10 worst pets for young kids

Pets require a big investment of time, money and love. Before deciding on which animal you'll invite into your family, check out our list of animals not recommended for young kids.

1. Chicks

Baby chicks may seem cute, fluffy, and playful but the reality is that they're also prone to being crushed accidentally by over-enthusiastic kids. Additionally, they provide a risk of zoonotic disease i.e. contagious diseases spread between animals and humans. Also, remember that chicks wont remain chicks forever! It's very tough for a kid to take care of a chicken or rooster, tempting though the thought of fresh eggs may be.

2. Parrot

Parrots are a lot more work than they seem to be. They need specialised knowledge to be cared for, which could be tough for a kid to grasp. Also, some parrots can live for a very long time, which sounds like a good thing. But you wouldn't want your kid to consider University choices based on which college would allow a parrot to live in a dorm room, would you?

3. Ferrets

Ferrets fall under the category of exotic, and expensive to care for pets. They have a strong odor, even after their musk glands have been removed. Personality wise, they are excitable and aggressive, and even when trained, tend to feel threatened quite easily.

4. Tadpoles

Tadpoles turn quickly into frogs and unless you're willing to explain to your child about the delicacies of frogs legs, you'd be chasing after these hopping creatures after they outgrown their plastic bag. Additionally, they pose a risk for transmitting a disease called Salmonella.

5. Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, so they generally get aggressive and annoyed when woken up in the middle of the day and start to bite. This means that they aren't very playful during the day, and instead wander around the house at night, making them one of the worst pets for kids, ever! If that isn't enough, hedgehogs are also considered to be exotic, so they need extensive care and a special environment to feel safe.

6. Chinchillas

Similar to hedgehogs, chinchillas are nocturnal, so they would display similar behaviour as hedgehogs. Additionally, they need to remain in cool temperatures, meaning your air conditioner will have to be on 24/7.

7. Turtles

We all presume turtles are slow, patient and thus easy to take care of, but they really aren't as docile as humans think they are! Just like frogs, turtles carry the disease Salmonella, which if transmitted to humans is highly infectious. Turtles can also grow to be quite large, possibly too large for a kid to handle.

8. Goldfish

Goldfish have the reputation for being the classic first pet for most people. But goldfish don't live very long in a fish bowl, can't actively play with your kid, and need some maintenance to flourish, contrary to popular belief. If they are to survive, they require at least 20 gallons of filtered water, and frequent water hanges up to every hour. Guess who will be the one responsible for doing that?

9. Rottweiler Dogs

Rottweiler Dogs are powerful, and are bred as guards. Rottweilers are confident, so they require confident, firm and strong-willed handlers, for which your small child is an unlikely candidate. They like to chase after other animals too. These dogs have a very strong personality which is dominant even when bought as puppies.

10. Ponies

Ponies might be every little girls dream, but are they really a dream to own? Sure, they're fun to ride and take photos with if you have the cash to afford one. But they'll need a lot of space to run, and a full-time caregiver. So they're hardly your child's pet if they have to live in the stables all of the time.

Written by

Sandra Ong

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