It may seem like the Tooth Fairy has an easy job, take tooth-give money, but one mistake and everything falls apart.

Read on for the adventures of a rookie Tooth Fairy. Based on a true story...or so I've heard.

Our oldest child is 6-years-old.  She has lost two teeth so far.  I think we will have it down to a system for tooth #3.  Let's hope.  But we didn't reach this point without a few struggles.

 

 

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

We had no plan in place until our daughter reported that tooth #1 was loose.  Within hours we were ready and in red-alert standby mode.  Good thing we worked so quickly, because that tooth didn't come out until about 3 months later.

Plan early and avoid the panic that sets in when the first tooth movement is recorded.

HOW MUCH IS A TOOTH WORTH?

This is the million dollar question.  Or the one dollar question, or five dollars, or 25 cents, etc.  We've talked about this on River's Facebook page and on-air and found a wide range of payments from the Tooth Fairy across West Michigan.

Prices seem to range from 25 cents to 20 dollars.  Sometimes the first tooth or front teeth are worth more, sometimes they are not.  At our house the Tooth Fairy gives $5 for the first tooth.  $1 for each tooth after.  AND the Tooth Fairy only pays with shiny, gold, $1 coins.  Which brings us to our next problem...

ALWAYS HAVE EXACT CHANGE

After tooth #1 the supply of $1 coins were re-hidden away in a safe place so they would be ready for future teeth.  But what good is a hiding spot if you don't remember where it is?

Luckily another coin was found, avoiding a late-night run to the store just to get change.

Sometimes the Tooth Fairy is too clever for her own good.

BE PREPARED TO IMPROVISE

We first heard that tooth #2 fell out after our daughter woke up one morning.  She said, "My tooth came out during the night and I put it under my pillow, but the Tooth Fairy didn't even come!"

Turns out the Tooth Fairy "didn't have time" because the tooth fell out too late and she was already "too busy getting other kids' teeth" that night.

WALK AND MOVE LIKE A NINJA

It takes a swift hand and quiet feet to extract a tooth from under the pillow of a not-so-soundly sleeping child, then replace it with a predetermined amount of money.

Tooth 1's removal resulted in severe levels of movement from the former owner of said tooth.  Tooth 2's removal was easier as child's head was barely on pillow.

Setting a tooth next to the bed instead of under the pillow is an option to consider.

YOU MAY HAVE TO STAY UP VERY LATE TO COMPLETE YOUR MISSION

Our daughter has stayed up late after each lost tooth.  She's in bed, but too excited to sleep.  And we have gotten warnings from her.  She warns us that we have to go to bed, otherwise the Tooth Fairy won't come.  And she's NOT kidding around.

 

The Tooth Fairy's job is more stressful than most give her credit for.  But losing a little sleep and a few bucks to see that huge, gummy smile in the morning is worth it thousands of times over.

 

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