They Say: Drop the Hamsters, Kids, and Get Back in the Bubble

Madeline Holler — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:08:00 GMT

I'll admit petting zoos aren't my favorite. And I sometimes shudder thinking about the iguana that roams freely in my daughter's classroom. The germs! The bacteria! The salmonella!

So on the one hand, I'm ready to jump on board with this latest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics: no exotic pets for kids. Exotic, incidentally, includes hamsters.

On the other hand, I like the idea of kids and pets.

The reason kiddie doctors want you to get rid of the animals and send your kids back to the bubble are (1) disgusting bacteria and (2) bites and scratches. They say kids under 5 are particularly vulnerable.

From Yahoo!

For example, about 11 percent of salmonella illnesses in children are thought to stem from contact with lizards, turtles and other reptiles, Pickering said. Hamsters also can carry this germ, which can cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Salmonella also has been found in baby chicks, and young children can get it by kissing or touching the animals and then putting their hands in their mouths, he said.

One doctor recently treated an infant who got salmonella from the family pet iguana that was allowed to roam the house (my stomach's turning just thinking about it). After four weeks of treatment, the kid is doing fine.

The docs say to think twice about any pets for those under 5. And also to put a big emphasis on hand-washing.

I'm all for the handwashing and think exotic pets are weird and totally overrated in homes. But I also have a hard time thinking of hamsters as exotic. Also, this feels like another way we're over-protecting kids. Though under 5, it makes sense. Still, what about older siblings who always have to wait for the younger ones to grow up?

What do you think? Ever gotten sick from your pet? Think you'll get rid of your hamster now? Did you hop on board the hedgehog fad?

Photo: Yahoo!

Strollerderby : raising kids in a bubble

They Say: Drop the Hamsters, Kids, and Get Back in the Bubble