what is the best pet for my three year old?

Question

i want to get my three year old a pet but not sure what one , of course i will make sure she feeds it and gives it all the care that it needs.what about a guniae pig

Answer 1

I think it depends on what YOU want. Really, you will be the one caring for it. I know you will try to teach her, but she is too little to really care for it. Plus, once the newness wears off a lot of kids are over it! :) I have never had a guinae pig, but I have had a hamster. I think they are pretty easy to care for. You have to make sure they have clean water, food, and you have to clean their cages out. I am pretty sure they are inexpensive, which is good. However, you have to make sure your baby is gentle. I know it is easy to crush the little guys! Make sure you go to the pet store with your child, because they might be scared of a guniae pig. I know dogs are really fun, but I think that they would be a little much for a first pet. Cats are the same way. The vet bills might be a little much too. I think a guniae pig type pet is a great idea for a first pet as long as you don't get your hopes up that your little one will take charge! :) Good luck! I hope everything goes well with yall!

Answer 2

Hello,

I agree with most of the people that a fish would be the best bet. I have three chinchilla's two sugar gliders and two chihuahua's and ten nieces and nephews. When the young ones come over I cant let them play with my chins or gliders (no matter how much they beg) becuase even with me supervising them when they hold them they tend to get to excited or scared and either squeeze these pets too hard or drop them. Even with my chihuahua's I have to supervise at all times because they can be easily hurt as well. Also with animals like guinea pigs there is no way to stop them from biting if they are scared. They cant be tought better like a dog or cat can. So you run a high risk that your child may be bit and then want nothing too do with the animal again. Then you are either stuck with an animal that you dont really want (i'm not saying you wouldnt care for it but it just sound like you want it more for companioship for your child than for yourself =O ) ) or having to find it a new home.

Answer 3

Guinea pigs can be good animals but being rodents, they can get injured very easily. A 3 year old won't quite know how gentle to hold it and if she gets excited, could drop it or squeze it causing serious injury and possibly getting her bit. A cat or puppy is the best route. Puppy really is. My 3 year old got a Lab puppy as an early Christmas gift last month and it couldn't have been a better choice!

Oh and just for the record, my 3 year old son DOES feed and clean up after my Lab. I try to stop him, especially with the poop but he insists so I help and make him wear gloves and a pooper scooper. He is all about being the one to feed and water her and makes sure he gets to brush her. At 3 years old, they can be big helps with animals!

Answer 4

a cat or medium sized dog.

my #1 choice I would say a friendly dog. Dogs can take the "roughness" of kids because young children often dont know they are hurting a cat and can end up "annoying" a cat easily enough for it to scratch or bite.


Do not give a rabbit as a pet to a child, rabbits do not like to be held they only like to be petted. They will scratch "by accident" when you try to pick them up.

Yes- a guinea pig would be a good pet choice too- they are not like rabbits it will be ok if your child holds a guinea pig, they will not immediately claw to get away like rabbits or "some" cats.

Answer 5

A three year old? hmm...prolly a pet rock. you can paint it all up nice and you dont have to worry about cleaning up its messes. As for a real pet, I personally would wait until the child is a little older, then get something small like fish or a hamster. One that the child can see, and interact with without having to hold it and possibly get bitten/scratched/gnawed upon. Hamsters are fairly easy to take care of and can be very industrious. Have fun and good luck!

Answer 6

I would personally get my child a hamster or rabbit. One most hamsters are very kind and children get a great kick out of them when they run around and clean their whiskers. They also love it when they roll around in the plastic balls. I might also get a rabbit, one because they are pretty good natured and are not very agressive. They could be cuddly for the little one and would be eisier to hold and do things with since they are bigger than hamsters. Guinea pigs i'm not so sure would be a good choice considering they do have large teeth and can be somewhat unpredictible. Also keep in mind the bigger the pet the more money and work it will be to keep it. Just do what ever you think is right.

Answer 7

A 3 year old isn't gonna feed or nurture any type of pet. A 3 year old is all about curiosity.

If you want to introduce pets into your child's life it is best to choose one that YOU are willing to take care of. Rather it is fish or a kitten.

I have a 3 year old. And I have many types of pets, from rabbits, ducks, cats, dogs, fish, chickens to baby goats. For Her? It is all about petting and holding them.

I let her "partake" in the feeding process by handing her grain, feed and hay. I let her touch and hold the animals, but I DO NOT give the burden of survival to her.

Any pet will do to introduce pet care to your child. Just remember that pets die. And that isn't something you want to explain right now to a 3 year old.

Choose an easily managed pet, fish are best. A 10 gallon tank with maybe 20 of those feeder fish. She will watch them endlessly, and probally locate the fish food and toss the entire contents in?

Just clean the tank, get more fish...................

Answer 8

A guniea pig is great, but maybe a fish would be a better start for young children. If it's furry, the child might want to carry it around all the time and shake it around(i was like that too). A fish would be interesting to watch, and it's easy to feed them. =)

Answer 9

A guniae pig is a lot of work. Maybe you should start out with a goldfish (easier to clean) and then maybe down the road, when the child gets bigger, then move on to a guniae pig or something along that line.

Answer 10

3 year olds are too young to have their own pets. I would stick to fish. If you wanted to get a family pet, that is fine. But, most children at that age aren't responsible enough.

I had adopted a cat from some woman that had originally given to her 5 year old son. When I got her, she had most of her whiskers torn out and would constantly hide somewhere dark.