Guinea pigs as a pet for a 3YO good idea or not?

[mamadiva]

Took my DS to the pet shop the other day to have a look at the animals for something to do.

He fell in love with the guinea pigs but have heard they are horrible to keep, any experience?

He is not the most dainty of children but he will never be alone with an animal and he won't be allowed to hold unsupervised etc.

We don't have much room indoors but we have room in our garden for them just unsure what we need and what we would have to do to care for them,.

Are they okaY to handle once in a while? DS would be 'helping' to loiok after them and they would be his pets IYKWIM.

So any tips?

Mine had their guineas at 3 and 4 and have had five great years with them. You need to handle them a lot to start with but they are a reasonable size for small kids to hold and very docile. You need to be prepared to clean them out frequently or they pong!

Personally I think 3 is a wee bit young for a pet.

At that age I think they get just as much out of looking at them in pet shops or other people's houses - bonus as you don't have to clean/feed/play etc!

Don't have experience of it though, I just know that it would be a 2 minute wonder to the 3 year olds I know, and I'm not sure I'd be able to vouch for its safety unless it was quite securely locked away somewhere

I had 2 'winnie wigs' 15 years ago. Hutch, food, bottle and straw. They love dandelion leaves and spinach. We moved hutch into shed over winter and loosely covered with blanket at night. Hated cleaning hutch out, needs doing twice a week really.

That's what DP said smallchange

I don't know anyone who have them but know people who have had them and they said they were horrible.

Good point about the security though DS would probably let them out or something unless I had it closed mega secure!

Kate would once a week proper clean be enough and everyday just taking out crap and soiled bedding etc.

Aah twice a week right. I don't have anywhere I could put them in winter hmm... never thought of that...

My DS is 3 and I am about to get a couple of goldfish. I'd be nervous about him having a guinea pig atm.

What did your friends say was horrible about them? I don't find the cleaning out a problem (do them every 3-4 days) but I'm not in the slightest bit squeamish. I think they're lovely pets. One of ours died a couple of weeks ago and I miss her as much as dd2 does