOUR IS TOO YOUNG
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| Review Date: July 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gail Cooke, TX, USA |
Unless the brushing is totally supervised we found four years old to be far too young for this brush. Granted, she wanted to give it a try so we do but only with an adult right there guiding.
While we like the fun colors for the quite young child it really makes it look like a toy, and they need to know it definitely is not. Printing "Not A Toy" on the enclosed instruction booklet doesn't do it for kids.
Now, when it comes to youngsters seven and older, it's wonderful, certainly encouraging them to brush their teeth. They find the notifications to change positions really cool and so far do a much better job of brushing than was ever done with a manual. brush. |
Sonic Care Kids Electric Toothbrush
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| Review Date: July 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: S. Weiss, Orlando, FL |
| I purchased this toothbrush for my daughter and within 6 months is stopped working correctly. It now only works for the first cycle and stops when it is supposed to beep to let the child know to move on to the next section of teeth. I contacted Phillips Sonic Care customer service who had very nice and helpful customer service people. Every single one of them promise to send out a replacement one free with a return box to return the old defective toothbrush. I get a reference number, however NEVER receive the shipment. When I call back, I am told by another CS rep that they are not sure why the ticket was "closed" and then I am reissued another reference number with a promise to send a replacement one. This has been going on for almost 4 months now... with countless reference numbers. This company is a nightmare to deal with.... |
So disappointed
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| Review Date: April 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Wyn, Littleton, CO |
| I've been using a Sonicare for a number of years and LOVE it so I was really excited when I found this Sonicare for kids at Target. The two different size brushes were perfect for my 8 & 6 year olds. Only two weeks into using the toothbrush, it stopped working. It seemed like the problem was caused by switching out the brushes for each of the kids. I was always the one doing the switch so I know that it wasn't being abused in any way. I returned to Target and happily exchanged for a new one. The same thing happened with the second one as well. It didn't last as long as the first one. I would NOT recommend this for anyone using it for more than one child. |
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