Tooth Fairy...

My daughter gets a quarter for every year old she is. she is 6 so, she got 6 quarters.

Good luck!

We like to leave $1 coins, or half dollar coins or $2 bills. Just something that you don't see everyday.

Hi K.,
My daughter has not lost teeth yet but plenty of my friends kids have and they usually get a dollar or 2 adn some get coins and a prize and I heard of another getting a grab bag type thing. Tons of ideas out there. Have fun.

When my oldest lost her first tooth we had her call her grandma's and grandpa's... my husbands *wonderful* father told her that the tooth fairy gives $10 for the first tooth... so we got stuck with that... but for every tooth since she only gets $1... check out the tooth fairy web site, there are great ideas on letters for your little one from the tooth fairy... http://www.toothfairyland.com/

My son is excited he cant wait till he is old enough to loose his teeth. He sees on tv and with family about getting money for them. I plan on giving him a dollar for each tooth. Probly $5 for the first one just cause it is so special.

K., my son is too young, but my sister gives her kids $5 and if you can afford that, I think this amount is appropriate.

Hi! My kids get a $2 bill from the Tooth Fairy. They are unusual and special and they have saved every one! I just get them at the bank so I always have a stash on hand. The Tooth Fairy also leaves a note with the first lost tooth. My boys are 12 and 10 and still play along and I am looking forward to continuing the tradition with our two year old daughter. Have fun with this!

I see you've gotten a ton of responses, just wanted to add what we do in our family. My husband went to the bank and got a bunch of $2 bills for tooth fairy visits. It makes my kids feel really special because no one ever gets $2 bills and it's not much money compared to what some of their friends get. We did give them $5 for losing their two front teeth but only because we were out of $2 bills :)

Out Tooth Fairy gives $5.00 per tooth with the stipulation that it goes into the bank. She has also had to prove her existence with notes and fairy dust as my kids have gotten older and wiser. And even had to hunt down hidden teeth a time or two. It's always fun.

My daughter was so traumatized by her first teeth coming out, she was almost hysterical. It was really hard to deal with, they're supposed to be excited. Every time anybody would say her teeth were going to fall out she would start clouding up and sometimes just burst into tears and run away. She was not a wiggler and finally ended up with shark teeth (new teeth growing in behind) - then I was traumatized. :) - not really. Anyway we went to our pediatric dentist who told us to wait longer which I wasn't happy with because they were actually getting less loose and the adult teeth were really coming in crooked so we had to go to another dentist (our old pediatric dentist) where they finally "wiggled them out for her". BTW the roots were not disolving and the adult teeth were actually pushing on them and causing the baby teeth to stay in, the first dentist was wrong and they needed to be removed with help. It took her about a week to decide that it would be okay for the tooth fairy to take her teeth. When the tooth fairy finally showed up she did get $20 but that was for her first two teeth and a lot of trauma. She was pretty happy and bought herself a new toy at Target. She got lucky that these teeth came out about 6 months after her birthday and christmas which are the same week and we don't buy a lot of little toys in between, we felt the $20 was reasonable based on her experience.

The dentist said that the tooth fairy amount varies by zip code so they'll back you up whatever amount you give. I think we gave her about $5/tooth after the first ones but hers typically come out in pairs so she was never dissapointed in the amount of $ under her pillow. Our dentist in Scottsdale said she'd heard of kids getting $100 for a tooth. Why not just buy them a new car or a house? What's a 6 year old going to do with $100?

We leave $2.00 bills under our children's pillows. You can get them at the bank. I told my son that I had not seen a $2.00 bill since I was a kid and that the tooth fairy must have all of them. I have let my kids spend some of the money so they know it's real money, but they have kept most of their bills because they think they are special.

D.

My daughter just lost her first two teeth as well so we just went through this. I asked one of my friends and they said $5 but after I gave my daughter the $5 some of my other friends said that was too much. We gave her $4 for her second tooth. My sister had a good idea of giving a silver dollar or some other special coin. My sister in law also has a good idea of putting glitter around where the tooth fairy leaves the surprise, the kids really like that. I like the idea of the $2 bills that someone else posted. We also let my daughter spend her tooth fairy money at the dollar store and she was very excited to do that. Whatever you do, no matter how much money, I am sure your son will just be excited that the tooth fairy came and left him something.

My daughter's tooth started loosening up a bit so I started searching for the perfect Tooth Fairy pillow. A friend of mine told me about these really great pillows called Pilloroos. The pockets are totally hidden inside the pillow. I hide a little note and a small gift and my daughter loves it! You can get them online at http://www.ultimatetoothfairy.com.

