How To Keep Children Safe Around Pets

Having pets in the home while your children are growing up can be a wonderful experience. However, you do need to take a few precautions to keep children safe around pets, so that the experience remains enjoyable. The level of precaution depends on your child's age and experience with pets, as well as the type and temperament of the pet you own. Here's how to keep children safe around pets:

1. Choose the pet carefully. Some types and breeds are known to be more kid-friendly than others. Some are also considered more “fun” for young children than others. Proper socialization and training can make nearly every pet suitable for a family situation, but this must be done from the time the pet is young. Avoid trying to add an adult pet to your family if the pet has never been exposed to children, particularly if your children are very young.
2. Keep your pet's vaccinations updated. Before bringing any pet home, first stop at the vet for a checkup and vaccinations first. Some animal diseases and infections can be passed from the pet to your family.
3. Consider allergies. If your child has not spent considerable time around animals before, you may not know if they are allergic to pets. You may want to ask your child's pediatrician for a referral to an allergist to be sure that it is safe to bring a pet into the home. Some breeds and types of pet tend to affect allergies less than others.
4. Set ground rules. Make sure that your child knows the proper way to handle the pet. Many young children may believe that pets will be tolerant of their rough play. Though this may be the case with some patient animals, it is certainly not the case with all pets. Teach your child safety issues, like not getting in the middle of a pet fight and washing up after playing with the pet. Young children may need to be told specifically not to touch the pet's waste or taste the pet's food.
5. Supervise interactions. Watching your child with the pet is particularly important during the first few weeks, when they are learning how to respond to each other. Your child should be taught the correct way to greet and play with a pet. Avoid demonstrating aggressive games like tug-of-war with your pet; your child may catch on and try to repeat the game later, when you're not there to supervise.
6. Treat any scratches or bites appropriately. Your children should grow up knowing that pets may not always get along with them. Sometimes pets are in a playful mood or wish to be left alone. If bites or scratches do occur, make sure that your child receives the necessary medical attention. Remind your child not to grab whiskers, pull tails, or otherwise upset your pets.
7. Make a “child free” zone. If your pet is in need of a quiet space away from the shrieks of young children, they should have an escape. Do not let the child go in this space to disturb the pet, and do not use this space as punishment for your pet. Your pets do, on occasion, need time apart from your children.

When you are considering bringing a pet into the family, you are right to be concerned about their interactions with your children. Young children do not naturally know how to interact with a pet. Because your pet cannot verbally tell them to stop an annoying behavior, your child may get bitten or scratched if they provoke the pet. Though these are inevitable, it is important to teach your child how the pet likes to be handled, and only let them get to know the pet when you are around to supervise.