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Step 1
Talk it over with your child before bringing home a pet. Make sure that the child really wants a pet and understands the responsibility involved in caring for it.
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Step 2
Choose a pet with a relatively long lifespan. Some traditional first pets, like goldfish and hamsters, can have a short lifespan. A gerbil or guinea pig is a better choice since they usually live longer than hamsters.
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Step 3
Find out whether the animal has a personality that meshes with children. Chinchillas and rabbits are nervous and may be frightened by a young child. Parrots can turn vicious if they're mishandled, so a young child could unintentionally ruin the parrot's personality for the rest of its long life. Rats and guinea pigs are trainable and can be affectionate and cuddly.
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Step 4
Get a low maintenance pet for a young child. Small animals that can be contained in cages, like gerbils and guinea pigs, are easy to care for and economical. Reptiles aren't recommended for households with children under 5 years old because they carry salmonella bacteria. Geckos and small turtles are easy to care for and like to be handled. Iguanas and box turtles are very high maintenance.
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Step 5
Look for breeds of dogs that do well with children if you decide you want a dog. A large dog could overpower and scare a small child. Pugs, boxers, mastiffs, Boston terriers and bulldogs tend to be gentle breeds. Poodles and Chihuahuas, while small, can be biters.
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Step 6
Consider getting a grown cat rather than a kitten for children under 5 years of age. Little children who are rough or overly affectionate can accidentally injure or smother a kitten. Kittens who are played with roughly or frightened can grow into cats that are mean or aloof. Cats are independent, but most breeds like to play and cuddle. Ragdolls are a particularly docile breed, but they can be injured more easily since they don't react to mistreatment.
