I am your baby hedgehog; I will love you until the end of the Earth, but please know a few things about me.

I am a baby hedgehog; this means that my intelligence and capacity for learning are the same as any baby.

I am a baby hedgehog; I will cover my eyes and raise my quills EVERY TIME I get startled. This is how I protect myself while I learn about the world.

Even HUMAN children get startled. It's up to you to make sure you don't scare me.

I am a baby hedgehog; I will lick and nibble everything I can get my mouth on until my teeth come in. 

Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths. It's up to you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not. If I nip you too hard, I will usually get the message, if you simply ignore me for a few moments, don't put me in my cage or yell at me that will send the wrong signal.

I am a baby hedgehog; I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 5 - 10 minutes after I wake up. I cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it is actually beginning to come out.

I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder and bowel control" until 6 - 9 months.

Do not punish me if you have not put me in a place that is ok for me to tinkle or poop. It is your fault if I tinkle or poop on you.  As a baby hedgehog, it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty after sleeping.

Putting me somewhere that you want me to go potty will help me learn to not go on you, and will avoid you being mad at me. I am a baby hedgehog, accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn.

I am a baby hedgehog, I like to play.

My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me with an appropriate place to play outside my cage with fun toys, and activities like pushing around a rolling cat ball with a bell in it, or providing me with a toilet paper tube for super fun, and even offer me some chew toys, such as a piece of leather. A wheel to run in will be my favorite toy of all time in my cage right up there with the toilet paper tube.

I am a baby hedgehog; I am a creature with feelings and drive much like your own, yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in a hedgehog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to love you, and be a part of your family, and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving companion, so do not relegate me to the confines of my cage when I go through my grumpy stages. (I will have some of those especially at quilling time).

Do not judge me harshly, instead mold me with gentleness, so that I can be the kind of family member you want me to be. I am a baby hedgehog I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either. I will love you anyway.
So please, learn all you can about baby hedgehog behaviors, habits and characteristics, it will give you understanding and insight into WHY I do all the things I do. Get help from your Breeder and Veterinarian, and even some researching on the computer!

 Please teach me with love, and patience, the right way to behave and socialize me with lots of snuggle time, kisses, and warm hugs, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.

I am a baby hedgehog and I want to love you, to be with you, and be a pleasure in your life. Won't you please take time to understand how I work? We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst, discomfort, fear, yet we are also very different and must work to understand one another's language, body signals, wants and needs. Someday I will be a beautiful full grown hedgehog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.