Choosing a pet for your family
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
There is no best pet for every family. The American Academy of Pediatrics says maturity varies a lot, that waiting until a child is older than 4 may be safest, and that parents will do most of the care. Start with the quiz, then look at what a pet really costs.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Choose a pet
Sources
- AAP HealthyChildren: How old should our children be before we adopt a pet? (updated 22 April 2026) (checked October 29, 2026)