Celebrate Lost Baby Teeth!

Celebrate Lost Baby Teeth & Becoming a Big Kid

Isn’t it exciting to watch your children grow up? To experience all those little milestones (and the big ones too). For me, one milestone in particular seems to mark the end of  “babyhood” and the beginning of being a “big kid”…. lost teeth.

When I was growing up, as soon as my tooth would start to wiggle, I’d anticipate a visit from the tooth fairy. I’d put my lost tooth under my pillow, and the tooth fairy would come and leave a surprise for me (usually in the form of cash).

Evidently, this is pretty much the norm for kids in North America (and many other English-speaking regions).

Considering Alternatives to the Tooth Fairy

As a Christian parent (and one who is relatively new to the Body of Christ), I wondered if I should maintain this tradition with my own children. The thought of perpetuating stories of fairies and make-believe and not being forthright with my children certainly gave me pause.

Unfortunately, the story of the tooth fairy is all over children’s programming and our culture in general, so it’s really tricky to navigate when you’ve made a decision to go a different route. My son knew all about the tooth fairy before he even had a loose tooth!

Alternative Fun for a Milestone

Once his first tooth became loose, we got a book from the library called Throw Your Tooth on the Roof that showed how other cultures commemorate lost baby teeth. I thought it would be easier to opt out of the tooth fairy story by showing him that there are other things that people do elsewhere in the world. I had no idea there were so many different customs around the globe! Most of the traditions are based in folklore of some kind or another, but a few are not. Some seemed really funny to us (like a certain Native American tribe feeding their tooth to a dog), and some were very practical (like the Costa Ricans who plate their teeth with gold and wear them as earrings).

When the first few teeth were lost, admittedly, it was pretty uneventful around our house. We took pictures and were excited, though I did notice a bit of disappointment from him that he wouldn’t be finding money under his pillow left by a fairy. I didn’t see any reason why he shouldn’t have a little fun after losing a tooth. So when my son’s first top tooth fell out, I came up with a unique idea for a family tradition: a scavenger hunt.

On the night that he lost his tooth, we placed it on his nightstand. I came to collect his newly shed tooth after he fell asleep, and put it in a jar to save it (why? I don’t know, but I can’t be the only “weirdo” who saves their children’s teeth…am I?) Next, I prepared a small, monetary gift and sealed it in an envelope. Using notebook paper, I wrote up little rhyming clues about where he would find the next clue (if your child isn’t a fluent reader yet, you might choose to draw or print pictures as clues). I hid the small envelope on our counter top inside a container, and waited for him to figure out the clues.

It was only three clues, so it didn’t take him too long to discover his prize, but when he found it, he was pretty excited. And I was a happy mama. My daughter even asked if we could do a scavenger hunt when she loses her teeth!

I asked my little guy what he enjoyed about doing the scavenger hunt, and his reply was, “the quarters!” Then, I wanted to know what he thought he might do with his potential future children. He said, “{I would} give them a scavenger hunt so they can find some quarters…I mean pennies.” Perhaps I was too generous!

Is your family also in the tradition-breaking minority? Share how you have made this milestone fun in your house!

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home