Parents Tips For Choosing a Family Pet
“Can we keep him mom? We’ll take good care of him, we promise.” This is a common statement heard by parents everywhere while visiting or just walking by your local pet shop. When you finally decide that your family will be getting a pet how do you choose which pet would be right for you?
Your children’s ages should definitely be a consideration when choosing a family pet. Do they have the self control to listen and remember the pet care instructions? If they can’t handle following simple instructions you will be risking either your child or your new pet being hurt.
The age of the pet you are looking into adopting or purchasing should also be a factor. A younger animal like a puppy would do well with younger children while and older animal might prefer the company of an older child.
How much time will your family be able to care for your new pet? Dogs and cats really require a good amount of care, so if your family cannot commit a large amount of time to caring for a pet, a dog or cat would probably be a bad idea. A goldfish or a hamster are two great alternatives if your family is in the market for a low maintenance pet. You might want to consider a pet that would be simple for your child to care for and make sure that your child is comfortable with the pet that you choose. Additionally, you will want to be sure that you can provide a safe environment for your new family pet. Studies have shown that pets live a longer and happier life if they live inside with their families.
Making sure to do lots of research before you purchase a pet will help make sure that you choose a pet that will fit perfectly with your family.
Choosing a Babysitter
When a mother decides to return to the work force or maybe if parents decide they want to go out for a night on the town it is time to start looking for a babysitter. Finding a babysitter can really be a difficult process as it can be hard for parents to leave their children with anyone other then family. So how do you choose the right sitter for your kids?
First ask friends and family for their opinions. Have they used the sitter that you are considering? If they have, would they recommend them? Getting these types of references on a potentials babysitter can really put a parents mind at ease when leaving their child in their care.
Consider having an interview with a potential babysitter to see how they interact with your children. Seeing how comfortable your children are around a sitter can help parents judge whether or not they would be a good child care choice. Make sure to ask them if they have had some type of first aid training during your interview. Knowledge of first aid and what to do in an emergency is very important should something happen while you are away.
If you are looking for a long term babysitter consider if they will be able to adapt as the needs of your child’s change. You will want to make sure your babysitter can relate to a toddler just as well as an older child.
If you have run out of options for a great babysitter consider starting a babysitting coop. This is just basically a network for friends that watch each others children as the need arises. This can be a great idea as parents would be able to leave their children with trusted friends and family members.
Whatever method you use just make sure to do your research. The care of your child is extremely important and you want to make sure you choose the situation that will work best for everyone.