Losing a first tooth is a huge milestone, and a visit from the tooth fairy is one of those small bits of magic that makes it memorable. Whether you’re after a letter template, wondering how much other Aussie parents actually leave, or looking for a gift to mark the occasion, here’s everything you need in one place.
How Much Does the Tooth Fairy Leave in Australia?
There’s no official rate, and it varies a lot household to household. An informal survey of Australian parents by an accounting firm found most families leave somewhere between $2 and $3 per tooth, which lines up with what most local parents tell us too. It’s a long way from the US surveys you might see quoted online (some report averages over US$5), which reflect American habits more than Australian ones.
If you want a fun cultural reference point, plenty of Aussie parents joke about basing their rate on the Bluey episode where the going price is $5. Realistically, most families settle somewhere between a $2 coin and a $5 note, sometimes with a bit extra for the first tooth to make it feel special.
Free Tooth Fairy Letter Templates
A short note from the tooth fairy is one of the easiest ways to add a bit of magic without much effort. Here are a few versions depending on the occasion, all easy to copy, handwrite in tiny print, or dress up however you like.
The Everyday Letter
For any regular tooth, a short and simple note works well:
Dear [child’s name],
Thank you for taking such good care of your tooth. It’s a beautiful one and I’ll treasure it. Keep brushing twice a day and I’ll be back to visit again soon.
Love, The Tooth Fairy
The First Tooth Letter
A first tooth is a bigger milestone, so it’s worth a slightly more special version:
Dear [child’s name],
Congratulations on your very first lost tooth! I was so excited to visit tonight, this is a big milestone and I wanted to make it extra special. Keep brushing and looking after your smile, and I’ll be back for the next one before you know it.
Love, The Tooth Fairy
The Last Tooth Letter
The last baby tooth is often more bittersweet than the first, a nice one to mark properly:
Dear [child’s name],
What a journey we’ve had together! This is the very last baby tooth I’ll be collecting from you, since all your grown-up teeth are on their way now. It’s been wonderful visiting you over the years. Keep smiling.
Love, The Tooth Fairy
Make It a Two-Way Conversation
If your child is old enough to write, try having them leave a short note or question for the tooth fairy alongside the tooth, then write a reply that responds to what they said. It takes an extra five minutes but feels far more personal than a generic printed note, and kids tend to remember it for years.
A few easy ways to make any of these feel more magical: write it in tiny handwriting with a metallic or glitter pen, fold the note up small so it looks like it was written by someone fairy-sized, or lightly crumple and smooth out the paper so it looks a little worn and well-travelled. Some families also like to dust a little glitter near the pillow so there’s “fairy dust” evidence in the morning.
Best Tooth Fairy Gift Ideas
If you want to go beyond a coin under the pillow, here are a few ways local families mark the occasion.
A tooth fairy pillow or pouch gives the coin somewhere official to go and doubles as a keepsake later. A small drawstring pouch works just as well as a purpose-made pillow, and it’s an easy one to pick up from a local craft market or Etsy seller if you want something a bit more special than a snack-size ziplock bag.
A tooth chart to track which teeth have gone and which are still to come is genuinely useful for keeping tabs on the process, especially with the first few teeth.
A commemorative coin turns the whole tradition into a small collectible rather than loose change that gets lost in a drawer.
Our Pick: Royal Australian Mint Tooth Fairy Kit
Not many people realise the Royal Australian Mint is the official Australian supplier of coins to the tooth fairy. To mark this, they release a Tooth Fairy coin each year, perfect for putting under the pillow.
Bring a little magic home with the Royal Australian Mint’s enchanting $2 coloured coin. Featuring a fun design and vibrant colours, this keepsake captures the joy of a child’s lost tooth and the wonder of the Tooth Fairy tradition.
Perfect as a gift, collectible, or surprise under the pillow, this special coin will be treasured for years to come.It’s a lovely keepsake gift for a child losing their first baby tooth, and the commemorative coin is something they can genuinely treasure rather than spend, it might even spark an interest in coin collecting down the track. The kit costs $20 and can be ordered directly from the Royal Australian Mint.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Real life doesn’t always go to plan, and the tooth fairy is used to it. A few common hiccups and how to handle them.
They swallowed the tooth. This happens more than you’d think, usually mid-meal. The fix is simple: write a little note explaining what happened and pop it under the pillow instead of the tooth. The tooth fairy has ways of knowing when a tooth has gone missing this way, and she’ll still visit as usual.
The tooth got lost. Lost at the shops, at school, or somewhere in the couch cushions, it doesn’t matter. Same solution as above: a short note in place of the tooth works just fine. The tooth fairy cares more about the story than the specimen.
The tooth fairy forgot to visit. It happens in every household eventually, usually on the one night you’re too tired to remember. If morning comes and there’s nothing under the pillow, it’s easy enough to explain that she had a huge night with lots of other kids to get to and will make it up to them the next night, sometimes with a little extra for the wait.
FAQ
Most Australian families leave somewhere between $2 and $3 per tooth, though it varies widely. Some give a bit extra for the first tooth lost.
The Royal Australian Mint releases an official tooth fairy $2 coin each year, available directly through their online shop as part of their Tooth Fairy Kit.
Keep it short and simple: thank your child for looking after their tooth, encourage them to keep brushing, and sign off as the tooth fairy. Tiny handwriting and a bit of glitter go a long way.
Most Australian kids lose their first baby tooth around age 5 to 7, though it can happen earlier or later.