Parents think pet owning has a positive impact on their young children

Parents think having a pet at home has a positive impact on their young children, with 83 per cent believing it’s good for their development.

Dogs, Cats and rabbits were the top three most popular pets to have with young children.

A 60 per cent of parents thought having the animals when their children were young helped them learn about interacting with animals and 29 per cent wanted the benefits of teaching responsibility.

“It is a friendship like no other,” says mother Anna Ashby. “A sense of trust and a bond. It also teaches loss and how to deal with that when the time comes. To appreciate relationships alongside the responsibility of taking care of a living thing is a hugely important aspect of growing up.”

Fish, guinea pigs, small rodents and birds also came into the top 7 favoured pets.

Author of Happy Baby, Happy Family, Sarah Beeson MBE says: “It’s no surprise that such a high number of new parents have pets. We often practice our caring skills on our beloved animals before we embark on parenthood.

“It’s always better to be on the safe side when setting boundaries for the relationship between your child and your pet but it’s a great opportunity for your little one to learn. The experience of pet ownerships shows us how to be loving and respectful, and can give children a little bit of supervised responsibility. The relationship your toddler has with your pet often starts long before they make friends at school or nursery; they really are part of the family.”

The Baby Show is returning to the NEC in Birmingham from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 May

For more information, visit: www.thebabyshow.co.uk