Sometimes pets are brought into the family to help teach kids various lessons, like responsibility for example. For others, it’s just something they choose to do in order to bring some fun and companionship into their homes.

Regardless of why you do it, it’s important to do your research to find out what first pet is right for you. You’ll want to make sure that you can handle the amount of care and expense various animals require.

Here is a list of some animals that are considered good first pets in general.

Guinea Pigs

For first pets, many people look to the rodent family. There are lots of animals to choose from in this group – rats, gerbils, hamsters – many of which have excellent attributes as first pets. But the guinea pig has the distinction of being large (and slow) enough for bonding and cuddling, while being small enough to make for easy feeding and clean-up.

If you go on vacation, guinea pigs are not complicated to leave in the care of a friend or neighbor, and if you’re only gone overnight, you can safely leave them with enough food and water.

Guinea pigs do need regular exercise time out of their cages, and a lot of attention and “people time,” especially if you only have one. They are active during the day, which makes this a bit easier than for nocturnal rodents. 
 
One word of caution about guinea pigs: some children and adults can be highly allergic to them. Spend some time (more than a few minutes in a pet store) interacting with guinea pigs before choosing to buy to see if this is a problem for any members of your family.

Gerbils

Unlike other small rodents, gerbils are diurnal (active during the day), which can be a big plus for those who want to play with their pet during the day and who don’t want to deal with squeaking exercise wheels and rustling sounds during the night. They are easy to feed and, due to their native desert habitat, are not big water drinkers. Therefore, they don’t urinate as much which makes for easier clean-up and less smell.

Rats

Although some may find the idea of keeping a rat as a pet a bit repellent, consider the intelligence of this rodent before you say no. Rats can be trained, and sources say that, if raised from a young age, rats can be affectionate. Training can include anything from tricks to coming on command. They do not require a very big living space, as long as they have access to exercise (wheels, tunnels, etc.) and are taken out and played with daily.

Rats are nocturnal, but they do have periods of activity during the day, and you can minimize how active they are at night by keeping them active during the day.

Ferrets

Ferrets are high-energy, playful animals that make good first pets for active families who are often home. They do need to be spayed or neutered, just like a dog or cat, and can even be “de-scented” during the surgery to prevent any smelliness.

They are entertaining and can be litter trained, but they will still need a large cage. You can get these types of habitats used to save money, and even a dog crate will do with a little modification. Another bonus is that people don’t tend to be allergic to Ferrets.

Okay, bear with me You may be shaking your head saying “Crystal, you can’t teach them manners when they are so young”. But I strongly disagree. As I see it manners, like so many other things, are caught more than they are taught.

So at this age when baby is facinated by you and copying your smile and gestures, rest assured she is also copying your behaviour. So when you need to take a toy from her, don’t forget to say please and thank-you.

Let me also add that “ta-ta” is not the same AT ALL as saying “please”. It’s always seemed odd to me that people would be so sure their child could learn to give them something because Mommy or Daddy said ta-ta and extended their hand… and yet wouldn’t think their child could understand the word “please”. Well they can Of course they can

Similarly, when you give them something, encourage them to say thank-you. It will take quite some time before they can say it but I’d bet they will surprize you by how early they will try to say it… and it’s just sooo cute to see and hear a little one try to say thank-you