Taking on a pet is a great way for your children to learn life-lessons about reliability and caring for others. It’s also (if you’re not careful) a great way to introduce more stress into your already busy household. Here are 10 tips to help you enjoy the first sentence whilst avoiding the second.

- CHOOSE CAREFULLY :  You may have grown up in a pet-loving home or on a farm, but this doesn’t mean that all animals are suitable for a house with a young child in it.

- LOW MAINTENANCE IS BEST : Think about the level of care that your new pet will need. Looking after a puppy is intensive work and, with the addition of keeping an eye on your toddler too, can prove unmanageable.

- CONSIDER YOUR RESPONSIBILITY : Although your toddler or child may want a pet, take time to think about your responsibilities too. Can you afford the time (and are you inclined) to feed, groom, exercise and play with a pet? Can you afford the food, toys, bedding and vet’s bills that are inevitable?

- SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL :  Small pets (for example rabbits, fish or guinea pigs) are perfect as they entertain, are small enough to keep under control and can be trusted around your toddler (in a way that larger animals often can’t be).

- DO YOUR RESEARCH : If you want to go down the canine road, do make sure that you delve into the types of dogs with a temperament suitable for being around young children before you buy. Look into each individual dog’s history too, especially if you are thinking of taking on a rescued animal.

- THINK ABOUT YOUR TODDLER’S CHARACTER  :  All toddlers will need to be supervised around pets. For this reason, you may prefer an animal that is caged (tigers not recommended!) Even so, little fingers can poke between bars and little hands can tip fish tanks. Be careful.

- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED : Keeping a toddler (er, I mean pet!) is an unpredictable business. Your furniture may never be the same again, there will be illness/fleas to deal with and some pets may bring behavioural issues that may impact on their attitude to animals in the future.

Caring for pet can be one of the most rewarding things you can do. They will provide your toddler with a sense of responsibility, a growing care for the world around them and unconditional love.

But, a home with a toddler is already a hive of activity. We hope that the above pointers give you some ideas as to what to consider before inviting another busy creature into it!