Guinea pig or hamster for 2yr old?

[user1489844432]

Hello

I am thinking about getting a little pet for my little one. They got hamster in nursery and he loves it. Obviously my DC is too little to take care of an animal so it will be on me. I am just wondering which one would be more suitable or perhaps none of them is. Ideally I would get a dog but it is out of question for now.

Our two year old enjoys having our Guineas on his lap and stroking them (they belong to his 8 year old brother) but it is very stressful I have to watch him like a hawk the whole time as you never know when he will grab and poke them. I tend to let him hold them for less than a minute and obviously minimise his contact with them as much as possible despite him finding them fascinating. He’s far to young for pets of his own.

None.

Christ what is a two year old going to do with a hamster apart from flush it down the toilet or throw it?!

Squeeze it to death?

No. Way too young.

Agree a 2 year old doesn’t need a pet

We had a hamster they are shit pets for kids they are nocturnal so you never see them (well you will but your kid not so much). If you wake them up so your son can see them that’s when they bite so still shit pet

Neither! Wait until kid is older!

I second the idea of goldfish, though I'd be surprised if you could get a tank etc at the moment anyway.

As long as you consider it your pet not theirs (because you will be doing all the work for it) I'd go with a guinea-pig. My 15 month old loves ours (he lives in the living room). She loves to feed him and talk to him. He'll happily sit on our knee and be stroked too. Be aware of how long they live for though - official life span is 5-7 but it's not unheard of for a guinea-pig to hit 9. Hamsters are too quick to hold really for a little one, and they don't live very long.

I've had every small animal you could think of at one point or another.

I would say goldfish or nothing.

When he is older (age 7 or 8 minimum) I would suggest a pair of gerbils or a budgie. They are more interesting than a hamster (not nocturnal) and slightly less work than guinea pigs. Although still a lot of work.

Neither, a two year old isn't old enough for a pet.
When they are then a pair of guinea pigs would be much better but wait 5-6 years.