Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My DD being bullied. Going to get hamster. Advice please!

156 replies

Hamsterthoughts · 21/12/2020 08:36

So... long story.

Dealing with the school and it will improve.
However I am desperate to do something to make her happier in the interim.

She has been desperate for a hamster for last two years. She’s deeply caring and very responsible, so I have no doubts about her caring for it (with my help)

I’m very house proud though. So that’s concerning!

My questions
What are they like as hamsters?
What’s upkeep like?
Are they affectionate?
Do they smell?!
Best place to keep them?
Best breed to get?

Thanks so much

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Mommabear20 · 21/12/2020 08:40

I had 2 as a kid. They're pretty low maintenance but do smell if not cleaned out regularly. As long as she cleans it's toilet area every day it should be fine. Don't keep it in a bedroom as they are nocturnal so will hinder sleep. Socialising them with people early on is vital to having a tame hamster but if done gently they can be very good friends for kids.
Good luck!

Mommabear20 · 21/12/2020 08:42

Forgot to say, I always had Syrian hamsters as they are the larger breed. Highly recommend a solid plastic cage rather than the metal bar ones as they tend to chew the bars and can snap them and escape! 😂

Flowerpot345 · 21/12/2020 08:44

Low maintenance, I would go for a Syrian hamster they are better for kids more friendly than the Russian hamsters.

Original poster
Hamsterthoughts · 21/12/2020 08:44

Thanks so much

Are they affectionate?

OP posts:
MrsMiaWallis · 21/12/2020 08:45

They can be. Ours was quite bitey. Dd adored her though.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 21/12/2020 08:46

They can be bitey at the beginning until they get used to you. Takes a bit of patience.

BiscuitDrama · 21/12/2020 08:46

See if you can handle it in advance, or get the staff to if that’s not allowed. My sister brought home a biter once that had to go back. It was not a normal hamster.

RandomMess · 21/12/2020 08:48

They're a bit boring as they are nocturnal so she may be disappointed with the reality? Although if she's a teen it won't be as bad as she'll be up fairly late anyway.

MrsLebowski · 21/12/2020 08:48

Hamsters are pretty variable I have had some lovely, some a bit bitey.

Superstardjs · 21/12/2020 08:50

I had friendly ones as a child, so happily got dd one. It was a wanker. It escaped constantly, bit her to shreds and was the least sociable little fucker I have ever met. I used to dread cleaning it out as it would try to gnaw through my arm to get away. It was not a good hamster.

TheDoctorDances · 21/12/2020 08:50

If you clean the cage with very diluted baby steriliser, it doesn’t hurt the animal but keeps it fresh. They’re lovely pets, just don’t live long enough sadly.

MrsMiaWallis · 21/12/2020 08:51

Girl ones are less stinky than boys I think

lurker101 · 21/12/2020 08:51

Have you considered a guinea pig? We’ve had both as kids and typically found that guinea pigs were easier and more affectionate - they squeak with excitement when they see you etc. Which we never had with our hamsters - also their teeth are shaped in a way that they can’t actually bite you (they can nibble but it won’t break the skin/hurt)

Fudgefeet · 21/12/2020 08:51

Hamsters can be lovely pets.
My daughters is nearly 3 now but she absolutely adores him.

The advice I learnt was to Get a cage bigger than the ones they sell in pet shops (zooplus do one called Alaska) and fill it with lots and lots of bedding ( like carefresh) so they can burrow. That way they won’t get as bored and start chewing on the bars. My dds hamster sleeps inside a hollow log that’s sold for reptiles but he has chewed a hole through the bottom so he can climb through into a burrow he dug underneath.

When you first get the hamster have your daughter sit in an empty bath and let the hamster climb all over her rather than her trying to hold it and do this everyday until it becomes familiar with her smell. Plus handle it everyday so it becomes tame.
My dd’s hamster will sleep on her and likes to sit in her sleeve. He is so placid and happy unlike my own from my childhood who bit me every time I tried to hold it.

Also, don’t get one of those balls to run about in, it scares them and try to find a wheel that is suitable for rats ( a wooden one with no gaps) as the hamster size ones are too small and bad for their backs.

Finally, I recommend getting a male syrian as they are the friendliest.

Mincepiesallyearround · 21/12/2020 08:52

We had hamsters all childhood and bloody loved them. I found them to have loads of character. Get a nice big cage and out things of interest in there like kitchen roll tubes and so on. Handle them everyday, especially at the beginning. They may wee or poo on you but that’s ok, wash hands! Ours never ever bit us EXCEPT if we were stupid enough to stick our finger thru the bars, they’re short sighted so might nip to find out what is being offered. We played with ours constantly / you can get them out during the day, it’s fine, they’ll go back to sleep. We used to make them mazes in a big cardboard box with loo rolls and cardboard pieces glued down to make walls. I think they’re great pets. Oh and if you have one room that is escape proof it’s fun to let them have a longer leg stretch occasionally and run around.

