Puppy or Baby Boom? How Couples are Now Growing their Families

Many couples get to a point in their relationship where they want to begin growing a family of their own. But unlike in recent years’ past, many millennial families are choosing not to expand their brood with children. Instead, with many couples looking to expand their family in a way that impacts their lifestyle, a lot of people are choosing to add a pet to their home.

From dogs and cats to smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and birds, there’s been a big trend towards putting off parenthood and adding a fur baby into the mix. Are you looking to grow your own family with a pet? Here are some of the things you might want to consider.

Discussing it with your partner

Recent events have led to a rise in pet owners than baby births, with so many couples deciding it’s not the right time to make such a huge commitment. Pets, of course, are a commitment too, and there’s loads that you need to think through before bringing an animal into your household.

The first thing that you’ll definitely want to do before getting too excited about a new pet is to discuss it with your partner. Taking care of an animal, no matter its size, takes up a lot of time and can be very costly. Dogs and cats can live for over a decade, so it’s important that you are on the same page with your partner when it comes to deciding that a pet is right for both of you. This discussion should include the financial and time aspects that comes to having a pet and how these will be divided and shared. Another conversation can be around what pet you both want to have, as this can make a huge difference on your experience and one of you may have preferences.

Getting on the same page will give you the best chance of success when it comes to having an easy transition inviting a new family (pet) member into the home.

Doing the research

Like any other significant life decision, it’s important you do the research in advance to ensure you know everything you need to about having a pet. The internet is a fantastic resource, as long as you’re getting the right sources. You can also join online groups to get more advice — especially when it comes to specific breeds of pets — and even develop some pet-loving friends! It might be worth setting up a document to collate everything you find. If you share it with your partner, you can both have a solid overview of what you’ve learned and assess from there. A pros and cons list is always a good option if you’re struggling to make decisions.

Preparing your home

Having a pet is just like having a baby — you need to prepare your home in advance before bringing them into it. You’ll want your pet to be safe and feel secure as they adjust to their surroundings. Ensure that you block off any potential hazards, which can include anything from open fireplaces, windows and doors, electrical cables, fragile ornaments and more. Certain plants are toxic to pets so include this in your research and assess what you have in the home before risking a potential poisoning (and an expensive trip to the vet).

Safeguarding for the future

Just like when it comes to your home, your valuables, and your car, you’ll want to have safeguards in place in case the worst should happen. That’s why it’s so important to have an insurance policy when it comes to your pet. Should they fall ill or become lost, and insurance policy can help cover the costs. It’s a good idea for peace of mind and best practice when it comes to pet ownership.