My daughter is almost 5 1/2 and has discovered her 1st loose tooth. My question is, What is the going rate for the tooth fairy these days? When I was little it was a quarter, but that was 21 yrs ago! I think a quarter is still okay, but I don't want her classmates who have lost teeth to tell her they got more and her be disappointed.
Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas! I think we are going to go with $1 per tooth in some form and maybe more for the bigger teeth. I love the letter idea and the fairy dust too!
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D.R.
answers from
Visalia
on
Hi M.
My kids always got a dollar. They were happy with that. Some of their friends got a little more, some a little less. It is just expensive when you get a couple of kids who lost teeth about the same time. It is just what you want to give them...there will always be kids who get more.
My kids asked me what the tooth fairy did with all the teeth she collected around the world at night. I told them that is where the new stars come from. The tooth bag got soooo heavy for the little fairy that she left them in the sky at night and when we saw a falling star that is when she dropped one. The kids liked that story.
Good luck
D.
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K.J.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I think it's okay to give her whatever you think is okay. I give my son $1 for each lost tooth. I think it's even more fun if I have a gold or silver dollar on hand. It's more tooth fairy like.
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D.V.
answers from
Las Vegas
on
My kids get $1 per tooth, provided it doesn't have a cavity or filling. We've explained that the tooth fairy recycles the teeth, and she won't take teeth that have holes in them to give to babies. My son got his first tooth right after my daughter lost her first tooth, and she was convinced that it was her tooth in his mouth! I love the fairy sticker and glitter idea, by the way! I will have to try that with the next one! Don't go nuts. The tooth fairy is supposed to be a simple joy of childhood, not an excuse to one-up the neighbors or go bankrupt.
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S.B.
answers from
San Diego
on
Hi M.-
Our tooth fairy gives golden dollars and a letter written on fairy paper with cool font. In this letter she explains that the first tooth is very special so it is worth the most, which in our case was $5.00. After that the teeth are worth $2.00. In this letter it is also written how shiny and white the tooth was, or if they just had a cleaning , kinda reinforces what the dr. said that needs to be worked on. One time my daughter wouldn't fall asleep and we actually fell asleep before her so the next night in the letter the TF explained that when she made her rounds she saw that she was still awake so she couldn't stop. From then on, that wasn't a problem!!! My daughter just lost her last tooth, she's almost 13 and we still keep up the tradition for my 9 year old. So I think she will also get $5.00 golden dollars because the last tooth is special as well.
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T.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Our tooth fairy didint give cash she gave school supplies and sticker books, and neat little tiny tiny notes she wrote, and a gift ticket to go buy a special sucker , one time the tooth fairy hide my daughters gifts and left little notes of clues where to find her surprizes at.. yrs have passed an no longer does the tooth fairy come by, we still have the little pillow the teeth would go into, and surprisingly enough one day my daughter was getting something out of my jewerly box and found all her teeth in a tiny glass bottle, I was showcked I did not know they were there, that tooth fairy must of gave them back to us. HUMM ( OMG ) talk about fast thinking on that one LOL Now here is the part where you need to get the kleenex out, about a yr ago I was cleaning my now 17 yr old daughters room I found a box I had not seen, so I snooped..
( yea I Know ) in the box were every single note she had ever gotten from her tooth fairy, she had saved them. I must admit the tooth fairy and I were so touched by this, knowing that the tooth fairy was so special to her.
They grow up so fast, only yesterday she lost her teeth today she working on graduating high school. :-)))
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S.H.
answers from
Honolulu
on
My daughter's classmates... one girl even got $20!!!!! Another got $5, and some got $1.
So it's up to you.
What we did with our daughter is we explained that each child has their own SPECIAL tooth fairy... and that yes, you receive a little money or a few coins...but it's not the amount that counts... and sometimes for ONLY the FIRST tooth, you might get more. But getting more money does not mean it's better...it's just what the Tooth Fairy had, and they work hard too for all the children so we have to appreciate ANY gift Tooth Fairy brings. We also explained that not all Tooth Fairies are the same... and that each one is unique.
THEN, we sprinkled some glitter "dust" on her pillow area... and left a "fairy" sticker on her arm....when she woke, she was SOOOOO happy and excited. It didn't matter that "we" only put 4 quarters for her.
When she went to school and told her friends...they all said THEY never got "fairy dust" or a "fairy sticker..." and my daughter said it's because she has her OWN special Tooth Fairy...and she must've been a good girl...