We give $5.00 or we get a gift and leave that. MY daugther does not like the tooth fairy coming at night when she sleeps- hee hee So the tooth fairy will leave a gift under her pillow when she is at school. Right now my daughter is saving her teeth for one big tooth fairy visit so the tooth fairy will probably do about $10 and a gift wrapped as well.
I think it is based on what you feel is fun and dont feel obligated to do what others do. I have friends that have found alot of money from the tooth fairy- I think it is too much so that is why we did out own thing. My daughter loves the money so she can save and buy her own things but I think the tooth fairy knows that she would also loves a little present too. It depends on your child and what you know they would be excited about. It could even be 2 dollars in quarters- that seems like alot to a little one:)
Best of luck and enjoy.
D.

Hi K.,

My kids get $2 a tooth or $5 if two teeth have been lost at the same time - which surprisingly has happened to both of my kiddos!

Have fun with it!
E.

We give one gold dollar coin. I think $20 is ridiculous.

My girls are too young to loose teeth so we are not there yet but I like the $2 bill idea. That would be special because when else are you going to get a $2 bill. It would be cheap too. You could give them a $2 bill for every tooth.

The only other idea I have is something I think I will do with their first tooth. I am going to get a tooth box (you can find them online) and write a note from the tooth fairy and leave it in the box (with a $2 bill of course!) That way they have somewhere to put the other teeth they loose.

Remember it doesn't matter to you son how much he gets for his tooht, it's the memory he'll hold on to.

Have fun!

Hi K.,

Well, in our house she is called the "Tooth Angel". When my daughter started to lose her teeth which started kinda early (I want to say early 5 maybe-I just know that it was early because she was one of those who had almost a full set of teeth before one)because the earlier they start to get teeth the quicker they start to lose them.

Anyway, things have always been extremely tight for us since I stayed home with my kids. I have always given whatever spare change I had. I think I started out with .25 or .50. Two coins to a 4 or 5 yr. old was thrilling. They are just excited to get something. Most of the times we have had one of those "Tooth Fairy Pillows" that you can hang on the door (I got from Avon) which made it easier to put all kinds of change. Sometimes I have given a Dollar Bill and one time I think I gave a $5 (only because I did not have anything lower).

I just think it is important to give something. I didn't want to allow them to start to expect a certain amount. Just to be Thankful & Grateful for whatever the "Tooth Angel" would give. I never wanted to get stuck in a rut where they would get use to a certain amount and I did not have it to give. Cash flow comes once a month around here and I wanted to make sure they could always expect something.

Hope this prospective helps. Enjoy this time!

A.

You have gotten a lot of advice! I didn't read most of them, but will give my input. We gave my son less than a dollar per tooth. He was happy with what he got. We would give him around 50 to 75 cents, but using a lot of coins made it look like a lot. When he started losing molars, we gave him $1 each. We said that the tooth fairy thinks they are worth more. He liked that. He is 9 now and has figured the tooth fairy out, but we will do this with our 4 year old when he starts losing his teeth. I think it is too bad that parents give their kids too much money like $20! That's ridiculous, plus makes other kids feel like they did something wrong to not get that much from the tooth fairy when they find out that's what their friends received. Just do what feels right for you! Just enjoy their imagination while it lasts!

We only gave our kids a dollar per tooth. They also asked if they could write the tooth fairy a letter. So now our kids, (10, 8, and 6) get a dollar and a response to the letter they wrote. The 10 year old know the truth about the fairy but she still loves to write and get letters :)

Hi K., My 9 yo daughter and 6 yo son still believe in the tooth fairy. We, I mean, the tooth fairy...gives $5 for the first tooth lost and $1 for each after that. We didn't mean for it to be $5 but happened to only have that when it happened so we've stuck with it. And if you really prepare early, I new tooth brush and tooth paste are a fun surprise too!

My 6 YO daughter just lost her first 2 bottom teeth in the last few months and she got $1 for each tooth. She also gets the option of going to the dollar store afterwards and picking out something, which she LOVES going to the dollar stores!

Our tooth fairy brings $1.00 per tooth. I don't remember if more has been given because she didn't have change, but she'll give four quarters or change if she doesn't have $1.00. Maybe grandma and grandpa give more for the tooth, but it's not from the tooth fairy.

I only got 25 cents when I was a kid. My husband thinks the tooth fairy should be more generous, but I think $1.00 is just fine.

I suppose if your tooth fairy has the okay from you to give $5.00 for the FIRST tooth and then $1.00 for the others, that could be okay too, but I think $20 is astronomical and my tooth fairy would have to rob a bank in order to pay that out to all of the kids because she doesn't have enough fairy dust to make that much money! :)

All I can share is what the Tooth Fairy does at our house. :) She leaves silver dollars, sometimes Sacajawea dollars -- one for each tooth. Recently, a first molar got my 8 year old a $5. That may or may not happen again. Have fun!

