The Tooth Fairy Guide: Traditions, Gifts & Magical Ideas

The tiny wiggle of a loose tooth. The gap-toothed grin when they excitedly announce, “My tooth has come out!” And, of course, the anticipation of a visit from a very special guest – the Tooth Fairy.

Losing a first tooth is one of those little childhood milestones that can feel enormous when you're small. Whether the Tooth Fairy leaves a shiny coin, a tiny gift or simply a special note, it's a lovely opportunity to spark their imagination and create a memory you'll both treasure.

But how much should the Tooth Fairy leave? What does she do with all those teeth? And are there actually any Tooth Fairy rules? We've answered some of the questions parents – and little ones – often ask.

How much money should the Tooth Fairy give per tooth?

There isn't an official amount that the Tooth Fairy should leave. Every family does things a little differently.

Some Tooth Fairies leave a pound or two, some make the very first tooth a little more special, while others choose a tiny gift instead of money. There's no need for the Tooth Fairy to be extravagant – when you're little, much of the excitement comes from discovering that she's visited at all.

A shiny coin accompanied by a tiny note or special Tooth Fairy Certificate can make the occasion feel every bit as magical.

What is the Tooth Fairy rule?

The wonderful thing about the Tooth Fairy is that there really aren't any rules.

Traditionally, a child places their lost tooth beneath their pillow before going to sleep. During the night, the Tooth Fairy collects it and leaves a coin or little gift in its place.

But every family can create its own Tooth Fairy tradition. You might place the tooth in a special collection pouch so it's easier for tiny fairy hands to find, leave it beside the bed rather than underneath the pillow, or mark each lost tooth with a little certificate or note.

Whatever you choose, doing the same little ritual each time can become a lovely part of the magic.

What can I give as a present from the Tooth Fairy?

A Tooth Fairy gift doesn't need to be big. In fact, something tiny can make the tradition feel even more special.

A small wooden toy, little book, hair clip, pencil, sticker or other pocket-sized treasure can make a lovely alternative to money. You could also leave a handwritten note from the Tooth Fairy or a certificate to keep as a reminder of the occasion.

The most memorable part is often not the value of what's left behind, but the excitement of discovering that the Tooth Fairy really came.

What should the Tooth Fairy give for the first tooth?

The very first lost tooth is a particularly lovely milestone to mark. Some families leave a little more money for the first tooth, while others choose a keepsake or tiny present alongside the usual Tooth Fairy visit.

A certificate recording their name, the date and which tooth they lost creates something tangible to keep long after the gap in their smile has disappeared.

Our Tooth Fairy Kits were created for exactly these little rituals, with gold-foil certificates, mini Tooth Fairy notecards and special pouches for the Tooth Fairy's delivery and their precious lost tooth.

Does the Tooth Fairy leave a note?

She certainly can!

A little note is one of the simplest ways to make a Tooth Fairy visit feel wonderfully real. It doesn't need to say very much – a few words congratulating them on their lost tooth can become just as exciting as whatever has been left beneath the pillow.

You might mention how shiny their tooth was, congratulate them on being brave when it came out or simply tell them that the Tooth Fairy has safely collected it.

How can you make a Tooth Fairy visit extra special?

Children don't need an elaborate production to believe in a little magic. Often it's the smallest details they remember.

Place their tooth in a special pouch, leave a tiny note from the Tooth Fairy, add a gold-foil certificate or tuck a little surprise beside their pillow. Creating a simple ritual that happens whenever a tooth falls out can turn an everyday childhood milestone into something they'll eagerly anticipate.

Our Tooth Fairy Kits & First Tooth Gifts bring these little details together, making it easy to create your own Tooth Fairy tradition.

Where did the tradition of the Tooth Fairy come from?

The Tooth Fairy as we know her today is relatively modern, but traditions surrounding children's lost teeth stretch back much further.

In Norse culture, there are historical references to a tand-fé, or “tooth fee”, associated with a child's first tooth. Across different cultures, lost baby teeth have also been buried, burned, thrown or given to animals as part of various customs and superstitions.

The familiar idea of a fairy visiting during the night and exchanging a tooth left beneath a pillow for a small gift appeared in print in the United States in the early twentieth century. Over time, the Tooth Fairy developed into the much-loved childhood character we know today.

Like so many traditions, families have continued to make it their own – which is perhaps part of its charm.

How does the Tooth Fairy know when you've lost a tooth?

Now we're getting into serious Tooth Fairy business – and the answer is entirely up to your imagination.

Perhaps a magical bell rings whenever a tooth falls out. Maybe birds and woodland creatures carry the news. Perhaps the Tooth Fairy has tiny helpers keeping watch around the world, or maybe she can simply sense a newly lost tooth wherever it may be.

There's no right answer, which makes this a lovely question to ask your child too. Their explanation might be much better than ours.

Why does the Tooth Fairy come at night?

Nobody knows for certain – that's part of the mystery.

Perhaps it's because fairies prefer to work unseen. Perhaps nighttime gives the Tooth Fairy enough peace and quiet to visit all those pillows. Or perhaps, like so many magical stories, everything becomes a little more enchanting once the lights go out.

Whatever the reason, falling asleep knowing there might be a tiny visitor during the night is part of what makes the tradition so exciting.

What does the Tooth Fairy do with all the teeth?

This might be the biggest Tooth Fairy mystery of them all.

Some children imagine that the teeth are used to build fairy castles. Others think they're transformed into stars, sprinkled with fairy dust or carefully stored away as a record of all the children the Tooth Fairy has visited.

We rather like the idea that every tiny tooth has a story attached to it – a reminder of a childhood that's changing and growing one little milestone at a time.

Of course, there's no official answer. Ask your child what they think happens to their tooth after the Tooth Fairy collects it and you may discover an entirely new piece of Tooth Fairy folklore.

Making Memories, One Tooth at a Time

There's something rather special about the Tooth Fairy tradition. What begins with one tiny wobbly tooth becomes a little ritual repeated throughout childhood – the tooth beneath the pillow, the anticipation before bed and the excitement the following morning.

Whether your Tooth Fairy leaves a coin, a tiny gift, a handwritten note or a special certificate, it doesn't need to be complicated. It's the little details and the imagination surrounding them that turn losing a tooth into a memory worth keeping.