In any event... it worked for us.
Kids get too focused on "how much" and who has more... even at this young age. So we try to divert the attention away from it, and try our best to subdue the "competing" among some kids.
Good luck,
Susan
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J.W.
answers from
Reno
on
We give our children $1.00 in change. They love to count it out.
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T.N.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I give my son $1 coin per tooth and that seems to be wonderful to him. I have not heard him say he has heard different from classmates or friends. I did hear on the radio a year ago that the going rate was $20! I find that is crazy Kids have so much these days and that is just outrageous to me but to each his own.
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B.T.
answers from
Honolulu
on
A dollar in different forms.
Then tell her that the TF has made her part owner of the toy company that makes (whatever her favorite toy is). So that when all her "baby" teeth are gone her best gift will be a car if she wants to sell her part of the company.
Then go buy her stocks in the toy company.
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J.C.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hey M.!
When I was a kid it was a silver dollar with the year I was born! Now that I think of that it is way cool! I actually still have them I am 34 now. The toothfairy is a novelty, I would not match what others are doing. Our toothfairy gives silverdollars. I think when people are giving a fair amount of money for something so magical the fairytail aroung the whole concept is lost.
Good luck!
Mom of 3
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D.S.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi M.. I think a safe rate would be a dollar. It's been the going rate for my sons and their friends. I hope this helps!
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S.M.
answers from
San Diego
on
The Tooth Fairy gave my 5 year old grandson $1.00 when he lost his first tooth this year. I personally think more than that would be too much. But I guess the going rate is much higher than the quarter my children received when they were young.
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R.E.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi M.! When my son's first tooth was loose we just asked him what he thought the toothfairy was going to bring him. His answer was 6 quarters. We thought that seemed fair so that is what he has been getting, except on the rare occasion the toothfairy leaves a little extra for him being such a good boy.
R.
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N.J.
answers from
Las Vegas
on
I have an eight year old granddaughter, and she got one dollar (sometimes two, if it was a difficult tooth), from the tooth fairy. Good luck. Gramma Nonie
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J.F.
answers from
San Diego
on
I am a second grade teacher and I am amazed at how much money the tooth fairy gives. She regularly gives $5 nowadays! That is crazy. Although recently she delivered one gold dollar coin to one of my students which I thought was great! Have fun!
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C.C.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
My 5 1/2 year-old son just lost his first tooth. The tooth fairy gave him a 50 cent piece. He doesn't really understand the "value" of money yet, and the huge coin really impressed him. (To a young kid, "big" money means "expensive" money.) The tooth fairy found that she could get 50 cent pieces at the bank, just in case you were wondering. (:
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M.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
My son usually gets a dollar and a new book.
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L.F.
answers from
San Diego
on
I gave gold $1 coins. Just make sure you have a secure hiding place for those lost teeth. I kept some of my children's lost teeth in an empty film canister in my desk. One day my little girl found the canister with several teeth in it and put it under her pillow. I didn't find out about it until she came out the next morning wondering why the tooth fairy didn't leave her any money. Trying to think of something fast, I told her because they weren't her teeth. Then she asked, "well whose teeth are they?"
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D.L.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Our tooth fairy brought small ceramic animals. More expensive (I'm sure) but my son kept them for a long time...long after the quarters were gone....
Just an idea....
Thanks for believing in fairies!
Deb
P.S. Does anyone know why the toothfairy traditionally brings money?
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J.D.
answers from
Reno
on
We give our son four quarters for his teeth. He gets very excited when he wakes up and finds them! :)
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A.T.
answers from
San Diego
on
I give my daughter $2 a tooth. One day she came home and told me that another girl in her class got $5 for a tooth and she wondered why the toothfairy gave her more. She came up with the reason all by herself...she thought that maybe the toothfairy always gives $2, but that the parent went in and stuffed the extra $3 in there. I told her she was right!
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D.R.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I gave my daughter 100 pennies because they were learning about money in kindergarten and also counting to 100. For the next tooth I gave her 10 dimes (because I could not find 100 pennies). She really does not know the value of money still (at 6 years old), and the thing she loved the most was the note we left with it from the tooth fairy. She brought that part of the surprise to school and forgot about the money (and the friends did not compare what they got (I think because they really do not understand money yet). (I also happen to have glitter powder so I put that in the note and she loved that.
