Silver spoons for the first tooth - who should give it to a child and why?

Why are silver spoons given as gifts for the first tooth?

The baby’s body develops from the first minutes of birth and by the 4-7th month of birth the first tooth appears. Typically these are the lower central incisors. Some people get teeth at three months, others at one year. It is during this time period that the baby is given a silver spoon for his tooth. Why does this precious metal item deserve special attention?

There are many objective and subjective reasons for this: from purely everyday to magical.

The stage of baby development associated with the eruption of the first teeth coincides with the beginning of feeding the baby. In addition to mother's milk, the baby receives the necessary beneficial compounds from special mixtures, cereals, etc. Therefore, the baby simply cannot do without a small individual spoon.

On the other hand, it is believed that silver acts as a metal that repels all kinds of evil spirits and evil forces, and protects the owner from damage and the evil eye. Therefore, a silver spoon in this case is a kind of talisman-amulet that protects the child from negative energy.

Silver baby spoon with puppy

The disinfecting properties of silver are also known. It is not without reason that objects made of high-grade silver are used to purify water. It is believed that ions of the silvery-white metal neutralize pathogenic microflora.

Therefore, a silver spoon given at this moment in life will come in handy.

The appearance of the baby’s first tooth: signs

People have always paid special attention to the appearance of children's first teeth, which is why many beliefs, traditions and superstitions have emerged associated with this event. It was believed that the future fate of the baby and his mother could be predicted only based on the age and where the first tooth appeared.

Signs associated with the eruption of the first baby tooth can have both positive and negative interpretations. Let's start with those that do not portend anything bad :

The first tooth erupted earlier than the average , which means that the baby will soon have a brother or sister. In this case, a tooth on the upper jaw indicates a new addition to the family within the next year.
If, on the contrary, the first tooth is delayed, it means that the child will be unusual and gifted. He will become a valuable and hardworking employee in the future.
A wide interdental gap is interpreted in a funny way . It is believed that in the future these babies will be able to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

There are other, less positive beliefs

It is considered a bad sign if the child’s canine erupts first . In this case, the child was predicted to die soon, linking his fate with evil spirits and evil spirits.

If the first tooth is born, causing the baby great suffering , this may indicate his quarrelsome character in the future. People who are far from superstitions can give this fact a simple explanation. Parents who show excessive compassion for their child, exhausted from pain, begin to pamper him, fulfilling all his whims. The child will immediately get used to this attitude, which may subsequently become the reason for his selfishness.

If teeth do not cause trouble , and appear easily and in a timely manner, this is considered a good sign. In the future, such children will have a pleasant character and it will be easy for them to make new acquaintances and friends. Conversely, cutting through and growing too slowly may indicate communication problems in the future. It will be difficult to establish relationships with such people because of their tendency to scandals and intrigues.

Who should give the spoon?

In modern impulsive and active life, strict adherence to all the rules for performing a particular ritual is often neglected. This is partly due to ignorance and lack of necessary knowledge, partly - deliberately, since this or that event is not given the appropriate significance.

Therefore, if we talk about the gift of a spoon for the first tooth, any relative can give it, including parents, godparents, friends or colleagues. It often happens that different people present the baby with several silver spoons at once. There is nothing reprehensible in this, the main thing is that the gifts are made sincerely, from the heart, with love and care for the little man.

If you strictly follow the canons and traditions, the godparents (mother or father) should present the spoon for the first tooth.

Undesirable gifts for a newborn include:

Cosmetic products (creams, powders, etc.). Mom knows best what the baby needs and what will not cause allergies.
Various souvenirs (they are simply useless now).
Children's clothing (toys) of dubious quality from the "Chinese" market around the corner.
Mini-cars , scooters and bicycles, huge plush “dust collectors” will also have to wait for now - not the time.
Flowers. Choose only those that will not cause allergies in your baby. Better yet, replace the bouquet with useful things.
Pacifiers. Not every mother will use them - many parents are categorically against the development of such a bad habit in their baby.
Baby food. The choice of nutrition is a strictly individual matter. It is bought on the recommendation of a pediatrician, and not based on the price and beauty of the packaging.
Stroller . If you don’t know for sure what model mom wants, don’t take risks.
Furniture for a baby. Again, you need to be sure that there is a place for this furniture, that it is really needed, and that it will fit with the overall design of the room.

And most importantly. Buy a gift with love for your baby, not for show. Then its size and cost will not matter.

What are the traditions and signs associated with gifts?

A silver spoon can be given not only at the time of the appearance of the first tooth, but also at the birth or baptism of a baby.

According to existing traditions, parents themselves can make a gift for the birth of a baby. Moreover, this is identified not only with the good health of the little man, but also with his future well-being and prosperity. The saying “I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth” has survived. The child was born into a family with good income, since in past times silver was a sign of financial stability and prosperity. Family silver was the lot of fairly rich, wealthy people.

After the baby was baptized, the godparents presented him with a silver spoon. This ritual was identified with the future happy and successful life of the ward. A baptized baby fell under “God’s wing,” which protected him from all kinds of sins and temptations, and the gift of a spoon further strengthened his protection from negative energy.

