Introducing Newborn Babies and Pets
A baby is not only a major life changing event for you but for your pet as well.
Animal behaviorists recommend planning for your newborn's arrival at least six months in advance to get your pet get used to all the new sights, sounds and smells that are about to become part of his life.
"The more you prepare the easier this will go because [your pet] is used to being your 'baby' and it's going to change," says Nancy Williams, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist practicing in Manchester, Maryland.
Dogs and Babies
For dogs that are friendly toward adults and children, she suggests the following tips to get them ready for the big arrival day and beyond:
- Teach basic manners: Does your dog jump up on you, the bed or the couch? All of these are a big no-no when a fragile newborn is in your arms. Fido's search for comfort or desire for attention might accidentally injure your child in the process so work with a trainer to break him of these bad habits.
- Practice with a doll: Pretending to care for a doll is a safe way to find out ahead of time how your dog will react to your newborn, says Williams. Talk to the doll, carry it around the house, sit on the couch with it, even open up a jar of baby food and pretend to feed it. "You may be shocked at your dog's reaction," she says. If this role playing sheds light on any potential problems, you can start working on correcting them.
- Play a CD of baby sounds. Several of these specialty sound tracks can be purchased online. Start off by keeping the volume low and gradually increasing it over several weeks until reaching a real-life level.
Unfortunately, no matter how much training or preparation you do some dogs will never be safe around children, says Williams. Some of the red flags include: displays of aggression toward adults or children (growling, snarling, biting); prolonged excitability around the baby (longer than 20 seconds before calming down), or high prey drive. "It doesn't mean that dogs who kill or chase squirrels are going to kill an infant but it's a big warning sign," she notes.
If you're confused or concerned about your dog's behavior you can find a qualified local behaviorist by visiting the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists website at avsabonline.org.
Getting Kitty Ready
A gradual introduction to the changes taking place in your home is best when preparing felines for a baby's arrival.
"You're going to have a lot of things that make noise, not just the baby," says well- known feline behaviorist and author Pam Johnson-Bennett. "You're going to have swings and all kinds of things that are new."
Set up these items and baby's nursery as early as possible so your cat becomes comfortable with his new surroundings, she says.
Bennett also suggests that soon-to-be parents start wearing baby powder and lotion so their cat gets begin getting used to these odors wafting through the air. And to invite friends with calm, quiet infants over for short visits. Make these informal get-togethers a positive experience for your cat by offering treats or a play time so she begins to associate pleasant things happening when a baby is present, says Bennett.
The Countdown Begins
After your baby is born bring a blanket or another article of clothing home from the hospital so your dog or cat starts becoming familiar with your child's scent.
Then, on the big day, give your dog plenty of exercise before the introduction so he's sufficiently tired out. After mother and child are sitting down, bring him on a leash into the room. If you've prepared properly, the dog should sniff the baby a little and then walk away, says Williams.
Feline owners should let Kitty decide when she wants to introduce herself. Whatever you do, don't force a meeting by putting the baby in the cat's face, or shooing her away if she gets too close, says Bennett.
When Kitty and baby finally meet, parents should stay calm above all else, says Bennett, because cats are sensitive to changes in our emotions and reactions.
"If you let the cat check the baby out and do a little sniff and sit next to you when you're feeding or nursing the baby, you may find that she starts to become very comfortable," says Bennett.
Ultimately, she says, cats and babies can make wonderful friends.
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Comments (4)
steph September 8, 2009 6:35 PM
My malti-poo bella would freak out. I don't know whats going to happen when i have a baby.
Lori September 8, 2009 10:34 PM
Best to work all thing dog out BEFORE you get pregnant - and NEVER, EVER leave your baby alone with a dog - even a good dog - because we all know that dogs are still animals and still driven by instinct no matter how well trained. Good rule of thumb - training, training, training right from the get go and don't treat your dog like a human - like picking it up and carrying it, talking to it like it is a baby or worse yet snatching it up off the ground when it does something it should not and then "praising" the dog by stroking it's head to calm it down. All such things usually end in disaster for a small child if you have a dog then be responsible - don't leave it alone with your child - Aka KID PROOF YOUR DOG - DOG PROOF YOUR KID. IF THE DOG WON'T OR CAN'T LEAVE THE KID ALONE THEN DON'T HAVE YOUR DOG AROUND KIDS, IF YOU KID CAN'T HAVE DOG MANNERS THEN THE KID SHOULD NOT BE AROUND DOGS - REMOVE THE DOG FROM THE SITUATION. Otherwise, someone will get bit and it is not a pretty sight when a child won't listen and a parent "just can't" seperate the kid and the dog - usually the dog loses and the kid ends up in the emergency room needing plastic surgery - my daughter refused to listen to me - and as a sophmore in HS had several HUNDRED sutures put into her face and upper lip because I didn't know what I was talking about and she new better. Heed my advice or you too will one day be in that ER - wishing your child had listened or that you had been more forceful with your insistance that they leave the dog alone!
Anonymous September 17, 2009 6:23 PM
thats so cute
Def October 27, 2009 3:17 AM
champions online resources
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