Good luck
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C.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi M., the going rate in my house is $1 and/or a small gift. My son likes money and my daughter would rather have a small gift. My daughter found my stash of their baby teeth and wanted to know who they belonged to. I told her they were mine which was all I could think of. She advised me to put them under my pillow and I could make a lot of money. I wish! lol
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J.S.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
My 2 each got $5 for the first tooth then $1 for the rest.
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M.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I think that it's not about money. It's about the magic of the tooth fairy. Do not ruin it by making it about money. I read some really great ideas here about making it a silver dollar or 4 quarters then next time make it dimes and so on, something for her to count and get excited about. Honestly what is a 6 year old going to do with $20 dollars, that's ridiculous. Don't forget how exciting it was when the tooth fairy came and surprised you with a quarter. That's what it's all about, the magic that the tooth fairy came while you were sleeping.
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K.D.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Our tooth fairy gives little gifts. I have a stash of them that I inherited from a friends move, but sometimes I will pick up cute things from the dollar store or an inexpensive book. Encourages both my kids to read!
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K.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I think the "going rate" for the tooth fairy is $1.00 per tooth.
K.
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C.H.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi, 2 yrs ago when my daughter was in kindergarten, the
other kids received around $5. per tooth! Wow, I was surprised! However, the toothfairy here usually delivers
about $4.oo.
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S.V.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I won't suggest an amount, as clearly it's all over the map! I will tell you how we handled the fact that different kids get different amounts. First, it makes it easy that my daughter (now 8) believes 100% in fairies of all sorts. So when the question came up about the amount the tooth fairy had left (for her first tooth my daughter got $2, and then found out her friend had received $5), I thought fast and told her that there is really more than one tooth fairy. They cover different regions and neighborhoods, because seriously, how could one little fairy collect ALL those teeth in one night?! Different fairies carry different amounts of money on them. That explanation also came in handy over the years since because sometimes we don't anticipate a tooth and don't have proper change. So my daughter has received everywhere from 50 cents to $5, depending on what's available! Also, the fairy left a note once, which to this day is kept safely in my daughter's treasure box as proof that fairies do exist. Have fun with it!
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P.S.
answers from
Las Vegas
on
When our daughter lost her first tooth, we went to Babies R Us and bought a special tooth pillow. We gave her 2 gold dollares for her first tooth and a special note from the Tooth Fairy telling her to keep up the good work brushing because, her tooth looked great! She has lost 5 other teeth since then and we gave her .50 for the others, the last one, she asked if the Tooth Fairy could leave her a pack of gum. We left her a pack of sugerless gun and she was so excited to receive it.
I'm sure whatever you decide to leave her, she will be thrilled.
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L.A.
answers from
San Diego
on
It used to be the standard quarter, but those days are long gone. Some parents go completely nuts these days. When my older kids were small (now 23 and 21) they got a dollar coin per tooth, but the kids next door got $20 per tooth!!!! I could not believe it! I chalked it up to them having divorced parents and a mom who worked full time. She overcompensated in many areas and I think that is quite common these days. Thankfully, my youngest, who just turned 9, has never been interested in the tooth fairy thing. Makes it much easier in this day and age. Other kids WILL get more, and your daughter may hear about it. It is the chance we take when we choose to continue these fun traditions. In the same way that Santa might bring friends far more gifts, or more expensive gifts, the tooth fairy might be a bigger pay-off for other kids, too. Try to make it special in other ways. A sheet of fairy stickers or star stickers, or maybe some glitter on her bedside table - fairy dust left by the tooth fairy. Just remember you are setting the standard for your younger kids. Make sure whatever you do is something you can keep up with.
What I found is that my kids never cared too much. Their mom stayed at home, and they knew that was something far more special than extra money under the pillow or more gifts on Christmas morning. They had a stay at home mom, and that was very, very special. :0)
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T.D.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
When my daughter lost her first tooth, she got a note from the Tooth Fairy explaining that the first tooth was special because it was the start of growing into a big kid, and so she would get a special surprise for such an important tooth. She got $5 for the first one and $1 for each tooth after that.
I also got 25 cents per tooth when I was little, but I figure with inflation we should up it a bit so she can actually do something with her surprise money!
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M.L.
answers from
Reno
on
Good morning. My 4 1/2 year old just lost her first tooth and a second one is loose now too. I thought it was supposed to happen later. Anyway, it was a quarter when I was little too, but my husband and I just went to a dollar. I figure $1 is pretty good. And, she can still get a pack of gum or something at the store if she wants.
