The Tooth Fairy Leaves How Much?!

It can happen in the middle of the night, during dinner, or even at school.

Sometimes it’s a surprise, sometimes it has been anticipated for days, even weeks.

You guessed it, I’m talking about loosing a baby tooth.

And when that tiny tooth comes flying out, my kids somehow manage to hold onto it all day long and shove it under their pillow at night, eager to see what the Tooth Fairy will leave them.

Cultures around the world have had traditions regarding children’s lost teeth for centuries. In the United States, our modern version of the Tooth Fairy is often credited to an article in the Chicago Tribune in 1908 that suggested parents tell their children that a Tooth Fairy will leave them 5 cents for their baby teeth. Today, nearly 80 percent of homes in the United States report visits from the Tooth Fairy.

2024 Tooth Fairy rates

While the concept is still the same today, the Tooth Fairy has gotten much more generous! Delta Dental has tracked the average amount the Tooth Fairy leaves though their Tooth Fairy poll since 1998. In 2024, the national average amount left for a lost tooth is $5.84. While this rate might feel sky high, it actually represents the first decline seen in five years (down 6 percent from 2023).

However, when broken down by region, the West has the highest average in the United States: $8.54 per tooth, a 37 percent increase over 2023 results. Considering that your child is going to lose 20 baby teeth, that means here in the West we are shelling out $170.80 for teeth (at that rate)!

Creative Tooth Fairy ideas

There has to be another way, right? Kids typically lose their baby teeth between the ages of 6–12, when magic is still (kind of) real, small items can be thrilling and they are still making holiday wish lists that don’t just say “money.”

I turned to one of the most creative groups of people I know for fun (and budget-friendly) Tooth Fairy ideas: our ParentMap staff. And wow, they did not disappoint! Check out these amazing ideas; you’ll be filled with inspiration the next time the Tooth Fairy heads to your house:

A simple note:

 “I downloaded a tooth fairy receipt from Etsy that I can customize for each lost tooth (date, quality of tooth, etc.). Then I sprinkle some fairy dust on it, roll it up and tie it with a bow and leave it with a fairy-dusted one-dollar bill.” Brenna

"My mom used to write a tiny note from the tooth fairy telling us what our tooth was used for in Tooth Fairy land. The note was rolled up and tied with a string and left in a little jar under our pillow. We got some change too, but the note was always the best part. I did the same thing for my kids when they lost their teeth.” Kari

“The Tooth fairy just visited our house last night! She leaves one dollar, and she left a note one time, courtesy of Delta Dental’s website.” Mallory

A special coin:

“I used to give my kids a gold, one-dollar coin when they lost a tooth. When they were ready to spend it they would usually give it back to me in exchange for a dollar bill. I held onto the coins and was able to use the same ones for all three of my kids!” Allison

“In South Africa we had a “tooth mouse” and we left our teeth in our slippers. We would get a five rand coin which is equivalent to about 28 cents in America. We were told the mouse used the teeth to build houses for other mice.” Tamryn

All the glitter:

“My mom would buy a can of glitter hairspray and spray things around my room (clothes, stuffed animals, etc.), so they would be sparkly for about a week. She left a note covered in the glitter spray as well.” Brooke

A tiny toy:

“When my son was younger and really into cars, the Tooth Fairy would leave one Matchbox car. As a kid, my dad would just leave us whatever spare change he had. I loved it because it was always totally random and could actually add up to a nice, tidy sum (at least that was my perception as a kid!).” Julie

A special treat:

“My husband decided that the Tooth Fairy would bring a cookie, so each tooth resulted in a cookie under the pillow. Seems sort of ironic to me but the kids loved it. You never know when those teeth are going to pop out, which resulted in some last-minute, late-night cookie making and procuring.” Carolyn

A great hack:

“Here’s a hack for busy parents: I often forget to leave Tooth Fairy money, so I tell my kids that the Tooth Fairy can’t always reach everybody in one night, and then they get bonus dollar for every day she misses.” Lindsey

“I saw a funny reel one time about a mom just taking the money out of her kid’s wallet every time. I haven't been that desperate yet but I do know my kids would never know the difference!” Devon