Baptism set with spoon for a boy

Baptism set with spoon for girls

And for the “first tooth” in the modern version of existing traditions, everyone can give a valuable gift: parents, relatives, godparents, friends.

Regardless of what stage of life a child receives a gift, it is important to present it, sincerely wishing the child health, success, well-being, and prosperity.

If the spoon is placed on the first tooth, you need to knock on it with the spoon several times. There is a belief that in this case the teeth will be strong and healthy.

We must not forget that the spoon should be kept by the owner throughout his life. It does not have to be used for its intended purpose, since the item is a personal talisman-amulet.

Some other signs

There are also other signs related to the baby’s first teeth. Here are just a few of them:

if a child was born with one tooth, he will have a great future and become a great warrior (strong, courageous);
how many new teeth will a baby grow by the age of 1, how many brothers and sisters will he have;
Some peoples believed that late teething would bring happiness to the child.

As a conclusion, it is worth noting that these are the main signs according to which the future of the child and his mother can be determined based on the characteristics of the teething process.

Of course, you should approach everything with a smile and understand that real life has a rather weak correlation with fairy tales and customs of the Middle Ages. If a young mother likes to amuse herself with such stories, then no one forbids her from doing so. But there’s no point in worrying about “bad” signs either.

How to choose a spoon depending on the gender of the child

Jewelry retail chains and private workshops offer a wide range of silver spoons of different sizes and designs. You just need to choose a product to your liking. However, an individual gift looks more interesting and significant. Children's silver spoons and personalized engraving, patterns or symbols will not only decorate the gift, but will also transform it into an address one.

You can individually design a product intended for a boy or a girl. For future men, this is a strict pattern with the image of a bear, a car, and other things, and for the baby, the future lady, preference is given to ornate monograms, floral patterns, butterflies, and dolls. Some design the engraving in the form of a portrait of a baby.

It is important to note that if the child is baptized, it is desirable to have Christian attributes on the product (cross, face of Jesus, angel). The main thing is that the small spoon is not overloaded with an abundance of patterns, symbols, etc. Conciseness should be observed.

Is it possible to throw away

Regardless of the country, all superstitions boil down to one thing - you cannot dispose of a tooth in the usual way. It is usually recommended to give it to a mouse or fairy, but there are other traditions and customs in this regard.

For example, in the northern part of England they say that if a baby tooth falls out, it should be burned. This is required to destroy any opportunity to influence a person at the energetic level, and will also supposedly have a beneficial effect on new root units.

In Rus', loss was given not only to a mouse, but more often they asked for the intercession of a brownie. Gypsies buried or threw the tooth to the moon. At the same time, special conspiracies were uttered so that future life would be happy, successful and comfortable. In Asia, the upper teeth were thrown onto the roof, and the lower ones under the porch, to protect the baby from the evil eye and damage.

The benefits of silver for a baby

In addition to the ritual purpose of a valuable item, this is the first personal cutlery that serves its intended purpose. The spoon should not contain sharp edges or protrusions, and should be small in size so that it is convenient for the baby to use without injury. Subsequently, he will eat on his own, and a comfortable spoon will become an indispensable assistant during meals.

As mentioned earlier, silver is a metal with high bactericidal properties. Therefore, using this item, the mother maintains the baby’s health.

Storage and proper care of a children's silver spoon

Caring for a baby spoon is no different from caring for items made of silver and cupronickel. To keep a valuable gift in good condition, you must:

Wash the product in warm, soft water, without using abrasives or steel wool.
When silver darkens (oxide forms on its surface), it is recommended to periodically wipe the spoon with a soft cloth with a few drops of ammonia solution (ammonia). Then rinse thoroughly.
You should wipe the product dry with a soft towel to give it shine and eliminate water stains.
It is not advisable to store a spoon together with other cutlery made of steel and other materials in order to avoid scratches and damage to the surface.
It is recommended to store the spoon in a special case with velvet or other fine-lint covering.

A silver spoon for a tooth is a kind and useful tradition that reminds the owner throughout his life of the wonderful and carefree time of infancy and the loved ones who love him.

04.08.21

Is it possible to store baby teeth?

Opinions differ on this matter. Some claim that biomaterial must be disposed of immediately in accordance with the traditions and customs of the people. Others believe that you should definitely keep the dropped units for yourself.

Various reasons are given:

after death, the body must be buried along with all the teeth lost during life;
This is a strong amulet, you cannot deprive a child of such protection;
throw away the ones that fall out - the grown-up child will forget the way to his parents’ house;
treat teeth with disdain - the person’s fate will be difficult, full of failures.

Thus, everyone decides for themselves whether to keep their children’s milk teeth or not.
One thing is certain - you need to think exclusively about the good. Even if some tradition is not followed, there will be no harm from it. If you wish, you can pray for the child’s health in church if concerns and fears persist. Signs and beliefs about baby teeth are varied, often depending on a specific country and religion. Superstitions concern everything - their appearance, growth, loss. Believing in them or not is everyone’s personal choice. The veracity of beliefs has not been confirmed by anything; some customs and traditions cause bewilderment, hostility or surprise in modern people.