you asked for input ..... here's mom's 85 cents worth ....

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Posted by iZ's mom on September 18, 1998 at 21:26:34:

In Reply to: Iguanas and babies posted by Phoenix's Mom on September 18, 1998 at 01:18:03:

tough question AND situation!!! but don't take any of this the wrong way ok? just trying to give you stuff to THINK about .....

i really think it would be a baaaad idea to have a baby and an ig in the same apt/house tho....adults have ALOT stronger immune system than infants do (that's why babies are so at risk for things like salmonella, etc.)ok- i KNOW not all igs carry salmonella .. but this is your baby's health we're talkin' about .... also, while i seriously doubt that the ig would purposely hurt the baby, one day, that baby is going to be a toddler and want to play with the iggy's tail on a day when Phoenix is in a mating season (BAD) mood.... of even if Phoenix decides to climb on toddlers head to be FRIENDLY ... (iZ is on mine as i write) ...these igs seem to think that human ears can double as footholds ... and sometimes i miss a claw or 2 when trimming them .... i usually don't find THAT out until i have a gash down my arm or neck ...

i LOVE iZ and i think iguanas are an awesome animal ... but the bottom line is they ARE a WILD
ANIMAL and WILL NOT EVER be as domesticated as a dog or cat can be .... there are soooo many potential bad situations that could happen with an infant and an ig .... i am willing to risk some skin/blood to let iZ sit on my head ...but i really don't think you should risk your baby's ....have you ever been BITTEN by an ig???? iZ gave my a little "warning nip" one day at the vet's when i was holding him to draw a blood sample .... i didn't even FEEL it ...felt like he just brushed up against my face ....next thing i know my vet is going "oh my God! ARE YOU OK?!?!?" and blood is streaming down my face...point here is: THAT was a FRIENDLY NIP ... i've heard stories of people needing massive amounts of stitches and losing a finger and let me tell you, while the person may have been at fault, I BELIEVE those stories!!! iguana's jaws are EXTREMELY STRONG and their teeth are RAZOR SHARP .... this is NOT a pet for households with babies/young children ....i know ALOT of people would consider that to be CHILD ENDANGERMENT ....

i know you think that these are weird, isolated incidents that'll never happen to you .... DON'T believe it ..... i work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at a hospital and i'm here to tell you that weird things happen MORE THAN anyone wants to believe ... and ESPECIALLY with children: NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER TAKE A CHANCE!!!!!! they are too precious and WAY TOO fragile to risk ....

well.... i certainly come off as a MOM here don't i??? sigh .... well, you DID ask for input!!!and i guess it's kinda obvious that i feel pretty strongly about the subject .... and as a ig-mom AND a people-mom (he's 21yo now and 6'2" tall and terrified of iZ)... i guess i feel "qualified" ...

and since you're a 1st time mom, let me tell you this: you are going to be sooooooooooo BUSY the next couple years, you're not gonna have TIME for an ig!!!!! *BIG GRINS*

BEST WISHES to you and yours!!!!!
let us know how things work out OK?!?!?

*HUGS*
:p + :)
iZ + mom

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: tough question AND situation!!! but don't take any of this the wrong way ok? just trying to give you stuff to THINK about ..... : i really think it would be a baaaad idea to have a baby and an ig in the same apt/house tho....adults have ALOT stronger immune system than infants do (that's why babies are so at risk for things like salmonella, etc.)ok- i KNOW not all igs carry salmonella .. but this is your baby's health we're talkin' about .... also, while i seriously doubt that the ig would purposely hurt the baby, one day, that baby is going to be a toddler and want to play with the iggy's tail on a day when Phoenix is in a mating season (BAD) mood.... of even if Phoenix decides to climb on toddlers head to be FRIENDLY ... (iZ is on mine as i write) ...these igs seem to think that human ears can double as footholds ... and sometimes i miss a claw or 2 when trimming them .... i usually don't find THAT out until i have a gash down my arm or neck ... : i LOVE iZ and i think iguanas are an awesome animal ... but the bottom line is they ARE a WILD : ANIMAL and WILL NOT EVER be as domesticated as a dog or cat can be .... there are soooo many potential bad situations that could happen with an infant and an ig .... i am willing to risk some skin/blood to let iZ sit on my head ...but i really don't think you should risk your baby's ....have you ever been BITTEN by an ig???? iZ gave my a little "warning nip" one day at the vet's when i was holding him to draw a blood sample .... i didn't even FEEL it ...felt like he just brushed up against my face ....next thing i know my vet is going "oh my God! ARE YOU OK?!?!?" and blood is streaming down my face...point here is: THAT was a FRIENDLY NIP ... i've heard stories of people needing massive amounts of stitches and losing a finger and let me tell you, while the person may have been at fault, I BELIEVE those stories!!! iguana's jaws are EXTREMELY STRONG and their teeth are RAZOR SHARP .... this is NOT a pet for households with babies/young children ....i know ALOT of people would consider that to be CHILD ENDANGERMENT .... : i know you think that these are weird, isolated incidents that'll never happen to you .... DON'T believe it ..... i work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at a hospital and i'm here to tell you that weird things happen MORE THAN anyone wants to believe ... and ESPECIALLY with children: NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER TAKE A CHANCE!!!!!! they are too precious and WAY TOO fragile to risk .... : well.... i certainly come off as a MOM here don't i??? sigh .... well, you DID ask for input!!!and i guess it's kinda obvious that i feel pretty strongly about the subject .... and as a ig-mom AND a people-mom (he's 21yo now and 6'2" tall and terrified of iZ)... i guess i feel "qualified" ... : and since you're a 1st time mom, let me tell you this: you are going to be sooooooooooo BUSY the next couple years, you're not gonna have TIME for an ig!!!!! *BIG GRINS* : BEST WISHES to you and yours!!!!! : let us know how things work out OK?!?!? : *HUGS* : :p + :) : iZ + mom

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