I want to get my son a pet for christmas but I'm not sure what to get. He loves animals and is very gentle. I would love to get him a dog but we rent a house and are not allowed to have an inside cat or dog and I don't like keeping pets outside in the winter. I was wandering if a hampster or guinie pig would be a good idea. I know they like to chew and I had a hampster when I was small that bit and gave my a few stitches so I'm not so sure about getting another one, especually since I know my son will want to hold what ever pet he gets. Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be a good indoor pet besides a cat or dog that would be good for a young child?
2006-12-03 17:33:39 · 23 answers · asked by mindy 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
There is no good pet for a 2 1/2 year old.
A pet needs good care, consistently, every day. It is a life you are dealing with. It takes maturity to handle this. Unfortunately, the result of any screw ups is death. That is not a chance you should take. A 2 1/2 year old is the opposite of the definition of maturity, so do not get a pet.
Edit: Double, triple, quadruple, quintuple thumbs down for mom_of_4! You are talking about a live animal!
2006-12-03 17:36:00 · answer #1 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Ok, I have 3 little girls, 4, 2, and 6 months.....the pets I have are: 1 Cat, 1 Bunny, 2 Rats, 2 Degus, and 1 Salamander. The Cat is good...but you can't have a cat lol, the bunny is a good pet, she is very tame, the kids haul her around all the time and oddly enough, she likes this....the down side is that you want a pet that is easy to care for and a rabbit needs to have a large cage that gets cleaned very frequently or they smell really bad. The Rats, well, the female is very flighty and doesn't like to be held, the male, LOVES the kids attention and is quite content to run around and let them "find" him. People have issues about Rats, but I think they are awesome...the kids let him out and he always finds his way back to the cage or to someone that can put him back in his "home". The other plus is that they are very clean and easy to care for. The degus like to chew. Period. They will chew anything, even you. Bad for kids. And the Salamander, well, he's only good to look at and watch, can't play with them. I would not recommend any breed of hamster, they all bite and get crabby when they are woken up. Gerbils and rats are good, don't bite and are very clean...Rabbits and guinea pigs are good cause they are bigger and can be harness trained as well, but they are quite dirty. I would say that you should go to your local petstore and look around. Big Tip: If you cannot handle them in the store, do not buy them, you more than likely won't be able to handle them when you get them home and you will probably have to try to train them to be handled. Another tip, you must be prepared to be the main caregiver of the pet considering your son is so young, so take that into consideration. People say not to get a pet during the hustle and bustle of holidays, but I got my kids their rabbit for Easter and there was nothing wrong with that. Good Luck and I hope I helped a little.
2006-12-04 10:57:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nothing besides a cat or a dog. Other animals are not really "domesticated". Forget getting animals in a cage/aquarium. They are miserable. They die early, or eat each other up. Besides, you don't want to teach your kid that putting animals in cages is ok. Fish - same story. They get sick or they go crazy. Birds - even worse. Hamsters? Noooo.
How about a virtual pet? On your computer... just buy a program. He'll like it. Or a toy? They make life-like kittens nowadays.
For the real animals, go visit a farm once in a while. Or volunteer at an animal shelter.
2006-12-04 03:15:54 · answer #3 · answered by pepette 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is true that that is too young for them to have their own pet. Basically it will be your pet, so you should go with what you are comfortable with. Cats are usually good with kids (I have 2 and they are fine with him, let him pet him, never scratch or hiss) However you have to clean the litter daily and NOT let your child around the litter. My baby also liked to try to eat the cat food. A rabbit would be a good choice if you are willing to keep the cage clean. They can be very timid, but they are great to hold and will get used to you. They don't live very long either. Good luck!
2006-12-04 04:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by Mompoet 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't recommend a hamster, you are right they do like to bite, my son's had bite him (and drew blood) more than once. They aren't very good to play with either, and they don't live long (we have had two in the last two years, they are both dead now). I can't speak about gerbils because I don't have any experience with them. I can however strongly recommend ferrets, we have two and my kids just love them. (I have a seven year old, a three year old, and a five month old). We have had them (we have two) since my oldest was just over a year. With the proper care, they are great. They are durable (very flexible, don't get hurt when dropped), playful, and gentle. You can let them run the house like cats or you can keep them penned, they are easily litter trained and have personality to boot. I could go on and on. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I will answer the best that I can. Best of luck to you.
2006-12-04 01:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by bluekitty8098 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a 16 month old and I can tell you from experience that a rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster is not a good idea. They all are quick, are easily irritated if you don't handle them properly, bite and scratch. My little girl has quite a few scratches from our bunny even with keeping his nails properly trimmed. They just aren't good pets for kids!
I saw that there's quite a few thumbs down for goldfish, but honestly....that's the best at this age. They don't bite and your child won't squeeze it to death, and you don't have to concern yourself with maintaining something with fur or having your child play in the litter box if you are considering a cat.
2006-12-04 01:41:28 · answer #6 · answered by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits can be a very good first pet, in fact my son's preschool class has a rabbit for that reason. Whatever you decide be sure to research it thoroughly before you buy. Some animals are better to get a male vs. female or vice versa. You will also want to think about how much up keep they are, as some pets require frequent vet visits or grooming. Good luck to you and I hope you find the perfect pet for your family.
2006-12-04 11:35:49 · answer #7 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I personally think, because i am 18 and my brother who is 4 wants a pet as well. Fish are a good idea unless you don't have the time to clean the fish tank. Maybe a turtle, hermit crab or a hamster. But make sure to ask your son what he wants. Give ideas and see what he wants. That's all i can think of, hope you get more ideas. Hope its helpful!
2006-12-04 01:46:05 · answer #8 · answered by bindi 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DO NOT get a pet for ANYONE for Christmas, it is just too stressful on the poor animal. As well as those trying to take care of all the holiday hassles AND house train a puppy. I suggest a stuffed dog or cat and wait until after things settle down to think about a live animal.
2006-12-04 01:37:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
get him a pet fish bettas are great 2 1/2 is young for any cage pets will bite at first until there used to you but rats are easy to deal with
2006-12-04 01:47:04 · answer #10 · answered by Moo moo I'm a chicken 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