How old are you waiting for LO(s) to be before you get them their own pet?
My oldest has expressed interest in wanting a pet. Not to sound grinchy, but not sure that we will get one at all. If we ever do it would for sure be when he's old enough to take care of it himself.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
We have a dog but she came first. I think we will always be a dog family. If our kids ever wanted a small pet of their own they'll definitely have to be old enough to take care of it!
pomelo / 5093 posts
We already had dogs and cats. I would not get a child a pet just for themselves until they were waaaaaaay older. Old enough to take care of it totally, so like, 8, maybe?
eggplant / 11824 posts
I would get LO fish, but other than that I don't belive in getting kids of any age pets. We'll get a dog later on, but it will be a family pet!
pineapple / 12053 posts
We want a dog, but that would be for ourselves. If LO asked for a pet, she would have to be old enough to care for it. Fish, maybe 3-4? Anything else probably 8.
grapefruit / 4584 posts
I think my DD's (one and going on three) would enjoy a fish but that's as far as I'd go. The house is crazy enough without sonethibg else to take care of!
bananas / 9118 posts
I'd never get one solely for a child, pets are more of a family thing for us. If you are expecting a child to maintain that responsibility over time, they will lose interest relatively quickly. I'd consider pet sitting or fostering a homeless pet on the short term if you would only be getting a pet for the kid.
Working in the shelter system, I've seen far too many pets just purchased for the kids and given up because they lost interest. Kids aren't adults and most can't handle that kind of responsibility. Heck, many adults can't either!
pomegranate / 3331 posts
We want one so badly, but want to wait until lo is older. Maybe 3? There's no magic age for us, I just know we're not ready yet
grapefruit / 4089 posts
I completely agree with everyone who said that all animals will be family pets, not kid pets 
I'd never get a kid a pet unless I was willing to take on the work of that pet myself, because that's often what happens, and it's always a big commitment.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
We already had two dogs and saltwater fish pre-lo. We wouldn't have gotten pets just for Lo even if he was old enough, had we not already had pets.
papaya / 10343 posts
A pet in a cage? Like... maybe never. I was a kid. I know kids have good intentions but they don't do a good job of taking care of those pets. Plus they are just depressing to me.
But I"m certain LO will get a dog or cat (probably dog) for a birthday/christmas at some point. She is obsessed with our pets and I imagine that will continue. So basically whenever we are ready for another pet we'll just wait until her next gift-day and make it "hers" lol. I wouldn't expect she'd ACTUALLY take full responsibility for the animal but she'll have to help. Looking at where our pets are in terms of ages and whatnot... I'd guess we'll be ready for another dog in like 3-4 years. Unless by some stroke of amnesia we have another baby. Then maybe like.... 5-6 years.
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