Hamster
Gerbil
Turtle

Best Answer

My first pet, other than a dog, was a guinea pig. GPs are gentle and easy to care for; rarely get sick if you look after them properly. 30 years later I still enjoy having them - they are great for disposing of fruit and vegetable scraps and fertilising the lawn :-)

I have always found gerbils to be a bit 'bitey', while hamsters are just plain boring. They are nocturnal and then spend all night running on a (potentially) squeaky wheel. Turtles a bit dull, too, as they're very slow and often hibernate for a great part of the year.

Here is a web page on GP care:

http://www.rspcasa.asn.au/page?pg=401%26st...

Above all, don't leave a young child alone with a pet and teach them to be gentle and quiet around pets.

Best wishes!