Are Holland Lops Good For The Kids? Best Parents’ Guide For 2026

Last year, my son Jonny turned 15 years old. Now he has become a true bunny lover and an enthusiast. However, I still remember the day when I got him his first pet. 

Jonny, my son, was going through a very tough time in his life. He was playing football when he met with an accident. The doctors said that the condition will take at least 5 months for him to completely recover. 

However, I saw him sadly watching outside from the window as he could not go outside. I could see that the 7-year-old boy was getting terribly depressed.   

Hence, this is when I decided to bring a Holland Lop for my son Jonny. The shopkeeper marketed it to me as a great pet for beginners. 

However, I got a reality check after I had brought the rabbit home. There is a slight contrast between cuteness and reality.  

But I was able to get my son out of his depressed phase in life. This article seeks to answer the question: “are Holland lops good for kids ?” In addition, the article will also provide a complete care guide for the Holland Lop if you have already purchased it.  

Cuteness Vs Reality: Are Holland Lops Good For Kids 

The pet shops often market Holland Lops as one of the most suitable rabbits for households and beginner hobbyists.  

However, that is not always the case. Something that is really cute and small can be very difficult to manage.   

However, the rabbit makes the perfect companion when you do not really have a lot of space in the place where you live. 

The Holland Lop rabbit originated from the Netherlands. The breed has also quickly gained popularity worldwide due to its appearance. However, small does not always mean easy handling.  

Handling a bunny can be really challenging, even if they are small.  Moreover, the bunny should be kept in a quiet and calm household with adults and slightly older children.  

We brought Tubby home when Jonny was seven years old. However, Jonny may not have understood the proper techniques for handling the bunny if he were any younger. 

Temperament Of Holland Lop Bunny  

The Holland Lops are typically friendly, playful, and very energetic pets. However, they often show skittish behavior.

Males tend to be more outgoing than females. Male rabbits can be a little more destructive than females. Hence, caregivers should know how to care for these rabbits properly.  

The rabbits often startle and jump out of the person’s hands. Thus, this can cause fractures and other damage.  

Moreover, both male and female Holland Lop rabbits can chew and damage their enclosures severely. 

However, the male Holland Lops tend to be a little more destructive than the female Holland Lops.  

Thus, the bunny parents should keep their bunnies in the chew-proof enclosures. Furthermore, coercive handling can trigger the Holland Lops to kick.  

Thus, sudden kicking can cause severe damage to their spine and lead to paralysis. Hence, the handlers should support the rabbit properly while handling it. Thus, the answer to the question, Are Holland Lops good for kids? is mostly no. 

However, children over 7 years old can handle the rabbits. Hence, the rabbit is definitely not the best for the toddlers. 

1. Do The Holland Lops Like To Be Picked Up? 

The Holland Lops do not really like to be picked up. Ironically, people often pick up the rabbits and treat them like dogs. Hence, they believe the bunny is enjoying their cuddles.  

In contrast, the bunnies never like to be picked up and cuddled. No matter how chubby or cuddly they might seem to be, they are very different from a dog or a cat. The rabbits associate getting picked up with predatory behavior. 

On the other hand, they like to sit beside people and interact with them. When people ask me, Are Holland Lops good for kids? I give them a simple answer; the kid must understand the body language of the bunny. 

The owners of the bunny should carefully read the bunny’s body language. People often associate silence with calmness. However, silence means the opposite of calmness. 

Absolute silence means the rabbit is scared. Hence, the rabbit becomes silent when they considers you to be a threat.  

Thus, the rabbit waits for the threat to pass. Until the threat passes, they maintain a very stiff posture. 

Thus, the child should be old enough to interpret the movements and body language of the rabbit. On the other hand, the rabbit tends to be playful and around those whom they trust.  

2. Do Holland Lops Bite? 

The Holland lops tend to have a very skittish nature. Thus, they can bite when people handle them in the wrong way. Biting is a sign of fear. Thus, the rabbit bites out of fear and not to express aggression. 