FelicityPike · 21/12/2020 08:54

Remember they’re nocturnal animals so she might not see it much.
Don’t keep it in her bedroom, it might keep her awake.

Kumquatsquash · 21/12/2020 08:55

I have a roborovski dwarf hamster, insanely cute but she's like speedy gonzales! I get dizzy watching her whizz round the cage. We can't really handle her as she's too fast, so I'd recommend a Syrian hamster for a young child.

Make sure you get them a silent wheel! They are not really silent but much quieter than the ones built into the cage.

MobLife · 21/12/2020 08:55

Hamsters are vicious little bastards and will keep the house awake all night

How about guinea pigs instead? Far more cuddly although take up quite a bit more space than a hamster

Or fancy rats? Very sociable creatures and lots of fun

Flowerpot345 · 21/12/2020 08:55

I think a better animal would be a cat/kitten if your looking for her getting affection.
I have a 4 month kitten and she's EXTREMELY affectionate and a lap cat, I don't think there's much difference in the maintenance area, litter tray compared to a cage, to just clean them out so they don't smell.
She will lay in my 4 year olds arms for a long time and purrs which he finds fascinating.
Hamsters are cute but both of mine bit when I got them, the first one bit my daughter once he was male, and my second was female she was quite bitey I was really surprised but I persevered handling her and she stopped.
I wouldn't not recommended them though just that they can bite doesn't mean they always will.
Although in my experience with russian hamsters they always bit so I would only ever get a Syrian.

HumphreyCobblers · 21/12/2020 08:56

My experience is that the two male hamsters I had smelled much less than the female ones did.

The bath idea is genius! Wish I had thought of that.

YY to getting a massive wheel and the biggest cage possible in your house. Hamsters need much more space than pets at home cages would indicate.

EvilPea · 21/12/2020 08:57

@lurker101

Have you considered a guinea pig? We’ve had both as kids and typically found that guinea pigs were easier and more affectionate - they squeak with excitement when they see you etc. Which we never had with our hamsters - also their teeth are shaped in a way that they can’t actually bite you (they can nibble but it won’t break the skin/hurt)
I was just coming on to say this, guinea ohs are 100% the animal for the job. There’s a piggy rescue place that has a great website and YouTube videos, they dont need hay bedding inside, just fleece you wash so no smells. They are truly affectionate, not nocturnal, less bitey and escapey! and will happily sit in your dds hoody pocket whilst she’s bumbling about. You don’t have to get one of the plastic cages you can convert a piece of furniture to keep it in keeping with your house.

Honestly they have fantastic little personalities.

PontiacBandit · 21/12/2020 08:57

I had hamsters as child, they are not great pets imo. They sleep all day and run on the wheel/ bite the cage all night. They are nippy, probably due to being awoken in the day time.
We have rescue Guinea pigs now and they are better pets. They get very excited to see you and are happy being cuddled and petted. They are so intelligent, they squeak when the fridge is being opened on the off chance they'll get some cucumber.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/12/2020 08:58

Gerbils are better than hamsters as they are awake in the day and are happy to be handled and have a partner with them. A couple of guinea pigs might be better though as they love people and get quite chatty!

Ultimateblends · 21/12/2020 08:58

Echo what PP say, hamsters are difficult, fragile, nocturnal little creatures.

Please would you consider a rat?
They are intelligent, friendly, affectionate, clean animals.

I had many as a girl and growing up, they were my best friends, like little dogs, they would follow me around, made friends with our family dog, they like to travel so I would put them on my shoulder, or in my hoodie hood and carry them around.. they would come to the shop, to the park, they like being in sleeves, dark places.

If you are really, really patience you can even toilet train them.

They'll work for food and do tricks, you can buy lots of accessories for them.

They are such wonderful animals and very social, they don't deserve the bad rep they get.

Its also much more difficult to get a moody or nippy rat. I have never been bitten by a rat and I have many. Hamsters however are unpredictable and so easily hurt.

Rats also don't smell as long as cleaned once or twice a week, can he kept in bedrooms (mine always were) and won't disturb sleep- they are happily awake in the day.

Please consider a rat for your daughter, you might be buying her the next best friend.

Oh BTW, rats should be brought in twos (because they are so social) although I was brought up with if you buy one then they will be much more bonded to you - but that likely cruel to them- knowing what I know now I would only buy in twos and any good pet shop, should only sell in twos.

Ultimateblends · 21/12/2020 08:59

Oh, and as Pp suggested, guinea pigs are wonderful little animals!