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<\/p>\nParents 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.<\/p>\n
Dogs, Cats and rabbits were the top three most popular pets to have with young children.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a friendship like no other,” says mother\u00a0Anna 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Fish, guinea pigs, small rodents and birds also came into the top 7 favoured pets.<\/p>\n
Author of Happy Baby, Happy Family, Sarah Beeson MBE\u00a0says: \u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always better to be on the safe side when setting boundaries for the relationship between your child and your pet but it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Baby Show is returning to the NEC in Birmingham from\u00a0Friday 13 to Sunday 15 May<\/p>\n