Gifts for the first tooth — The Russian «На зубок» tradition and the most beautiful silver spoons

The first tooth — a milestone celebrated in many families with a photo. But did you know that in Russia and Eastern Europe, for centuries, there's been a beautiful custom to honor this moment with a special gift? «На зубок» (Na zubok) is the tradition: a silver spoon for the first milk tooth. In this article, you'll discover where the custom originated, why silver is such a wise choice, especially during teething — and which spoons are particularly suitable.

The market for "first tooth gifts" is still a niche in German-speaking countries. Most parents know about christening spoons, but a spoon for the first tooth? This is a tradition we learned from our Eastern European customers — and one that deserves to become known here too.

«На зубок» — The Russian Tradition for the First Tooth

«На зубок» — literally translated as "for the little tooth" or "on the tooth" — is one of the oldest and most vibrant customs in Russian family culture. When a baby's first milk tooth breaks through the gums, the grandparents or godparents present a silver spoon. The moment marks a transition: the child begins to eat solid food and receives their first own cutlery.

The custom combines several ideas deeply rooted in Russian tradition:

• Protection: Silver has always been considered a protective metal. The silver spoon in the child's mouth symbolized the wish for them to grow up safely.
• Prosperity: Similar to being "born with a silver spoon," the silver spoon symbolizes the wish that the child may never suffer want.
• Independence: The spoon is the first tool a child learns to use themselves. It represents the beginning of a new phase of life.

To this day, «На зубок» is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. In many families, it is the maternal grandfather who gives the spoon — an honor proudly borne. The spoon is often engraved with the child's first name and the date of the first tooth and kept for life.

More than Folklore: A Custom with a Practical Core

What distinguishes «На зубок» from many other traditions is its tangible, practical background. In times without refrigerators and sterilizers, a silver spoon was considered the best cutlery one could give an infant: solid, smooth, and without a coating that could flake off. Our ancestors held onto it long before science could explain it.

The First Tooth: A Milestone in the First Year of Life

Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 8 months of age. Some early starters show the first white tip in the lower jaw at 4 months, while others take until 12 months — both are completely normal. Generally, the lower incisors are the first to erupt.

For parents, the first tooth is an emotional moment: the toothless baby smile they know so well changes. The child visibly gets older, more independent. At the same time, the teething phase is often exhausting — for the baby and for the parents. Gums swell, the child drools more, is restless, and wants to chew on everything.

That's why a gift for the first tooth is so fitting: It honors a moment that can easily be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of baby life. A silver spoon says: We see this milestone. We celebrate it with you.

Why a Silver Spoon for Teething? Science Meets Tradition

The choice of a silver spoon for the first tooth is no coincidence and not purely custom. There are solid reasons why silver is a particularly wise material choice, especially during the teething phase.

Smooth Surface and Pleasant Coolness

Silver conducts heat better than any other metal. A spoon that has been in the refrigerator for a short time stays cool for a while — many parents use this when the first tooth erupts. Additionally, there's the surface: solid silver is non-porous and has no coating that could chip off, unlike printed or coated children's cutlery.

Cooling Metal Soothes Gums

Silver conducts heat and cold excellently. A lightly chilled silver spoon — briefly kept in the refrigerator — can be gently passed over the swollen gums. The coolness relieves pressure and soothes the baby. Unlike plastic teething rings, the silver spoon is also an everyday object that introduces the child to eating.

925 Sterling Silver: The Right Alloy

Pure silver (999 fine silver) would be too soft for a spoon. That's why 925 Sterling Silver consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This alloy combines the luster of silver with the stability a spoon needs for daily use. All our baby spoons bear the 925 hallmark as proof of quality.

Our Recommendation: DoDo Spoons for the First Tooth

If there's one spoon perfectly suited for the first tooth, it's a DoDo spoon. Why? Because the DoDo collection is not only beautiful but also functionally designed — with a thoughtful developmental concept for early childhood.

Tactile Dots in the Bowl: Perfect for Teething Babies

The special feature of DoDo spoons is the raised tactile dots in the spoon bowl. These gentle bumps stimulate the baby's tongue and promote oral perception — exactly what a teething baby needs. When the first tooth erupts, the child explores their oral cavity intensively. A DoDo spoon offers a meaningful, safe surface for this.

In addition:

• Colored enamel dots on the handle — high-contrast colors that baby eyes respond to
• Raised relief dots on both sides of the handle — train fine motor skills when gripping
• Gift box with rainbow design and satin ribbon — immediately ready for gifting

Which Spoon is Suitable for the First Tooth?