We gave my daughters $5 for the very first tooth, and then a dollar per tooth after that. Because th first one is so special, is why we do that. Good luck

K.,
We did $5. for the first tooth and then $1. for each additional tooth, except for his silver crown which he got $5. for (mainly because the tooth fairy didn't have change!) I think whatever you can afford is good, it is just the excitement of the situation that is important.

My kids love when the tooth fairy comes. I gave them $1 for their first tooth $2 for 2nd, $3 for 3rd, $4 for 4th and $5 for every tooth after. They were more then happy with what they got! I have a beautiful daughter that is going to be 16 and wonderful twins (a boy and girl) that are going to be 9 this year and they still love the idea of the tooth fairy.
S. T

Hi K.,

We enjoy doing the Tooth Fairy thing. We are also on a tight budget, so, instead of leaving money, the Tooth Fairy leaves small gifts--such as toys...Whenever I see a sale that includes small toys or trinkets, etc. I stock up on them and keep them in my top drawer--out of the kids' reach... That way, whenever they loose a tooth, I am prepared with a gift from the Tooth Fairy. Our children have received things such as silly putty, mini hot wheels, bath beads, stretchy lizard, light pen, glow stick, mine Shrek cards, etc...You get the idea.
It's not about money--don't feel like you have to "keep up with the Jones's", because you do not. If your children complain that their friends get money and ask why they don't, then you can make up some sort of story about each family having different Tooth Fairies and that each fairy leaves something different...

Have fun with this tradition... :-)

--L.

a little bit about me: My husband and I have been married for 13 years and have 5 wonderfully active children, ranging from age 12 down to age 4. I've learned a lot over the years and am willing to share some of my wisdom to whomever is willing to listen.

That reminds me, the tooth fairy needs to visit tonight!! :-) I honestly can't remember how much his previous teeth were but probably change (up to or about a dollar each). He did have a couple big teeth removed by the dentist and I think it was a bit more for the pair. But... really... whether it's 4 nickels or one quarter, they are just as thrilled (or even more so) with FOUR nickels as opposed to just one quarter!
I like the idea of the gold dollars and I think we did that also. I just dont have any on hand for tonight. So a handful of change it is... :-) The more there is to go in his hand, the funner it is for him, even if the amount is "only" 58 cents as opposed to a dollar bill.

A dollar to two is good. More than that is ridiculous. Make them do some chores for $5 or more!

My son is still 6 and is quite gap-toothed. The tooth that fell out today was a canine tooth that isn't supposed to come out till around 9yo :(

haha! I was only getting quarters!! I only give my kids 1.00 per tooth 20.00 bucks is very unrealistic for anyone on any budget! I dont agree that even for the first tooth. But if other family members want to give additional $$ for the tooth I say ok to that but also letting the child know that this is special from uncle bob for loosing your first tooth!

A.

I like the idea of the $2 bill, but I also have a friend who gives her sons a gold or silver dollar (the kind you get as change from the postage machine at the post office.) It's a little less money for you to spend, and it's still something unique for them to collect. If you're on a budget, the suggestion about the tooth fairy carrying a "bag of change" is fun too, especially when they are old enough to be counting it themselves! You never know what you're going to get! Good luck!

My children get $1 for a regular tooth, $2 for molars and $5 if it was a big deal involving the dentist. :) My kids hear of kids getting $20, CD's, etc. They have to shrug it off because I'm certainly not doing that!

Hi K.,
What about those Sakagewea (sp?) dollars? they are gold-colored, and (my 4 yo son says) they look just like "treasure!" (LOL)

Wouldn't it seem more special to get one or two of those under his pillow?
T

Whatever you tell your child, it will be enough for him. My children got a quarter when everyone else was getting a dollar, but it was enough. The excitement is the thing... and being consistent.

Wow, I guess our tooth fairy is really cheap :) Our tooth fairy only gives $.50 per tooth. But, I also have 5 kids and she knew she was setting a precident with the first one. There are a lot of teeth in that little head....

Our tooth fairy carried a "Bag of Change." Whatever she took out of her bag was left for the tooth. That way it didn't always have to be the same. My kids loved counting the money. Just an idea that worked for us! Have fun!

We give gold dollars. One for each tooth lost, regardless of the type of tooth.

When my son lost his first tooth, the tooth fairy had given him $2.00.And evey tooth that came out we would just add a quarter more. He was always thrilled to receive something. And the exciting part was to see the happiness in his face as soon as he came out of his room. And he was always glad that he could buy something with his own money or either he would save in his piggy bank.
Best of luck. D..

awww congrats to your son! My 5 yr old recently lost his first two teeth within a week of each other too! We only gibe $1. I know many give much more and I was really surprised!

K.,
I have four kids from ages 22 to 6 and have always kept the same rule. All teeth are $5!
J.