Every rabbit goes through a hormonal imbalance when they are in their adolescent stage. Thus, I always recommend people to purchase an adult bunny instead of getting a young one. But neutering can reduce aggression in the rabbits.  

The Risk Of Holland Lops With Young Children 

When people ask if the Holland Lops are great with young children, I provide them with a simple answer. Children at a young age should not handle Holland Lops.  

Here are the main reasons why young children should not handle Holland Lops. 

1. The Holland Lops Tend To have A Very Fragile Spine  

Holland Lops are generally small. Rabbits typically have hollow, lightweight bones. The rabbit often gets startled and can jump off a person’s arms.  

The smallest fall can fracture bones or even cause damage to the fragile spinal cord of the rabbit. Thus, the toddlers should avoid carrying them. A little older children, primarily above the age of seven, can easily take them. They should know how to handle Holland Lops. 

2. The Skittish Nature Of The Rabbit Around Noisy Places  

When people ask, “are Holland Lops good for kids?” Well, the answer simply remains; they are not good with toddlers. The toddlers tend to be really noisy, loud, and fast. 

Thus, the rabbits generally interpret these things as aggression. Rabbits are prey animals. Therefore, they tend to become really anxious when larger creatures behave in this way. 

However, this is exactly how the toddlers generally behave. This can make the rabbits skittish and annoyed. Hence, they can bite the handler in this situation. 

Holland Lop Vs The Mini Lop: Which One Is Better? 

Are Holland Lops good for kids, or are Mini Lops better with children? The Holland Lops are more fragile than the Mini Lops. Thus, the parents of young children should always choose Mini Lops over the Holland Lops. 

Category	Holland Rabbits	Mini Lop Rabbits
Temperament	Skittish	Calm, Cuddly, and Laid Back
Sizes	Smaller Body	Has a comparatively larger body
Resilience	Fragile, weaker bones can cause spine injury and lead to paralysis.	Compared to other materials, it is more resilient and sturdy.
Tolerance	Gets skittish around loud noise.	Comparatively more tolerant of surroundings.
Which Is Best For Kids?	Ideal for homes with ample space. Children below seven should not handle them.	Good with families. However, not suitable for toddlers.

Always choose Mini Lops over a Holland Lop if you want a calmer rabbit. However, the Holland Lops are more spirited and energetic than the Mini Lops. 

What Are The Health Issues Of The Holland Lops? 

The Holland Lops are not susceptible to any specific health issues. However, they are generally prone to various ailments. Here are some things you must take care of for your Holland Lop’s health. 

1. Taking Care Of The Holland Lop Ears  

The ears on an adult Holland Lop are about 4 to 5 inches long. Hence, they tend to be really close to their face.  

Hence, the anatomy traps debris in the air canal due to a lack of airflow into the ear canal. Continuous wax buildup can cause recurring infections. 

2. Dental Issues  

The bunnies grow their teeth throughout their lives. Thus, this often results in misaligned teeth or other dental issues. Therefore, the bunny parents should provide a properly balanced diet to their bunnies.  

A diet with an ample amount of hay can prevent problems like overgrown teeth and other dental issues to help out the bunnies. 

Rules For Kids Living With A Holland Lop  

People often ask me, “are Holland Lops good for kids.?”  Well, my answer remains “Yes”. However, there should be specific ground rules for this.  

Here are the major rules households with children should follow when dealing with Holland Lops. 

• Families with toddlers should never bring bunnies like the Holland Lops to their home. 

• All Four Legs of the bunny should be on the ground. Hence, the handlers, specifically the children, should not try to lift the bunnies from behind. 

• These bunnies like to sit next to you and interact with you instead of cuddling with you in your arms. Thus, they should be handled accordingly.  

Things To Remember Before Considering Bringing A Holland Lop TO Your Home With Children 

Holland Lops are great indoor pets. However, handlers should be familiar with the behavioral patterns of the rabbit.  

The rabbits tend to be really affectionate and gentle. However, loud noise often turns them skittish. Thus, toddlers and younger children can annoy the rabbit.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about  Holland Lops and their relationship with the kids.