Talk to me about hedgehogs..

She should meet my daughter... she wanted a chinchilla, then some kind of fox, forgot the name, now she is on about a hedgehog!

We have a fabulous dog... that will do us fine thank you very much!

They are terribly shy, and I don't know how good a pet they would make. We had one living in our garden - called him Charlie. He wasn't a pet, just a hedgehog who decided to live near us. He used to pinch the dog's food when we sometimes fed the dog outside the back door. Often we'd go out to collect the dog bowl to clean it and find Charlie in the bowl eating the scraps.

I love them, but I can't really see them making a good pet to be honest, especially if your dd is quite young? I don't know enough to say for sure that being kept as a pet would cause them a lot of stress, but I think it might.

We had them in our backyard as well. Agreed, very shy. I'd see them late evening or early morning so I'm assuming they are nocturnal.

Yes, they are nocturnal.

I know someone who has one...she used to be a Pea, not sure if she came here but I'll message her on FB and see if she'll chime in here.

We had one when I was a teen. They can be really sweet and actually affectionate pets. The catch is you have to handle them a lot.
Little spike would actually cuddle underneath our chins.

You have to learn how to pick them up when they are in a spiky ball, and it is possible. Eventually, when they know you, they'll still spike a little but they calm right down when they realize who it is.

You can toilet train them. We trained ours to go to the bathroom in a tiny littler box. They won't poop and pee all over their cage.

They are nocturnal so you will hear it running on its wheel at night.
They can be fun pets. We loved little spike.

I am not a fan of exotics for children. They are not toys, they are creatures who require specific, very careful, care. Get her a stuffed hedgehog and call it a day.

Really, really think about it. They are the most high maintenance critter you could own.   Here is a "must read" message board that I highly recommend:  Hedgehog Central  All sorts of great information.  While they are adorable, I would never, ever have one again. 

We had 2 that we rescued. One was pregnant so DD took it. Kept mama and 1 baby. She sold the others to experience hedgie owners.  Ours was male and had never really been handled before us. Someone bought it for her son and he was bored with him quickly and didn't want to clean up after him (which is daily). So our little guy, Mr. Prickles, didn't like being handled much.  He would rather stick you with his quills an curl up in a tight ball.  DD's - Petunia, was handled and was the sweetest, laid back little girl.  Her baby was raised to be handled and was friendly and docile as well.

They are nocturnal. Sleep all day.  Run on the wheel (a must have --- and a good one that their nails don't get caught in) ALL.NIGHT.LONG.  While they run, they poop and pee.  So.... they need to have a foot bath every single day.  Sensitive skin so only oatmeal baths every 2-3 weeks. Some say longer, but the poop stinks.   Then you have to clean that wheel every day too.  The odor can get to be really bad if you don't.  Company will come in and KNOW you have an animal in your house.

They need a consistent temperature. If they get too cold they go into hibernation and don't always wake up from it. The older ours got, we finally had to get a heating rock for under his bed.

They are burrowers.  I made fleece sacks for ours.  Kept him warm (and DD's) and easy enough to clean. They get stinky and I changed them every day.

We made the decision to use fleece liners for his cage. DH cut some sort of coated wood the size of the cage and we had to wrap it around that or the hedgie would burrow under it.  The shavings can harbor mites and they are allergic to I think Cedar.  It has been a couple years since ours died and I can't remember.  I bought lots and lots of fleece cut to size and DH had to change it daily or else it stunk. To wash had to use All free and clear since hedgies have such sensitive skin.

Nails need to be trimmed or they curl and can grow into their pads.

DO NOT use hedgie food that you find in the store. We had to get a special Blue Buffalo that was lower in protein and the nuggets were small enough.  Need to read up on food. They are allergic to a lot of things. They are not like rats, so if they lose a tooth, it will not grow back. 

We had a kiddie pool that we brought him out to play in - it was easy to clean too.  They like to burrow and tunnel and push things around with their nose.  He would get his treats in the pool, too.  Also, they need a large cage and room to roam. They do not belong in a little hamster cage or aquarium. 

A child will get bored with them and will not want to do the serious cleaning that must be done.  You can get them up for a short time in the evenings before bed time for some play time. 

Domesticated hedgies are fragile and need much special care and handling.  And a lot of upkeep.  Please really think this through. Don't let any one tell you they are a piece of cake.  They are not.  They are NOT a pet for a child. They are a huge commitment.

Oh man, I really wanted one. I guess I'll be content with colkecting pictures of hedgehogs.

The one on Dr. Pol tonight had mites. Eek.

We have one. I have be become attached to him now but would NEVER do this again. We bought it off of a child moving to another country and could not take it. Lots of work

Yep, that is one thing that you have to make sure your hedgehog does not get. I agree with a lot of what has been posted.
They are a high maintainence pet. They take work but they can make good pets if you are hands on with them.