Rabbits And Children
Rabbits are really not a children's pet. I am a babysitter and have little kids in my house a few times a week - besides my four little siblings. If a child tries to pick up the rabbit, they can hurt themselves or the bunny. Rabbits bite and scratch if provoked, just like any other animal.
Here are some tips for having bunnies and children together.
Here are some tips for having bunnies and children together.
- Have the child have a fun, special bunny chore. Obviously the child will need to be at least 3 or older, depending on the chore. Feeding is really fun to them and one of the little boys I babysit always asks to put food in my house rabbit's bowl.
- If a child drops the bunny, the bunny can break his legs or back. Rabbits are very structurally fragile. They are built for running over large distances, not jumping off of high surfaces.
- Never leave the bunny and the child together without supervision. The child could poke the bunny's eye and blind him, or the rabbit could bite his finger.
- Depending on the age of your child, you will be the most primary caregiver of the rabbit. A child 9-12 years old can take on most of the responsibility, but you will need to make sure it gets done, and that if the child seems suddenly not interested, that you are there to see that the rabbit doesn't go into a shelter.
- Never expect things from your child or rabbit that you know they can't fulfill. A 5 year old should not be expected to take out the bunny's garbage, nor should a bunny be expected to know how to treat a baby.
- Depending on the personality of the rabbit and the child, they could share a friendship together beyond any other for 10+ years. As long as both sides know how to behave, and everyone knows how to play nice and be gentle, having a bunny as a friend for your child is NOT wrong, as long as YOU, the parent, takes most of the responsibility of the rabbit and never leave the two alone together.