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S.T.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
The going rate in our area and something I'm following with my children is $5 for the first tooth and $1 for each tooth thereafter. I gave my son a silver dollar for his second tooth, but then he complained because he didn't want to spend it. I decided to give him a simple paper dollar for his third tooth and he was much happier. And, pleasantly, he hasn't spent it yet. We have many teeth to go. We'll see where it leads, but we're sticking with $1 at this point.
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K.G.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
My almost 8 year old has lost his 4 front teeth this year.. Late tooth looser, but in any case, the tooth fairy (US) gave him a golden dollar.
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C.B.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hello M.,
For the first tooth we did a $2 bill or 2 gold dolars. Then it is $1.00. =) We seem to be the cheapest among her friends. LOL. Oh well!
C..
P.S. I still have my $2 bill from the first tooth I lost. The "Tooth Fairy" wrote "Tooth Fairy" on the bill and drew a happy face. I couldn't bear to part with it. Its been 30 years now!
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H.P.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi M.,
We give our kids the gold dollar coins. that way we aren't going broke, and they think that they are special dollars from the tooth fairy.
hope this helps...H.
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S.V.
answers from
San Diego
on
I am 30 and when I was little always got $1, which seemed great! I'm not sure about these days, but it seems like $1 is still OK
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L.R.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I don't know about the going rate, but we wanted the tooth fairy to bring something special. Our tooth fairy brings special money: a silver dollar or a 2 dollar bill - something they don't normally see. Good luck!
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H.S.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I always replaced the tooth with a bunch of pennies, nickles and dimes which they put in their piggybank. The specific amount is not important, it is that the fairy remembers to come and take the tooth to help her build her beautiful ivory palace:)
H.
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B.R.
answers from
San Diego
on
Mine was always a dollar, and that was 23 years ago. I think it is whatever you would like and are comfortable with.
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C.G.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi, I know this was from Sat., but I'm just now catching up on email. We have the same problem with our 5 yr old daughter, soon to be 6 in Nov. We have decided that since she loves to read, she is going to get a new book. I used to get a quarter also, but some of the kids in her class have already said that they've gotten one dollar all the way up to $5.00 for the first tooth. That way, the book can be enjoyed by all,...eventually. Just a thought. Enjoy the toothless smiles.
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J.L.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Our tooth fairy gives $1. (I like the dollar coin idea, maybe next time she'll bring one of those!) However for the first tooth she brought $1 plus a little gift with a note saying that the gift was a special present for the first tooth. (so my son wouldn't be disappoionted next time there was no gift)We like to decorate an envelope to leave the tooth in. (which, unbeknownst to my son, I am saving for him until he's grown!)Then when she leaves the dollar she writes a note saying thank you for the special tooth! Once I forgot and had to give him $2 the next night with an apology note from the fairy that she was on vacation! Have fun!
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J.E.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
My 6 year old just got 2 teeth pulled out. We were planning on giving $1 per tooth, but then he said his classmates got $5. So we decided to go with $5 per tooth so he woulnd't wonder why he got less. Plus getting his first 2 teeth pulled by the dentist was a difficult experience so he deserved to get $5.
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M.C.
answers from
Honolulu
on
I gave $5 which seemed like a bit much, but that is what her cousins got. Some of my daughter's friends got presents from the tooth fairy, which was interesting to her. Find out what your stepson got, because they will probably discuss it.
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J.L.
answers from
San Diego
on
Hi M., If you feel a quarter is good then give her a quarter, as far as the other kids and what they get,really doen't matter, cause you really don't want her growing up, thinking that she has to keep up with the Jone's. I think for this day and time one dollar is good, If I remember correctly back in the day, and I'm 51 it was a qurter per tooth and back then kids like coins, becasue putting them together they made a nice sound, kids are smarter know and know paper money is better it's what your budget allows. J. L.
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L.T.
answers from
San Diego
on
Ha!ha! times have really changed!! the toothfairy at our house leaves 5 "golden" coins, the $1 coins you can get from the bank. Some other households I know go crazy and leave a $20 bill!Have fun!!!