Are you specifically looking for a spoon as a «На зубок» gift? Here's some guidance:

• DoDo spoons with animal motifs (butterfly, elephant, rabbit) — cheerful, colorful, ideal as a first gift
• DoDo spoons with zodiac signs — personal due to the child's astrological sign, an astrological heirloom
• Classic baby spoons with angel or flower motifs — timelessly elegant, if you prefer something less colorful

You can find all models in our Baby Spoon Collection.

Engraving for the First Tooth: How the Spoon Becomes an Heirloom

A silver spoon truly becomes personal only when it bears the child's name. Especially for the first tooth, an engraving that captures this special moment is ideal:

• Child's first name
• Date of the first tooth — a detail most parents remember but don't record anywhere
• A short saying — for example: "My first tooth" or "На зубок"

Imagine the child as an adult picking up this spoon and reading: "Sophie — 14.03.2026 — My first tooth". This is not a gift that disappears into a drawer. This is a piece of family history.

All details on fonts, positions, and ordering process can be found on our Engraving Service page.

First Tooth Gifts in Other Cultures

The idea of celebrating the first tooth with a gift is not limited to Russia — although «На зубок» is probably the best-known and most vibrant tradition.

England: "Cutting teeth" and the Silver Gift

In Victorian England, it was customary to give a baby a silver gift for "cutting of the first tooth" — often a small spoon or a silver rattle. The tradition is less common there today than the christening spoon, but in some families, it lives on. The English idiom "born with a silver spoon" has one of its origins here.

Germany: On the Rise

In Germany, the first tooth is traditionally more of a medical event than a celebratory one — dentist visits, fluoride discussions, teething rings. But that's changing. More and more parents are looking for ways to consciously celebrate milestones in the first year of life: the first smile, the first word, the first step — and, of course, the first tooth. A silver spoon as a «На зубок» gift fits perfectly into this trend.

Other Cultures

In Turkey, the first tooth is traditionally celebrated with a "Diş buğdayı" (tooth wheat festival), where cooked wheat is served with sweets. In Greece and the Balkans, there are similar celebrations around the first tooth. The basic idea is the same everywhere: the first tooth marks the transition from infant to child, who begins to enter the adult world — starting with food.

First Tooth, Christening, or Birth — When is Which Gift Appropriate?

Many grandparents and godparents wonder: Should I give the silver spoon for birth, christening, or the first tooth? The answer is simple — it depends on the tradition you want to follow:

• For Birth: A birth gift says "Welcome to the world." Gift sets with a spoon and rattle are popular.
• For Christening: A christening gift is in the Christian tradition and is presented by the godparent. Often an engraved spoon with the christening date.
• For the First Tooth (На зубок): The most personal timing — because it is based on the child, not the calendar. Grandparents often give it.

Of course, you can also use several occasions: a spoon for birth, one for the first tooth, one for christening. In Russian families, it is not uncommon for a child to grow up with two or three silver spoons — each with its own engraving and its own story.

Frequently Asked Questions about First Tooth Gifts

What do you give for the first tooth?
The traditional gift for the first tooth is a silver spoon. In the Russian tradition «На зубок», grandparents or godparents present a spoon made of 925 Sterling Silver — as a symbol of protection, prosperity, and as the child's first own cutlery. Engraved baby spoons (name + date of the first tooth) are particularly popular. DoDo spoons with tactile dots are especially suitable as they promote the oral perception of teething babies. Prices start from €179.95.

Why do you give a silver spoon for the first tooth?
The silver spoon combines symbolism and practicality: It is food-safe, free of plasticizers, and pleasantly heavy in hand. Lightly chilled, it is gladly used during the teething phase. Symbolically, the silver spoon represents the wish that the child may never suffer want. In Russia and Eastern Europe, this custom has been cultivated for centuries — it is called «На зубок» and is still alive today.

What does На зубок (Na zubok) mean?
«На зубок» is Russian and literally means "for the little tooth" or "on the tooth." It refers to the custom of giving a baby a silver spoon when the first milk tooth erupts. Traditionally, it is the task of the grandparents (especially the maternal grandfather) to present this gift. The spoon is often engraved with the child's name and the date. The custom is still widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

When does a baby get its first tooth?
Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 8 months of age. However, it can also happen much earlier (from 4 months) or later (up to 12 months) — both are completely normal. Generally, the lower central incisors erupt first. By their 3rd birthday, a child usually has all 20 milk teeth.

Is a silver spoon good for babies?
Yes — 925 Sterling Silver is a proven material for baby cutlery: food-safe, tasteless, and with a smooth, non-porous surface. Unlike plastic, silver is free of plasticizers and BPA. A silver spoon is durable, easy to clean, and can last for generations. It is not just a gift but an everyday object that can accompany the child from their first puree to adulthood.