Your child's first lost tooth: a simple plan for tonight

A first lost tooth never picks a good moment. It comes out in a sandwich, at soccer, in the bath. Here's what to do between now and bedtime.

Keep it safe until bedtime

Rinse it, let it dry, and put it somewhere small and closed: a zip bag, an envelope, a little box. Teeth are tiny and pillows are big. An envelope with your child's name on it makes the Tooth Fairy's job much easier.

If it was swallowed or lost

Swallowed, dropped down the drain, left at school. It happens, and it doesn't cancel anything. Your child can write the Tooth Fairy a note explaining what happened and leave that under the pillow instead. She takes notes very seriously.

Make the first one feel big

• Write the date and which tooth it was on the envelope.
• Take a gap-tooth photo before bed. You'll want it later.
• Ask what they think the Tooth Fairy does with all those teeth, and remember the answer.

Let the Tooth Fairy know

With Wonderline you can text the Tooth Fairy the moment the tooth comes out. Tell her which tooth it was and how your child feels about tonight. She writes back to your child by name, and she remembers this tooth when the next one starts to wobble.

Lily lost her first tooth today at lunch. She is over the moon.

A first tooth, Lily! I've been hoping that one would wiggle free. Tuck it under your pillow tonight and I'll take very good care of it.

Read her reply at bedtime, just before the tooth goes under the pillow. If your child is nervous, say so in your message. She is good at nervous.