https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 01:27:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896407 Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:41:51 +0000 pui 1896407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry about your pet. I do not have any experience with this, but I agree with PPs in using proper terminology. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896362 Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:16:47 +0000 JMOM 1896362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm interested in this - we put our cat to sleep before we moved and just didn't tell the kids anything. Our kids paid no attention to the cat at all - she was old and cranky and didn't play so they just stayed out of her way. However, Dd has started talking about her and how she is still in our old state (we moved cross country). I don't know what to tell her - I usually just change the conversation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896281 Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:34:37 +0000 sorrycharlie 1896281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry :(</p> <p>I agree with using correct words. I wouldn't do the "in a better place," "rainbow bridge," etc because toddlers and younger children just don't understand. And "passed away," "put to sleep," "sleeping for a long time" could make her afraid of sleeping herself - or of others sleeping or going away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896178 Fri, 10 Oct 2014 01:15:42 +0000 lemondrop 1896178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh Cody :crying: So sorry that it turned out that way. Wall me ANYTIME if you want to talk/text, etc :heart: </p> <p>These are the resources we usually give to owners: </p> <p><a href="http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/argus-2011-01-grief-children.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/argus-2011-01-grief-children.pdf</a></p> <p><a href="http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/diagnostic-and-support/argus/Pages/default.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/diagnostic-and-support/argus/Pages/default.aspx</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/grief/" rel="nofollow">http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/grief/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896147 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 22:52:52 +0000 Boheme 1896147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't something I have experience with, but I want to send you all the hugs in the world :heart: :heart: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896139 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 22:40:16 +0000 skibobrown 1896139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to do this recently. Our 12-year-old pet rabbit got very sick. I brought him to the vet and did not return home with him. I looked up online how to explain the death of a pet to a toddler, and the consensus seemed to be to use the correct words (i.e. "death" instead of "passed away" or "went to sleep") and to be very clear about the permanence. Little kids don't tend to understand the permanence of death, and they will think the pet will return again in a few days, magically healed. Even though we've explained what death means to our daughter, she still sometimes acts like our bunny will just walk back into the house some day and eat the rest of his raisin treats that are still in the pantry. </p> <p>I'm sorry about your pup. The death of a pet is so sad :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896102 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:55:06 +0000 MrsRcCar 1896102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not sure how to explain it but I wanted to give you a big hug. Losing a pet is terrible heartache. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896101 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:54:56 +0000 mrbee 1896101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: My son was 2 years old when one of our cats died of cancer, and we just told him that she got sick and died. He took it surprisingly well! We acted like it was just part of life, and that's how he took it too.</p> <p>I'm so sorry to hear about your dog! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-talk-to-a-toddler-about-losing-a-pet#post-1896094 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:49:18 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1896094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure which category this goes under, but I'd like some advice. </p> <p>Our 8 yr old great dane has a brain tumor and we'll be putting him down very soon. DD1 is 2.5yrs old. She is not super attached to him but will definitely notice that he's no longer around. We don't go to church regularly, so she's not all that familiar w/ heaven. </p> <p>Any way to make this as easy as possible for all of us? (It's already going to be hard for me to explain w/o crying) </p>