Giant rabbits decide to babysit a human baby

Jenn Eckert was a bit anxious before the delivery of her baby, as she knew that sometimes domestic pets show jealousy towards “smaller humans”. She however could never have imagined how quickly her bunnies, Alfie and Amelia, would fall in love with her daughter, Bailey

There was no doubt that Alfie and Amelia adore their new sister – it started since the moment they forst met. With their huge ears they stood tall next to the newborn in her carrier at the hospital where she was delivered in June.

“Alfie tried to jump into the car seat, and Amelia just sniffed,” Eckert said. “They were both so gentle, though, so I knew they would be best friends.”

Eckert was right. Though rabbits can sometimes be aloof, Alfie and Amelia, made it clear right away to everyone that, when Bailey was in the room, nothing else mattered – she was the most important person there!

“She is always their center of attention,” Eckert said. “They will lay by her when she is sleeping. They tend to hover a bit, like they immediately saw her as their responsibility to protect.”

Since Bailey has been keeping rabbits her whole life, she knew their attitude would not be scary

The rabbits are both Flemish giants that can potentially weigh about 20 pounds, so they’re the perfect-sized friends for  a new born baby

As Bailey  grows, she will learn about the world from her family and the bunnies that will be by her side every moment of her life. She already seems to be learning a lot about respect and compassion from Alfie and Amelia.

Alfie “thumps” when Bailey starts to cry They are undoubtedly Bailey’s protectors, according to Eckert..

This story is another proof that the animals can make wonderful companions for people of all ages and often have plenty of affection to offer both their humans and their babies.

Because Alfie and Amelia are so gentle with Bailey, Eckert has begun training them as official therapy rabbits, working with an organization called Pet Partners. After they become certified, they’ll begin paying regular visits to hospitals and nursing homes to meet and cuddle with patients.

The two have already gained lots of expertise at home, and they like practicing at hospitals just as much.

“Since it demonstrates how wonderful they can be with children, I still advocate for bunny therapy” says Eckert. Additionally, it affords me the chance to spread awareness about rabbit care, since they are more than simply a house pet.

Giant rabbits are  quite clever, and their life expectancy might be  over ten years,  so they can form strong ties with human families. Numerous bunnies, like Alfie and Amelia, have complete freedom to roam the house, which gives them plenty of opportunity for plays and welfare.

Bunnies frequently enjoy sitting near to their owners and enjoy being petted. Because they don’t bark, they are naturally kind creatures that may seem less threatening to young people, according to Eckert.

“The rabbits have always been my babies, so watching how they immediately responded was amazing, and watching the bond grow as they interact more really is a beautiful sight,” Eckert said. “With Bailey still so young, all three are completely dependent on us for food, a safe place to sleep, love, etc. … I think in a lot of respects, they recognize that. It is like they have their own little language.”