How to Prepare for a Visit From the Tooth Fairy
Around the age of 6, your child will start to lose those precious baby teeth you anxiously anticipated during her first few months of life. She'll shed these baby teeth to make room for her permanent adult teeth, according to HealthyChildren.org. At this time, you'll need to start preparing for the arrival of the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy, an old fable that has been passed down from generation to generation, is a fun way to share some magic and celebrate this exciting time in your child's life.
Instructions
Talk with your child about how completely normal it is to lose her baby teeth, preparing her before it happens. From the time she gets her first wiggly tooth, start filling her in on why this happens. Tell her that she'll lose each of her baby teeth as she grows, to make room in her mouth for her big girl teeth. Answer any questions she might have and try to make it fun, so as not to scare her. Decide what you and your partner want to tell your child about the tooth fairy. In some cases a mom and dad keep the tradition of the tooth fairy alive in their family by passing down the stories that they were told as children. You can share your family's story with your child or create your own story about who the tooth fairy is and what she does. Choose what the tooth fairy will replace your child's tooth with, whether it's money or a trinket of some sort. When you were a child, you may have gotten a quarter under your pillow from the tooth fairy, but the price for a tooth has jumped over the years. As of 2013, children are given an average of $3.70 for each tooth they place under their pillows, according to a survey noted by The Associated Press. Since 2011, the price has shot up an average of 42 percent. Ultimately, what the tooth fairy leaves your child is up to you. Some families may give $1 per tooth, while others opt for up to $20 for each tooth. Alternatively, you could forgo the money and leave your child a small trinket, along with a cool new toothbrush and some toothpaste. Prepare for that first lost tooth. Think of creative tooth fairy ideas. For example, when the big night arrives, you could sprinkle some glitter around your child's pillow to leave evidence of the tooth fairy's visit. You can write your child a letter from the tooth fairy, thanking your child for her tooth and reminding her to take really good care of all of her other teeth by brushing and flossing each day. Purchase or make your child a tooth pillow that has a tooth pouch attached to hold a lost tooth until the tooth fairy arrives. You could also make a tooth pouch with your child, so that she can place her tooth safely inside and under her pillow at night. Don't be too hard on yourself if the tooth fairy forgets to visit your child. It happens to even the best tooth fairies. You can just explain to your child that the tooth fairy is a very busy lady and that sometimes it takes her two nights to pick up a tooth. When the tooth fairy does come the second night, you can make it extra special by leaving an additional treat or more money under your child's pillow.
