Newly pregnant ferret owner

[JoniR]

As the subject suggests, we own two ferrets and have recently found out that I am pregnant. We have absolutely no intention of rehoming the ferrets, but we are a little concerned about how difficult it will be to juggle baby and ferrets (not literally!).

Does anyone have any experience with ferrets and very young children? How old should the child be when we introduce them to each other? The ferrets currently have free run of the house when we are at home, but once baby arrives we intend to confine them to the living room and only let them out when they are supervised. Any experience/advice would be gratefully received.

[OnceUponAThyme]

I would be careful in keeping them separate from the baby till it's a little older as ferrets can be very playful and could easily scratch or nip a baby without intending harm. plus babies will grab and pull and poke at them.
my dd has been handling two of my step dads ferrets since she was 3.5, with supervision. she's 4.5 now and loves them. before 3, she was around them but not allowed to actively touch them or pick them up. and they never free roamed much when she was there before now.
not much help sorry, but hopefully a ferret owner will be along with experience

[OnceUponAThyme]

also, I'd think it depends on how the ferrets react. one of my step dads ferrets only really allows him to handle it and is never allowed near my dd (or anyone who likes their fingers!) whereas the other two are friendly wee things who arent bothered by her.

[JoniR]

Thanks for replying. Both of our ferrets are friendly little critters, more likely to lick fingers than bite them. But yes, you're right, they are playful little beasts and might do damage to a small child. I'm sure we will find a solution, I'm just not sure what it will look like at the moment.