Best for kids

[AtLastEarwax]

Hi all

Looking for recommendations really, this is a few points about what we need to consider though

Want something that the children can play with and can live indoors but also we have a garden that we are happy for the animal to go out in

I work from home

I suppose an 'easy' pet would be nice but anything has an element of work anyway doesn't it? So o expect that

Indoor trained Guinea pig?

A stuffed toy!
Kids rarely stay interested enough in any pet to give it what it needs.
Unless you want a particular pet then I wouldn’t.

Pets aren't toys..

My dc begged and begged everyday for a hamster. 2 months down the line it's gone back to the pet shop.

A pet that is a companion to us though, hence why I said I work from home so it wouldn't be an animal left for hours on end

An animal is nice for the kids to grow up with though

It will end up being your pet.

So what pet do you want?

The kids I nanny for were desperate for fish. On and on they went for a year. I told my boss in my experience children don’t in most cases remain interested when they have the pet. At Christmas they got the fish. It was all good for about a week. They won’t help with any cleaning, feeding, nothing.

Now if I didn’t feed or clean them they would starve or die from dirty water. The children barely glance their way.

Also most animals don’t really like to be ‘played with’ by children...

Nice for the kids to grow up with?? Many kids beg and plead for an animal then lose interest very quickly.
Left for hours on end? Not the issue. Will you be feeding, playing, grooming, handling and paying it attention each day? They likely won’t.

Apart from hamsters, most animals shouldn’t be on their own without a companion. Most proper places wouldn’t sell you a single rabbit or guinea pig!

Get a cat. Easiest thing in the world to look after.

I am happy for a pair too, I did say that.

Did anyone have a pet growing up? My sister and I had a dog and we never ever got 'bored' of her, we played with her in the garden and everything all day long. In the house in the playroom

Maybe we are abnormal then??

Guinea pigs are good for children but you do need a pair. They do require quite a bit of work however and can live for up to and over 6 years. You can't really train them either and they need cleaning every day as they poo a lot. I loved our pigs though.

That's what I am thinking at the moment. But the bit I'm struggling with is the 'indoor' part. I've only ever known Guineas outside

I would say a cat or a dig is different because they’re very much a family pet. And they’re animals that are bred to be pets.

I think we’ve learnt a bit more about animal care now and I don’t think it’s always the best thing for children to be in charge of a small prey animal like a rabbit or a guinea pig. Rabbits actually have really complex needs and I don’t think they should be encouraged as sweet cuddly pets for kids at all. Like I said it will be your pet, so you should choose a pet that YOU want.

I’m a bit biased I will admit as I’ve spent a lot of my adult like taking in unwanted animals. Mostly bought as cute little pets that the children got bored of and the adults couldn’t be bothered with or had no time for. I’ve had hamsters, Guineas, LOTS of rabbits, a ferret, zebra finches, many goldfish.

Do you think there is a line though?? There's a big difference in

A child being responsible for a pet
And
A child playing with an animal for enjoyment - as long as the animal is happy of course

I’m honestly just struggling to think of a small animal that ‘enjoys’ being played with my children! Guineas are lovely but they’re mostly happy just bumbling around doing their own thing and eating. Rabbits I’ve trained very easily to live in the house with me and uses litter tray but they can be a bugger for chewing wires etc. The ones I had could be very affectionate, but on their terms, if I chased after them for a cuddle they’d have run a mile.

So what are you prepared to take full responsibility for.
And your childhood memories of playing with a pet all day long? Not likely accurate.
You need to think about what you can provide for a pet.

The most affectionate animal I’ve had was a rat actually... but there is NO small pet that a child won’t lose interest in at some point, honestly.

We always had pets growing up and I’d definitely say guinea pigs are the best option in my opinion
Hamsters sleep all day and are noisy all night
Rabbits can be quite smelly and need more room
Fish are a bit boring for kids

As long as you’re happy to look after them if your kids won’t help then go for it ☺️ I was pretty good looking after my guinea pugs growing up but my mum definitely helped.
Also depends how old your kids are as younger children may struggle to be gentle enough with them. They need a lot of handling in the early days and they may bite/scratch a little bit.
Mine lived in a shed outside but I know people who successfully keep them indoors ☺️

I recommend rats too. Ours are like mini dogs. One of ours licks us whenever we're put our hands near him . They're so happy to see us. Very affectionate and playful. DS's haven't lost interest and we've had them almost a year now. We're planning on getting two more in the summer.
Very underrated pets.

Rats are very smart and you can train them too. I miss my rat. He was an only so was my little buddy. Used to go around with him in the pocket of my hoodie.

We have 2 guinea pigs indoors from October-May and outside June-September. The kids were desperate for them but 3 years later they barely look at them Now they're going on about a dog but that will never be happening!

Rats to me I thought you just kept in cages?

Also yes a lot of memories with my sister and dog. Childhood full of them, no but UK holidays - the dog was with us out every day. She went everywhere we did. Is that why she lived till 14 when her breed has an expected ages range of 8-12 years?? Because she had a good loving home. Heaven forbid. Why is that so hard to accept? Children are capable of loving animals...

I feel a bit bad just leaving a little guinea outside though?

If we got pigs I'd get hubby to build a 'table area' with a Perspex front to live on, I don't like the idea of looking out of a cage

OP you sound like you need to do a LOT more research into animals to be honest. You can’t compare the needs of a small pet to the fact that your dog had a nice life.

I had gerbils as a kid and can safely say I never lost interest in them, nor ever would have done. Worst thing about having them was how sad it was when they died, after years of not losing interest in them.

Lots of kids with very short attention span's on MN it seems, since it's being described as an inevitability!