The cost of the Tooth Fairy is on the rise
How much money do you give your youngster? Take our poll!
By Practical Parenting
March 29 2017
Kids these days are driving a hard bargain when it comes to the tooth fairy.
Children apparently no longer accept $1 under the pillow in exchange for their tooth. Now, according to research, some parents are forking out a staggering $40 per tooth.
Where does the Tooth Fairy tradition come from?
In an article published in Forbes, Kristina Killgrove writes the Tooth Fairy could have originated from an 18th-century French fairy tale called La Bonne Petite Souris. However, the tradition didn’t really take off until after World War 2.
Killgrove puts this down to it becoming normal for parents to cater to their children. “Creating a family ritual about the transition from infancy to childhood makes more sense in this context," she writes.
Interestingly, Killgrove notes that between 1900 and 1975, the average going rate of a lost tooth rose from 12 cents to 85 cents.
The average cost of a tooth is on the rise
Now, new research by Australian oral care expert and natural care brand Jack N’ Jill Kids found the average rate for a first tooth in Australia has hit $3.51.
However, of the 1000 survey respondents, parents in Western Australia and NSW revealed they have shelled out a whopping $40 per tooth, meaning rising living costs seem to affect even the Tooth Fairy.
Best-selling author and futuristic demographer Mark McCrindle says it’s fascinating that even the 'Tooth Fairy' is responding to the rising cost of living.
"The cost of parenting has exponentially increased – things like the value of presents, pocket money and teeth are all higher and children certainly are happy with this, given the diversity of products available to junior consumers."
"It’s no surprise we’ve seen an increase in the rate of a tooth, but the scale of the increase is interesting and in line with this generation’s ‘expectation inflation’," he said.
"The digital and tech space has contributed to the fact that children have so much more to spend their money on now, with items like downloadable music and games accessible within the pocket-money currency."
Despite the increasing value of a tooth, new mum Laura from Newcastle says she received $1 for a tooth when she was growing up, but would consider giving her son $5 for his first tooth.
Similarly, Perth mum, Ashlea* said she gave her son $5 for his first tooth “as it was a big deal and so exciting.”
However, the cost of her son’s teeth has depreciated over time.
“But every tooth after that has been about $2," she added, “maybe $3 if he's lucky.”
What do you think? How much do you give your children from the Tooth Fairy? Take our poll above!
