Growing up I used to delight in seeing a 50-pence piece under my pillow after leaving a fang out for the tooth fairy. But it seems gone are the days of getting small change in return for your vacated gnasher.
A Reddit post has left the internet reeling after a parent said their child’s friend at school received $50 (£37) and a bracelet in exchange for their first tooth.
The poster said their six-year-old son had lost his first tooth and was “thrilled” as it meant he could leave it out for the tooth fairy, who left him a very generous $5 (£3.70).
While the child was “excited” by his monetary gift, the parent added “you could tell that a little part of him was bummed it wasn’t $50″.
“Please, rich parents, think of those less fortunate … A going rate of $50 per tooth is setting all of us up for failure,” they added.
In response to the post, some commenters suggested families need to change their mentality and avoid trying to “keep up with the Joneses”.
“There will always be people richer than you, teach your kids not to compare themselves to anybody richer than them (or poorer for that matter),” said one Redditor.
Another said: “There’s always going to be someone who does more. Start teaching your kid this now.”
How to respond if kids question how much the tooth fairy left them
One Redditor shared their default response if kids question how much money they’ve been left and compare it to others. OkSecretary1231 said: “Fairies don’t understand human money, you never know what they’re going to leave!”
Another commenter recommended making the tooth fairy money “special” – for example, putting coins in a gold drawstring bag.
Most people agreed that $1 is enough for the tooth fairy to leave a child. “My kids get $1…unless the tooth fairy forgets, then it’s $5,” said one respondent.
“I’m a high earner and the tooth fairy leaves $1 per tooth under my roof. Even $5 to me is crazy!!!”
For British parents, most kids are getting less than a fiver for their teeth. According to NatWest Rooster Money’s annual Pocket Money Index report, the average tooth fairy payment in the UK is £4.
Yet Bupa suggested the figure is likely a lot lower. It said the average rate for a child’s tooth was £2.10 in 2018 and then dropped to £1.80 in 2023 – possibly as a result of the cost of living crisis.
