Customer Reviews

Philips Sonicare for Kids HX6311/02 Rechargeable Toothbrush

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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....

Fuzzy Wuzzy's Summary:
**** Recommended with warm fuzzies.

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.


***** Excellent 5-fuzzies feature ratings:

***** 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!)


*** Not-so-good 3-fuzzies feature ratings:

*** 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.

*** 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.


Fuzzy Wuzzy's Conclusion:

Overall, this is 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.

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.

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.

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.

We purchased two Sonicare for Kids Toothbrushes for our children seven months ago in hopes of improving the oral hygiene, especially our 5 year old daughter who had her first cavities last summer. My kids appear to really enjoy using the product. The size and the weight of the product has not been an issue for any of my children ages 2-11. My two year old even enjoys brushing his own teeth, though we go back over them with the timer on the short program just to be sure they were properly cleaned. The tooth brush sets come with two sets of brush heads that were perfect for my 4 kids since two fell into each age range (well, the 2 year old is a bit young according to the product but he loves it so what the heck). Unfortunately, the replacement brush heads are a bit costly at approximately $20 for a pair with the standard 3 month suggested replacement. Right now, there is a rebate for $5 so stock up on a couple if you think the base will last, if not, guess no reason to purchase the replacement heads.

The charging base is the standard bland hygenic white plastic but the brush handles are red and do come with three sets of faceplates. As others mentioned, would have been nice if one of the covers was pink, red or a more frilly color for my daughters but they don't seem to mind the blue. Unfortunately, that left my son's with black since we are trying to keep the two sets and four heads separate so they don't end up using one another toothbrushes. The Philip's soft traveling case has a lot to be desired, it allows the toothbrush to turn on in the luggage because it is a soft case unlike our Oral B hard travel cases. BTW, the Oral B stand provides a covered storage space for four brush heads which is also very useful.

At first glance, the product seems to be pretty sturdy, unfortunately, as another owner experienced, this product was designed for use by more than one child. My wife or I will replace the brush heads, yet, at this point, we have one that is non functional because the link that couples the gears to the brush head seems to have become disconnected. So the $90+tax toothbrush becomes a bathroom decoration until we decide if its worth the hassle to RMA it back to Philips if the next one is going to go out on us within a year. Until then, guess it is a fairly nice decorative piece in the kid's bathroom (sarcasm)and back to disposable spin brushes. By comparison, our Oral B is now four + years old and we have had no issues with its transmission, motor or battery life. The two year warranty is great but if the product continually requires warranty work (i.e., Dodge vehicles) then the time it is out of service diminishes the value of the product.

So while the product worked, it was worth the cost; however, if they break within a year then their workmanship or design is suspect. This leads me to believe it is overpriced about $50 too high at the current cost. It should cost about the same as two disposable electric toothbrushes not 9 spin brushes at the current cost of the Sonicare. So in end, this may be a really good brush if you buy one for each child. If you plan on switching out the heads for multiple children, I would considered another more robust toothbrush (maybe an Oral B product which seems to be built to a more robust standard).

Just in case someone is wondering, I am not an employee of Oral B nor its subsidiaries nor do I own stocks in the company. Just a person who has used both products and find the Oral B a bit more robust given it has lasted over eight times longer.

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!