by Jayne Scott

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

One of the most important decisions to make when considering introducing a new pet into your family is what type of pet will best fit into your environment. While it is lovely for a child to grow up with an animal, it is also very necessary to make sure that both the child and pet are safe and happy together.

Dogs are often the best choice for babies and very small children. They are generally big and strong enough to cope with a certain amount of manhandling and, so long as you choose the right breed and supply the correct training from the start, they are usually more tolerant than a cat might be and more resilient than a hamster or rabbit.

Whatever type of pet you decide on, it is very important to properly introduce your baby and the pet to each other. This is best done by you and your partner  (or another family member) together in a calm and relaxed way. When you first bring your new pet home, give it a chance to settle in a little before introducing it to your baby. A nervous or anxious animal may react badly to an over-enthusiastic welcome from an excited child and you need to minimize any risk of nipping or scratching at a first meeting.

With one of you in control of the pet and the other holding the baby, let them see each other. If that all goes well, let your pet sniff the baby but please make sure the baby doesn't make a grab for it and frighten the animal. Once your pet is comfortable near your baby, you can encourage the baby, if it is old enough, to touch it. Keep encouraging the baby to be gentle and watch both of them all the time. It is never wise to leave small children alone with an animal at any time, even if you consider the baby to be safe in a cot or playpen.

Introducing a pet to a baby is simple and usually pain free if you just do a little careful planning beforehand. Children should always be supervised around pets and be encouraged to act with thought for their comfort and wellbeing. They should be taught simple safety rules and these need to implemented by all the family members. Children learn from watching their parents - if you are thoughtful and calm around your pet, they will be too.

Building a bond with an animal can be a wonderful part of childhood but it is important to teach your children that animals have feelings too and need to be handled gently.

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