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Home › Webmother's Musings

Losing Baby Teeth Is a Rite of Passage for Kids – and Poignant for Parents

By Elisa Ast All

My son, CJ, had just turned 7 when his first tooth finally came out. It had been loose for months, and we even traveled cross-country with the wiggly wonder. The tooth became so loose, at one point we dubbed it a "gate," since it swung back and forth like the door on our backyard fence. CJ laughed nervously about his gate, but he wasn't ready to pull it out.

Truth be told, his parents weren't ready, either. Losing a tooth seemed too big of a milestone for our little boy to be reaching already. Keeping those baby teeth in meant he was still our baby, I guess.

But babies grow up, and teeth come out even if you don't want them to. The big moment arrived the night we got home from our trip. CJ was feeling particularly brave so I sat him down, assessed the situation and wrapped two fingers around the tiny pearl I had grown to love.

I remember watching that very tooth – the bottom left incisor – erupt from the gum line when CJ was only 9 months old. It caused him almost as much agitation on its way in as it did on its way out. But this time, there would be a reward far greater than a frozen teether – the tooth fairy was coming!

With this in mind, CJ braced himself for impact. I secured my grip on the pearly gate. I pulled once and lost my hold. The tooth was too wet and I couldn't grasp it tightly. Attempt No. 2 involved a Kleenex between my fingers for traction. CJ winced, but I assured him we were ready this time. As I pulled I could feel the tooth moving – and CJ squirming – but removal would require one last effort. CJ and I took a deep breath and smiled at each other. This was it – no turning back!

Kleenex in hand, I grabbed the tiny tooth firmly between my index finger and thumb and pulled as hard as I could. The tooth popped out and CJ's eyebrows nearly hit the ceiling. A collective cheer went up among the crowd of onlookers (Daddy and sisters Cassie and Jules). The tissue came in handy to apply direct pressure to the new hole in his mouth.

The tooth fairy arrived that night in a blaze of golden dust and sparkles, according to Jules, who claims to have witnessed the event. She left behind a medley of coins for the piggy bank, which were good as gold as far as CJ was concerned.

Since that dramatic moment, we have experienced five more in just a few months. CJ lost two additional teeth, and Cassie and Jules, age 5, have lost one and two, respectively. Jules has developed quite the relationship with the tooth fairy, even drawing pictures of her so we all share the vision.

Cassie, the older twin by three minutes, most recently reached this milestone. By the time her tooth was ready to come out, she couldn't wait one more second to join the tooth-losers club.

"Pull it out, Mommy! Then I'll be like CJ and Jules!" she exclaimed. As I grasped her pearly gate, I looked into the shining eyes of my last "baby." Seeing the excitement in her eyes, I couldn't help but be excited, too.

My babies are growing up. It's a bittersweet journey, but I'm savoring every milestone along the way.