Children love hamsters. They are cute and soft and cuddly. However, children need to be aware that their new pet may not be as easy to care for as they thought. Hamsters are pretty much nocturnal, meaning they sleep most of the day. If your child tries to wake his hamster to play, he might get bitten. Children can learn to care for most of their hamster’s needs but a child should never have exclusive care of a pet. Make sure an adult checks that the hamster’s needs are met daily. From subtle reminders to threats to doing it yourself, the hamster’s needs are important. Children need to be taught how to pick up and hold their hamster properly to prevent injury. And your hamster needs to be supervised at all times when he is outside the cage so he doesn’t escape, never to be found. Contact your South Miami, FL veterinarian to learn more.