What’s the going rate for a tooth these days from the tooth fairy? Asking for a friend — let’s call her T.F. — who has a habit of collecting baby teeth, sprinkling sparkles, and leaving shiny coins (or sometimes non-sequential dollar bills) under children’s pillows.
This article isn’t here to tell you whether or not you should embrace mythical creatures for a few years in your child’s life. But if you do, let’s chat!
One of my favorite things about being a mom is getting to step into a few different magical characters throughout the year. Back in high school, I was my parents’ secret understudy on Christmas Eves and Easter mornings — filling stockings, hiding eggs, and basically spreading a bit of extra cheer. The joy on my mom’s face when she received anything in her stocking was incredible. The magic of the season was in the simple act of giving — no strings attached.
Now my daughter, a first grader, has started losing teeth (she’s a late bloomer just like me). Two fell out naturally, and two were extracted by our pediatric dentist to help with overcrowding, giving her adult teeth more space. Braces will likely be in our future, but that’s not a shock given my own tooth journey.
As soon as her first tooth began to wiggle, I stocked up on gold one-dollar coins at our local bank, setting the Tooth Fairy rate at $1 per tooth. It might not keep up with inflation, but these coins feel extra special — like something only a fairy would carry.
Growing up, I remember receiving silver half-dollars, $2 bills, and sometimes even a $5 if it happened to be the only thing in my parents’ wallet. For parents looking to start their own Tooth Fairy tradition, I recommend finding a bank that carries “fancy” currency, like gold $1 coins or $2 bills. It’s not always easy to come by, so plan ahead — just not at my bank, because I need to hoard them for my youngest!
Pro-tip: Keep a secret stash of these coins in your luggage for trips or visits to relatives. You never know when a tooth might make its exit on vacation!
As for rates, I have a friend who hadn’t discussed a formal Tooth Fairy policy with his wife; he ended up leaving $5 for one tooth on the very first try! That definitely set a high bar. We all had a good laugh, but I was glad I had my lower bar established early.
With my daughter’s recent extraction, I admit I went a bit overboard: $2 plus a gold coin
for each tooth — and glitter sparkles too. She was more excited about the sparkles than the money, which made it extra fun.
Childhood stories, myths, and imagination can be fleeting. If indulging in them brings you joy, why not go for it? There’s no hard-and-fast rule for how Santa, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, or the Tooth Fairy should behave at your house. Pull from your own favorite childhood memories, combine them with your partner’s, and create new traditions your kids might someday pass on when it’s their turn to play the magical roles. Enjoy the sparkles, fancy coins, and all the magic in between!
