Robotic pets for children on the NDIS: a safety checklist

The best known robotic companion pets are made for ages 5 and up, so they can suit some school-age children but were not designed for toddlers. Before buying one for a child on the NDIS, talk to the child’s early childhood partner or therapist, check the age grading, battery cover, small parts and fur care against how your child plays, and set the purchase up as assistive technology for a disability-related need, not as a toy. The 12-point checklist below covers each step.

How does the early childhood approach work for children under 9?

The NDIS early childhood approach is for children younger than 6 with delays in their development, or younger than 9 with disability. Families work with an early childhood partner, a local organisation the NDIS funds, with professionals experienced in working with young children. The NDIS early childhood approach guideline says a child’s plan may include other NDIS supports, such as assistive technology and consumables, if they meet the NDIS funding criteria.

Two points shape what a partner can do about a robotic pet:

• The NDIS page on what an NDIS partner is says partners do not approve plans. They help you understand the NDIS, find supports and gather evidence.
• Low-risk items under the $1,500 low-cost assistive technology limit usually come out of the Consumables budget, and the NDIS does not need to approve them before you buy.

For a family in Williamstown or anywhere else in Hobsons Bay, the early childhood partner is the Brotherhood of St Laurence. It covers the NDIS Western Melbourne service area: the Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Wyndham council areas. Families elsewhere can look up their partner on the NDIS Victoria page.

Toy or assistive technology: what decides it for a child?

For an adult, a robotic cat on the lounge rarely looks like a toy. For a five year old it almost always does, and Schedule 2 of the NDIS supports rules puts toys in a list of lifestyle costs that are generally not NDIS supports. Our page on the NDIS supports lists explains that exclusion.

What moves a robotic pet from the toy box to assistive technology is why it was bought and the evidence behind it. Have these ready for the plan manager:

A plan manager may ask	What to have on file
What disability-related need does it meet?	A sentence or two, such as settling after a meltdown or tolerating touch
Which plan goal does it support?	The goal as written in the plan, with a line linking the pet to it
Who suggested it?	A short note from the OT, psychologist or early childhood professional
How will you know if it helps?	A review date a few weeks after it arrives

Our goal link and OT recommendation checklist lists what the therapist’s note should cover.

Age labels and small parts

The care guide for the Joy for All companion cat carries the age grading “Ages 5-105” on its cover, and Dementia Shop Australia’s listing pitches its companion cats at people aged 5 to 105. A child under 5 is outside the maker’s own range, which is a reason to ask the therapist first and to supervise every session. The same listing gives the cat’s weight as about 1.9 kg, a lot for a small child to hold or carry.

Do your own small parts check when the pet arrives:

• Pull firmly on the eyes, nose, whiskers and ears.
• Look for any ribbon, collar, bell or tag that could come off and go in a mouth.
• Run your fingers along the seams for gaps or loose stitching.
• Remove the swing tag and packaging ties before the child sees it.

If anything comes loose, remove it or return the pet. Ask about the supplier’s returns policy before you order.

Battery covers, button batteries and chargers

The companion cat and pup each take four C size alkaline batteries. The maker’s care guide shows the battery cover held by a screw, so changing them needs a Phillips head screwdriver, and the power switch sits under the fur on the pet’s underside. Dementia Shop Australia’s listing says the batteries are not included. MetaCat, listed at $349 to $399, has a built-in rechargeable battery and a USB-C charging cable.

Button and coin batteries are the bigger worry with young children. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne button battery fact sheet says a swallowed button battery can burn a child’s food pipe in two hours, that the biggest risk comes from a battery cover a child can easily remove, and that parents should not buy toys that need button batteries. Ask the supplier which batteries the pet uses, and check any remote, collar light or accessory too. If you think your child has swallowed one, the hospital’s advice is to call an ambulance at once or go straight to the nearest emergency department, without waiting for symptoms.

The maker also cautions against mixing old and new batteries, and says to take out flat batteries and to remove them if the pet will not be used for a long time. Keep spares and any charging cable out of reach.

Fur, cleaning and children who mouth objects

Joy for All says the fur on its companion pets is polyester and acrylic. The care guide marks the pet “surface wash only” and says to brush the fur, wipe marks with a slightly damp cloth, avoid detergents and stain removers, and never put the pet in water. The maker expects some shedding when the pet is new and suggests a lint roller or soft brush before first use.

That matters for a child who mouths, sucks or chews things. A pet that cannot go through the wash may not be the right choice, and a therapist who knows your child is the best judge. If touch and texture are what your child seeks, our comparison of weighted and sensory items or a robotic pet sets out other options.

The 12-point checklist before you buy

1. The early childhood partner or your child’s therapist agrees a robotic pet is worth trying.
2. You have written down which plan goal it supports and the disability-related need behind it.
3. The maker’s age grading covers your child’s age, or the therapist has advised on supervised use.
4. The battery compartment closes with a screw, and you own the right screwdriver.
5. There are no button or coin batteries in the pet, a remote or any accessory.
6. Eyes, nose, whiskers and ears stay put when pulled firmly, and there is no loose collar, bell or tag.
7. The weight, just under 2 kg for a companion cat or pup, suits your child’s size and strength.
8. You know how to clean it and have checked that this suits a child who mouths objects.
9. The sound can be muted if noise upsets your child. The cat and pup have an on, mute and off switch.
10. Spare batteries or the charger have a home that small hands cannot reach.
11. The total, including delivery, is under the $1,500 limit and Consumables has enough left. A companion cat is listed at $259 to $300 and a pup at $269 to $315.
12. The supplier will describe the item on the invoice as assistive technology, not as a toy or gift.

Questions for your early childhood partner or therapist

• Is a robotic pet suitable for my child’s age, size and play style?
• Which goal in the plan could it support, and how should I word the link?
• Would you write a short note recommending it, with a review date?
• Should my child use it only with an adult present, and for how long?
• Is there something else you would try first?

Parents of autistic children can read our autism and anxiety page for a summary of the research and its limits. For an older child, the guide to choosing a robotic pet for a teenager or young adult covers what changes with age.

What to do next

Once the checklist is done, ask for a quote on a robotic cat or pup for a young child and tell us the child’s age and how the plan is managed. A supplier who sells to NDIS participants will reply with the battery type, weight and returns policy so you can check them before you pay.

Request a free quote