How do I tell dd aged 5 her hamster is dead?

[mummyhill]

It managed to work one of the stopers out of the habitrail whilst we were all in bed. The cat thought it was a new toy, i nearly trod on it when i came downstairs in the dark this morning. I have disposed of it but not told her yet as not sure how to break the news.

I would probably tell her it was poorly so was taken to the animal hospital but it was too poorly to live so has went to animal heaven.

Maybe a good time to explain how death is part of life

Teach her about the circle of life and point out how glossy the cat's coat looks.

I'm joking really, we have a hamster and I can't even begin to imagine the keening that'll be going on here once Gorgeous George 'passes on'.

I don't envy you but a trip to get a new baby one often makes the sad part very short.

Chicken out of telling DD today, pretend it has escaped and will soon be found.
Tell yourself it is better to explain at the weekend when she doesn't have to face school.
Put the hamster's body in a box and hide it in your underwear draw.
Forget all about it for several months.
Let DD stumble upon it next summer when it has gone mummified because the box was air tight.

...that is what my mum did when my first hamster died .

OMG artichokes!! You poor thing!
but.....

pmsl

LOL Thats awful

ewwww at mummified hamster.

This was a vicious little critter but dd loved her all the same. Any suggestions on best type of rodent to replace it with? Want something that won't go for you and try to draw blood when you go near the cage.

Ok plied child with sweets, explained that hammy had gone to sleep and had unfortunatly died in her sleep. We had a few tears but has calmed down now. So any suggestions for a more child friendly option than a syrian hamster.

We have a syrian hamster and he is the most friendly little thing. He never bites and loves being handled. Guess we were just lucky.

My friend went out and got her DDs one after she saw how friendly ours was and it was a horrible, nasty little blighter lol

They have to pick it up with a soup ladle as it bites every time!

our syrian hamster is a little sweetheart, hasn't ever nipped. I was advised to handle them in the shop to test out temperament. We were also told not to handle her in the first couple of days to let her settle down. Then to sit my DD in the bath (no water of course!) and just let the hamster run around over her to get used to her smell.

Our syrian used to nip when he was younger, out of fear. Dd even has two little hamster teeth scars on the end of her nose from when she pushed it through the cage bars (silly moo). Now he never bites as he's got used to us.