how old should a child be before visiting the zoo? My son is 18 months old and we want to take him.?

Answer 1

A child can be any age. If your child likes animals, take him! I would recommend taking a stroller so his little legs don't get tired, and making the trip short enough that it doesn't wear him out. And of course, take a camera for all the cute shots you will get!

Answer 2

Others are right at saying he won't remember, but..... who cares! He's going to have fun while he's there and 18 months is a perfect age to go; he will love it. I have taken my son to the local zoo many times (5-7) and he just turned 2 years old a week and a half ago.
Now, if the zoo is far away, expensive, etc (would be more of a hassle), there's no harm at all in waiting for him to get older. But, if it's close by, you have the time and money, and the weather is nice.. take him! Why not?!!
The last couple of times we have gone, I took his wagon along. (Most zoos have some you can rent also.) He had a blast going for a ride and naming all of the animals and I got some great exercise!!
Have fun! : )

Answer 3

My daughter was about this age when we first took her to the zoo and she loved it! Granted, she didn't have the attention span of an older child and she wouldn't really remember anything about the visit, but you could tell she enjoyed watching the animals. We pushed her in her stroller and she liked watching the people and the exhibits that we pointed out. It was a lovely day, and we try to take a trip to the zoo each year as our children grow. Each year they appreciate something different about it, and they remember things from the visit before.

Answer 4

I think 18 months is a great age! He probably won't be able to walk the whole zoo, so you should definitely take the stroller when his legs get tired. You can show him the different animals and plants. If he truly is disinterested, at least you're getting fresh air and a little exercise. :) Plus, children that young are free to get in, so it's not like you wasted any money buying him a ticket.

Answer 5

Hi there!
We have been members of the Philadelphia Zoo for about five years now - we had a baby two years ago and have been taking him to the zoo since he was about 4 months old! It's never too soon to expose your kids to what's out in the world!
Good luck to you!

Answer 6

My two oldest girls were visiting the zoo by around 12 months and they had a blast looking at all the animals....they even enjoyed the zoos little petting zoo.(just make sure that if you do this that you make you little man use the hand sanitizer they provide afterwards.)

Answer 7

guess it depends on the child, but i think an 18 month old would really enjoy the zoo, just make sure you have a good stroller so he dont have to walk

Answer 8

the zoo is very educational. your child is never too young to go. they will see the animals, even if they dont quite understand, they are always learning. 18 months, what a fun age.

Answer 9

Take him!!!


Just make sure the weather is appropriate... not hot or chilly. Also I agree with what everyone else said, take the stroller and pack a bag with sunblock, snacks, water, change of clothes, etc. If you're prepared for anything that might happen (ice cream down the shirt for example lol), you can relax and have a wonderful day with your son!!!!

Answer 10

He's old enough. My parents took me when I was only a year or so and now I'm 22. We go every year no matter how many new kids are there, just make sure to wash your hands plenty and use other precautions for sun and heat etc. I hope this helps you out. If you are still unsure, ask your pediatrician. He should be able to give advice.