Toddler and Pets
Your Toddler & Pets! Risks versus Benefits
Children and pets are not always two things that go together. This is especially true when you have a toddler in the house. Each year, thousands of toddlers are bitten by dogs, some maliciously and the vast majority are bitten by dogs that they live with every day. What is sad is that the event can cause emotional scarring for the child and cause the animal to be put down unnecessarily. When it comes to children and pets, supervision has to be constant and children need to learn with certainty that animals are not like people and that they will react when tormented or teased for too long.
First of all, pets should not be something that a family gets on a whim. Far too many families see a puppy on the side of the road, a bunny at the pet store or a stray kitten and pick it up without planning. Obviously a toddler cannot be in charge and even though they think the puppy or kitten is cute now it is going to be your responsibility to look after. Additionally, what happens when your little puppy grows up and how will you handle the responsibilities of keeping your child safe and the puppy treated fairly.
Other reasons that pets and toddlers don’t always mix is because toddlers have not yet developed a sense of touch and they can easily strike an animal with a hand or object and cause it to turn on them. Similarly, they will not understand or be able to recognize when an animal becomes defensive. While you may consider that you will always supervise, chances are your new pet may end up in a crate or out in the garage more than with you. Sometimes, having a pet depends on the pet itself and there are many, many animals that seem to do just fine with children. Yet you still never know.
Another risk to having pets of course is germs, allergies and pests. Pets can cause any of these to occur in your home and pet dander can cause severe reactions in young children. The same is true for litter boxes or hamster cages which can be full of bacteria that can easily contaminate your child. Even if you have taught your two year old not to eat from the cat’s bowl chances are they still might try. Interestingly, many physicians believe that exposing kids to pets early in life can actually decrease the chance of allergies later in life.
There are also benefits to having pets. Toddlers seem to naturally gravitate toward animals and for children who display signs of autism or ADD, pets have been known to be therapeutic affording them a safe place to show emotion. Pets also give children a first glimpse at love, companionship, friendship and responsibility. A family pet can be your toddler’s best rainy day friend and a cherished part of the family that offers shelter, love and pride. Children who have pets in their life are also more compassionate towards others, develop patience and can be socially stimulated earlier in life. Pets help young children form meaningful bonds and can introduce the ideas of sharing earlier than those who live without them.
Having a pet in your home at some point in your child’s life is definitely beneficial. There is something very special about the bond between a child and their favorite pet. However, the toddler years may not be the best time to introduce one. Toddlers are reckless and wild and can often act sporadically which can lead them to getting hurt by a pet in their home; especially dogs. Even dogs that have never showed an ounce of aggression toward children can suddenly turn and snap because they were stepped on or their tail was pulled on a whim. The results are not something that can be undone.
If your child seems to show an interest in having a pet it may be best to start with something that poses no threat to your child such as a fish or bird. This way the child can admire the pet, learn how to take care of an animal yet not be placed in every day danger. You have a lifetime to introduce your child to the wonderful world of animals and rushing the issue will only place more responsibility on you and give you one more thing to worry about. If you wait till your child can take care of pet on their own, you will no doubt be giving them a lesson of love and compassion that will last with them for a lifetime.