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K.E.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
At our house, thr very first tooth gets 2 to three dollars depending on the "tooth Fairy's " finances. After that it is usually anywhere from fifty cents to one dollar. I told my daughter that everyone has a different tooth fairy and that it depends on her and how manhy kids she sees that night. She is 10 years old and still believes in the tooth fairy. So far that answer has served well. Good luck
K. E
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V.B.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi :) At my house the "going rate" is $1.00. HOWEVER, when TF stops at my house she brings $1.00 in different forms for each tooth. For example: The first tooth my daughter lost she got a dollar bill. The second she got 4 quarters. The Tooth Fairy on my route is cool because she is also teaching my kids about the different forms of money :)
I am actually surprised that my kids haven't caught on yet. When they lose a tooth at my house they get a dollar but when they lost one at their dads house they get a dollar and a quarter (always trying to one up me).I just explained that the tooth fairy that goes to their dads house has a little more to work with. ...then again they might know and they are just not saying anything so as to not hurt my feelings.....
Really though, whatever you are comfortable with and can afford to give her now and keep up with later. Everyone does things differently. This is the fun part :)
~V
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D.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
The first is special, like a necklace. The rest are a dollar unless they have to get it pulled or loose two at once. You can do both dollars and necklaces or special things like that.
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H.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
For my kids, the tooth fairy used to leave $1.00 per tooth, except for the molars, which brought in $2.00. Every now and then, one of them would report to me that their friend had received $20.00 from their tooth fairy. To that I would say "She must have made a mistake. It was so dark in their room that she must not have been able to read what amount was on the money." When my son was 16, and had to have his 4 wisdom teeth surgically removed, the tooth fairy dropped off a Guitar Hero game and guitar controller, to reward him for his cooperation and courage throughout the ordeal and to help keep his mind off of the pain from the procedure.
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M.G.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
The tooth Fairy at our house gets quite creative. Every lost tooth gets a different type of treasure!!
she has left:
a gold dollar coin
50 cent piece
1 dollar in coins
dimes taped to a piece of paper in the shape of a happy face... Tooth fairy was happy with a "white" tooth, due to good brushing!
Chuck E. Cheese coins....
Be creative and don't go over a dollar, because you will be asking for it!
Have fun,
M.
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N.S.
answers from
San Diego
on
Hi M.,
The toothfairy brings my daughter a dollar.....I think it is a good amount, because I can teach her about the value of money. She can certainly buy something with her dollar (and there really isn't anything you can buy for a quarter)......or, she can set a goal to save for something she wants that is more, but she eventually gets there by saving her dollars.
I don't think a quarter is enough to eventually have enough to buy what they want.
Best wishes
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N.G.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Although my son is 18 now, we always put a $2 bill under his pillow! Actually we used the same one many times. It was unique and he loved it. I would NOT "keep up wuth the Jones" but do what you believe is correct. Your daughter will be all the better for it. But, make it paper money...coins have been out for years!
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K.F.
answers from
San Diego
on
I agree with a dollar and if you want to be more creative... make it a coin dollar.
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J.M.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi M.:
How exciting.....Her first tooth...You know, like (GOLD) the value of a tooth has gone up considerably in the last 20, 30 years. Even fairies have their expenses. They don't have to be concerned about GAS,unless they feasted on (rice and beans) the night prior...lol but there are still charges for using (Air Space) I would think,her first tooth,would at least be worth a dollar in this day and age.I think,the most memorable part for me,was the note I recieved from the fairy,thanking me,for such a (LOVELY TOOTH) I wish you and your soon to be toofless darlin daughter the best.
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M.A.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I love the idea of the golden dollar coin! That's what were going to use when our children begin loosing their teeth.
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C.A.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I also think a quarter is okay. But, I usually give my kids something else, like a match box car. Or a funky coin, like a 50 cent pc. my kids are pretty unaware when it comes to money, so it's a waste to give it to them.
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M.E.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I give my kids $2.00 bills. You can usually get them at the bank. They sometimes have stacks to get rid of. I usually trade $20-$40 dollars or so for 10-20 of them. The kids love it because they never see them other than when they get them from the tooth fairy. When I was a kid, I got $1.25 from the tooth fairy. I know of a lot of parents who do the same thing as me. If I run out of $2.00 bills, I give them dollar coins. You can get the gold ones from the post office as change from the machines.
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R.M.
answers from
San Diego
on
Hi there,
I remember when it used to be a quarter as well. I know that all my son's classmates were getting about $2.00 a tooth so that is what we have left him for the last 5 teeth. Good luck!
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A.H.
answers from
San Diego
on
I give my kids a quarter for their teeth and they're fine with it. A quarter should be fine.
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C.F.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
I use the "gold" dollars. They're something you don't see much in circulation so kids think they're extra special. I've used $2 bills on my older one.