Whether you already have a pet at home, or are thinking of adding a fuzzy companion to your family, you may be wondering about Baby’s role in pet care as they get older. Though they are still too young to care for a pet on their own, at this age, they can definitely start to help you take care of a pet. Here are some ways Baby can pitch in to help when it comes to pet care.
- Food and water: As Baby’s fine motor skills develop, they may be able to help scoop food and pour water into your pet’s dish. You may want to lend a hand so they doesn’t make a mess, and closely supervising feeding time is an important safety precaution, but this very important aspect of pet care is one that Baby may be ready to help dish out.
- Maintaining the cage: If you have a pet whose cage needs cleaning, like a hamster, letting Baby help you clean the cage out can help you start to teach them about the importance of taking proper care of a pet, and the amount of work that can entail. They can line the cage with papers, or even refill the shavings, with you as a guide – just make sure they thoroughly wash their hands afterwards!
- Cleaning up toys: For bigger pets, like cats or dogs, there’s a good chance you have more than a few toys lying around for playtime. Since Baby is able to help clean up their own toys at the end of the day, they should also be able to help out cleaning up a pet’s toys.
- Brushing: For pets who are even-tempered and enjoy being brushed, this can be an appropriate job for Baby to take on, under your supervision. You can talk to them about how, just like people, family pets need grooming and good hygiene to look and feel their best.
- Playing: The best part about having a pet is all the fun they bring to the family. Baby’s favorite part of pet care is sure to be playing with your pet – and it’s probably your pet’s favorite, too. Closely supervise, and make sure Baby knows not to play too rough, but once Baby and the family pet get used to each other, playing together can be a great way for Baby to learn about playing nicely, and thinking about the feelings of others.
While Baby will still need lots of help, now is a great time to introduce them to the basics of pet care. It will take a bit more time for them to help with the big tasks, like taking the family dog for a walk, but getting them involved early is a great way to help them feel confident and to learn responsibility. Your pet will thank them with lots of love!
