My oldest wanted to keep his teeth so I don’t think we ever paid much. He’s 11 now and still loosing teeth but he’s in on it now so usually I just use it as an excuse to add some money to Apple Cash so he can get a snack after school. My middle asks the tooth fairy for Pokémon packs so that’s about $5.
1 bottle nail polish per tooth, at least so far. I'm open to other small items, lip balms, etc., and will likely have to come up with something different for my son in a few years.
I debated a lot what to do for this phase. The tooth fairy brought me and my brother a silver dollar for each baby tooth. So now as an adult I've got my full set of baby teeth's worth of silver dollars, which would cover one of my two kids. Do I get another set of silver dollars? Split them up? Do something else? And what's the point? So they can replicate this whole process with their kids? This is absurd! Adding to that, when my mom died I inherited her jewelry box, which contained the bonus features of ... my actual baby teeth and my brother's baby teeth. And so now I have all that plus a growing collection of my DD's teeth. No idea what to do with it all. I would just toss the teeth, I'm just having a hard time getting past throwing away a collection -- of anything -- that my mom lovingly curated for 35-some years, when she is not here anymore. It's all so very weird.
I could have just given my kids normal cash, and maybe I will on some future teeth. I had to pivot away from this endless accumulation of sentimental tooth fairy related stuff though.
Why wouldn't you just let them spend the silver dollars? There is no reason that they have to keep them forever and ever.
My kids don't have any, because I opted for the tooth fairy to bring something else instead. I have them, and I also have... mom baggage. Of so many kinds that this isn't highest priority to unpack.
We do $2 bills for lost teeth. A neighbor (I assume) also put a $10 bill and a card in the mailbox for DS when he lost his first tooth, which I wasn't expecting and was interesting to explain to the kids why a second toothfairy had arrived and why they gave him so much more than our toothfairy...
Adding to that, when my mom died I inherited her jewelry box, which contained the bonus features of ... my actual baby teeth and my brother's baby teeth.
When my in laws were preparing to move out of my husband’s childhood home they tried to give us h’s baby teeth as a keepsake! I didn’t realize they were being serious at first so I started laughing. So gross!!
I think it was in that moment that I became a minimalist.
Adding to that, when my mom died I inherited her jewelry box, which contained the bonus features of ... my actual baby teeth and my brother's baby teeth.
When my in laws were preparing to move out of my husband’s childhood home they tried to give us h’s baby teeth as a keepsake! I didn’t realize they were being serious at first so I started laughing. So gross!!
I think it was in that moment that I became a minimalist.
omg. 100% relatable.
My mom's been gone almost 7 years, and I've probably spent the last 5 actively sorting, purging, and giving away all of her belongings, collections, sentimental holdings, etc. She didn't do any of it in preparation for end of life, and my dad and brother have essentially chosen not to participate, although my dad will verbalize appreciation that I do it. The experience has been pretty life changing for me.
Post by cherry1111 on Jan 26, 2023 13:12:38 GMT -5
We do $2 a tooth and I felt cheap compared to people we know (my sibling does $1 for whatever number tooth it is. So your first tooth is $1, second is $2, etc.) so this poll makes me feel better. I did just recently go to the bank and get a stash of dollar bills because the last lost tooth resulted in me stealing money from one child for the tooth fairy to give the other. I did repay the first child once I got the cash.
This post is making me feel better! I feel like all DD1's friends get $5 per tooth every time.
We did $5 for the first tooth and $1 for each additional. But we also throw in candy or a new toothbrush or other gift with the money. And a letter from the tooth fairy.
We usually give a one dollar "gold" coin and the kids have been happy with that. Last year, the 10-year-old lost a tooth while we were vacationing with family at the Grand Canyon, and we didn't have any cash. We asked H's brother for a dollar bill and got thoroughly shamed for giving less than $5.
ETA: that's a great idea to give nail polish. I may do that for DD2's last 3 teeth.
I am not above admitting that I have raided the child's own piggy bank for tooth fairy money. In my defense, I pay it back at 100% interest, lol.
I have absolutely done this.
I did this last week for a lost tooth.
