Young children are known for their energy and curiosity. They explore the world with interest, sometimes falling into unpleasant and even dangerous situations. With the same spontaneity, children relate to pets. However, not all types of animals are equally safe for the baby. It is highly discouraged to keep some species in the same house with young children.
Large wild animals
Now it’s quite popular to keep exotic animals at home, which were removed from their habitat only a few generations ago. These include lynxes, caracals, foxes, raccoons, owls and others. Some extreme people make large dangerous predators: lions, leopards, bears and wolves. For thousands of years, cats and dogs have lived side by side with humans. They adapted to captivity and in most cases are oriented to humans. Wild animals rely more on instincts. They are much more difficult to socialize and accustom to live in human society.
Even a tamed wild animal that spent all its life with people, in one day can succumb to instincts and attack the owner.
And if an adult is likely to experience only minor injuries, a small child may well die. Even if the dangerous pet is completely isolated from the child, the possibility of escape or accident cannot be ruled out. Not understanding all the danger, the baby himself can reach out to the cage in the pet. This may well result in loss of limb.
By acquiring a wild animal, an adult takes full responsibility for the consequences. The child can only accept as a given cohabitation with a potentially dangerous pet.
Therefore, before buying a wild animal in a family in which there is a small child, you need to think carefully. Everyone has the right to risk their own lives, but do not risk the health of the child.
Reptiles and Arthropods
Not all reptiles are equally dangerous for a small child. Large species of snakes and lizards should beware. Many of them are capable of causing serious bites. Poisonous species are dangerous not only for the child, but also for his parents.
Even if reptiles are kept in reliable terrariums, possible shoots can never be ruled out. A tightly closed door can cause the reptile to gain open access to all areas of the home. And some curious children themselves may try to climb into the terrarium to the snake.
Of course, there are species of reptiles that are considered calm and rarely display aggression. But nevertheless contact of large snakes and lizards with the child should be excluded.
It is also worth abandoning the maintenance of large and poisonous arthropod species. Nowadays tarantulas have become quite popular. They attract with their size, variety of colors and simplicity of conditions of detention. But few people know that even slightly toxic species of spiders can be a serious danger. Firstly, tarantulas have huge fangs that easily tear apart human skin and leave large scars behind them. Secondly, the bite of even a slightly toxic spider can cause a severe allergic reaction. Also, stinging hairs, which spiders comb from their abdomen at the time of danger, are considered a strong allergen. Harm from exposure to hairs accumulates in the body.
Large breeds of dogs
Dogs have served man faithfully for millennia. They are focused on their master, easy to learn and socialize well. But some breeds can be especially dangerous for others.
In fact, any breed of dog can show aggression and disobedience. Most often this is due to improper education.
However, if a person is bitten by a toy terrier, the consequences are unlikely to be so significant. From such a dog is easy to protect even a child. But if a bulldog attacks, the consequences can be very dire.
Besides many dogs don't like young children. Yes, and some unconscious actions of the child are quite capable of provoking the dog to bite or attack. In addition, the dog may simply be jealous of the baby, to whom the owners pay too much attention, which will cause aggression to the "extra" family member.
Of course, many large dogs are adequate and well-educated enough not to harm the child. However, do not forget about the parasites and infections that pets carry. The immunity of a small child is not yet sufficiently formed, and therefore a baby can easily become infected from a pet by some serious illness.
Small rodents and birds
Now it's time to talk about those types of animals that are not dangerous for the child, but they themselves can easily die from the sloppy actions of the baby. The widely popular hamsters, mice, decorative rats, small birds and parrots are very fragile and delicate creatures that require careful handling.
Very young children rarely measure their strength, and therefore reluctantly can harm the pet.
The sudden death of a hamster from being squeezed or dropped too much may well injure the child.
Each parent must understand that the responsibility for the pet lies primarily with him. Do not buy a baby pet as a toy. Every living creature needs to create optimal conditions for him. The child himself, due to lack of experience and opportunities, will not be able to do this.
It’s worth buying small animals only if the parents themselves are ready to provide the pet with the right conditions. The child needs to be explained in advance how to handle a fragile pet.
Thus, almost all types of animals can pose a threat to the health of a small child to one degree or another. Some animals are dangerous in their size and aggression, others are carriers of parasites and infections. In addition, an allergic reaction in a child to a new pet can never be ruled out. But this does not mean at all that a small child and pets in the same family are not comparable.
One must always adhere to the principle of rationality. Large and dangerous animals must be completely isolated from the baby. Dogs and cats need to be vaccinated and treated against parasites in a timely manner. Before acquiring small rodents and birds, the child needs to clearly explain that these are not toys and they need to be treated very carefully.
