Pets and children: ideas to create a safe and happy home for everyone

Pets and children can bring a lot of joy to your home, but they need careful supervision when they’re together. With some ideas you can help everyone spend time safely and happily as a family.

Pets can get overwhelmed by noise or sudden movements, and children do not always know how to approach animals safely. Taking a little time to set up your home and routines can help everyone feel confident and relaxed, with the understanding that you should never risk introducing children to dangerous or unpredictable pets.

Here’s our guide to introducing pets and children, building good habits and knowing what to do when things do not go to plan.

Give pets somewhere they can retreat

Just like us, pets need quiet time. Try having:

• a cosy bed in a calm corner
• a crate or safe den for dogs
• high shelves or perches for cats
• a baby gate to give pets a break when they need it

Feeding bowls, litter trays and pet toys should have their own place somewhere calm which helps avoid mess and prevents guarding behaviours. Make sure children know these are ‘pet‑only’ areas. It's also good having places the pet cannot enter as children can be messy and will not want their toys to get chewed.

Introducing pets and children gently

Make sure you take the first meeting slowly. Keep it calm, quiet and short as children tend to get noisier when they are excited. Let the pet approach in their own time which will help them feel more comfortable. Hold babies and small children securely and give a lot of reassurance to both sides. You may need a few short sessions before everyone feels comfortable.

Keep supervision consistent and make sure you always watch small children around pets. Never leave them alone with any animal and step in immediately if play becomes boisterous. Supervision keeps everyone safe and builds positive habits. It's good to have a way to separate them whilst maintaining and building up their friendship.

Sometimes children’s behaviour can shift when a new pet arrives. Michael, from the Co‑op Insurance team, noticed that his youngest child didn’t view their new puppy as a pet at all but as competition. Wanting to remain the 'baby' of the family, he struggled with the attention the puppy received.

To help, the family began involving him in the puppy’s routine, from training sessions to mealtimes. Gradually, he started to see the puppy not as a rival, but as his pet, and an important part of the family.

Helping children behave safely around pets

Make sure children understand things they should not do around pets. Help them know that they should not:

• pull tails or ears
• climb on pets
• wake animals up suddenly
• interrupt pets when eating

Spot the signs your pet needs a break

Teach children to notice early clues:

• dogs: turning away, yawning, licking lips, tail tucked
• cats: ears back, tail flicking, hiding, hissing

If you spot these signs, give your pet some space.

If something goes wrong

Pets can still get stressed even when you are careful. Make sure you respond correctly.

If your pet is stressed pause the interaction immediately. Give the pet some quiet space to calm down and remove anything that might be upsetting them. Speak to your vet if you think there might be any issues of concern, early support can make a big difference.

Pet insurance

If you are introducing a pet to your home, it is important to make sure you have sorted out your pet insurance. This could help you to manage the cost of treatment if your cat or dog is injured or ill.