And today for our cleaning lady (DH got some $100 bills from something and put a couple in each kid’s piggy bank). It snowed a lot yesterday and this morning, so I didn’t want to drive to the bank.
I always pay back, but I do this pretty frequently, ha!
DS(now 10) lost his first tooth when we were with ILs for GMILs funeral. FIL holds it up and says "OH you better check under your pillow tomorrow morning, the tooth fairy will leave you 5 dollars!"
He was not joking. He legit thought that was the amount.
So...$5 ::grumble:: He doesn't believe anymore but we still leave the money.
My 5yo is eagerly awaiting losing her first tooth. And I never keep cash on hand. I was hoping I’d get away with clearing out some loose change but apparently inflation’s a bitch with everything. 😂
1 gold dollar coin. Once she got close to losing teeth, I went to the bank and got a roll. Highly recommend, I never have to worry about having small bills for the tooth fairy.
She spends the gold dollar coins. I throw her teeth in the trash.
this is such a smart idea! I will do this once my son gets close to losing his teeth.
once when I was a kid I swallowed my tooth and I freaked out about it and my grandparents who were visiting us shushed me because they wanted to hear what was on 60 minutes. I felt so sad that I lost my tooth and that my wonderful grandparents were mad at me about it (not the case, just how I perceived it as a 5 year old.) I remember sobbing to my mom who clearly told grandparents how I felt; that night bubbie and poppop toothfairy left a hundo under my pillow.
Also, related to the 2 dollar bill thing; every year for any hallmark occasion, my other grandmother sent all grandkids a $2 bill. Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. By the time HS came around I was rolling in 2 dollar bills and used them to buy gas or snacks at school, etc.
Post by mysteriouswife on Jan 26, 2023 14:41:11 GMT -5
DD got $2 bills from GMIL for missing teeth. As previously posted she no longer believed when she started losing teeth. We have those stashed if DS ever losses a tooth. I gave DD an electric toothbrush when she had her 10 teeth pulled. So I have a cheap $5 one put away for DS if that time comes. I suspect he will need surgery too
We've done $5 for the first and $1 for the others. And I have 100% robbed my kid's own piggy bank to get a dollar bill before since we rarely carry cash. I'm 90% sure I paid it back...
I was purging clothing in my room recently and found two baby teeth in ziploc bags in my underwear drawer. Haha. I was absolutely not intending to keep them, but threw them in there so I could throw away when my kids weren't around or as the bag was going to the outdoor bin. Apparently I forgot altogether a few times.
once when I was a kid I swallowed my tooth and I freaked out about it and my grandparents who were visiting us shushed me because they wanted to hear what was on 60 minutes. I felt so sad that I lost my tooth and that my wonderful grandparents were mad at me about it (not the case, just how I perceived it as a 5 year old.) I remember sobbing to my mom who clearly told grandparents how I felt; that night bubbie and poppop toothfairy left a hundo under my pillow.
Also, related to the 2 dollar bill thing; every year for any hallmark occasion, my other grandmother sent all grandkids a $2 bill. Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. By the time HS came around I was rolling in 2 dollar bills and used them to buy gas or snacks at school, etc.
A HUNDO?! Amazing.
lol at you spending your $2 bills. It took me a long time to believe they could be spent just like any other currency, and to this day, I've never spent one. Just feels weird!
once when I was a kid I swallowed my tooth and I freaked out about it and my grandparents who were visiting us shushed me because they wanted to hear what was on 60 minutes. I felt so sad that I lost my tooth and that my wonderful grandparents were mad at me about it (not the case, just how I perceived it as a 5 year old.) I remember sobbing to my mom who clearly told grandparents how I felt; that night bubbie and poppop toothfairy left a hundo under my pillow.
Also, related to the 2 dollar bill thing; every year for any hallmark occasion, my other grandmother sent all grandkids a $2 bill. Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween, etc. By the time HS came around I was rolling in 2 dollar bills and used them to buy gas or snacks at school, etc.
A HUNDO?! Amazing.
lol at you spending your $2 bills. It took me a long time to believe they could be spent just like any other currency, and to this day, I've never spent one. Just feels weird!
every time I spent them, the receiver was like "uhhhh, is this real?"