Probably, sooner or later all parents face the baby's request to buy a small pet. Before you start a pet for a child, be it a dwarf hamster or a German shepherd, you should analyze the pros and cons of the appearance in your home of a new resident.
Choose an animal
First of all, it is necessary to understand what kind of pet is best for your child. It depends on the:
- the desires of the child himself;
- preferences of parents;
- living conditions;
- opportunities to provide the animal with a decent care.
Proceed from the request of the child, which for sure will be quite specific ("I want a big black dog with a white tail"), and analyze it for a "real / unreal" thing. In case you decide that it is unacceptable for the family to get the required bull terrier or tarantula for the family, ask the baby to choose a replacement. It can be:
- aquarium fish;
- exotic birds (parrots, canaries, amadines, weavers);
- reptiles (turtles, iguanas, snakes, lizards);
- rodents (hamsters, decorative rats, rabbits, chinchillas, squirrels, guinea pigs);
- dogs and cats of different breeds.
How do animals affect children?
It is quite a natural question, which interests many parents - how pets and young children get along under one roof. The answer is unequivocal: from a psychological point of view, this neighborhood gives only positive results. Children who grew up with animals are kinder, caring, and less selfish than their peers who do not have pets. Kids learn from domestic animals selfless love, devotion, empathy. Pets for children are more than just animals that need to be fed and strolled. Having received a pet as a gift, the child becomes its owner. This means that he enters into a new role for himself - the elder, the main one. He learns caring, responsibility, kindness towards his little pet. Children love animals, so give them the opportunity to show this love!
"Underwater rocks"
In addition to the positive influence of animals on children, there are minuses in this matter. The most common problem is the allergy to animals that occurs in children. Sources of allergy can be cat hair, feathers and droppings of birds, the products of rodents and even fodder for fish. If you already know that your child is allergic, then it is better not to start a pet. Explain to the kid that if he starts an allergic reaction, his new pet will have to be given to someone, and he will be bored. In addition to allergies, children can develop various diseases transmitted from animals. These are diseases such as helminthic invasion, lichen, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, rabies and others. In order not to become a victim of these dangerous diseases, the pathogens of which are almost in every pet, one should strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, and with the slightest suspicion to consult a doctor.
Pets and Infant
When a newborn appears in the house, pets are given less attention than before. Mostly this applies to cats and dogs, which are especially jealous. Help the pet to get used to the presence of the baby: give sniff the clothes of the baby and himself, "introduce" them. Give the animal even a little bit of his time daily so that he does not feel deprived.
To avoid possible problems, observe the following rules for the interaction of newborns and pets:
- Even before the birth of the baby, make the necessary vaccinations for the animal, and then - regularly check it with the veterinarian.
- At first, watch how the newborn and your pet communicate.
Do not allow the cat to sleep in a baby cot, and the dog licked the baby. If possible, also eliminate the baby's contact with the animal's fur. - When the baby grows up and starts to crawl, in no case let it go to the cat's toilet.
- Instruct a child to wash his hands after he played with a dog, bird or hamster.
Do not be afraid to start animals! After all, they have a positive impact not only on children, but also on adults. The animal will become not only an object of care, but also an assistant in the fight against stress, a good friend and family member.