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Many expectant parents have concerns regarding how their dog or cat will react to a new baby. But with appropriate training and adjustments, almost all pets can make a smooth transition and be accepting of a newborn infant’s place in the family.
First and foremost, if your dog has not been through obedience classes, start them as soon as possible. A dog and handler that are uneducated in the basic commands of sit, stay, down, etc. are not trustworthy around the general public, let alone a newborn infant. Not only are these classes helpful for learning basic commands, they are also essential in socializing your dog and acclimating them to new people and situations. Check within your local community for dog obedience classes in your area, and be sure to get referrals from past clients. Different teachers use different styles and theories on dog obedience and you want to make sure you’re headed to a class you feel comfortable in.
Once you’ve got obedience started, get to work on your house. As you take a look around and imagine a new baby in your household, think of things you will need to change (concerning your pet) to insure your child’s safety. Are your pet’s food and water dishes or litter box easily accessible to a curious crawler? If so, find a new place to put them. Does your pet currently sleep in a place that will be inappropriate after the baby arrives? If so, start training them to sleep in a different area. Will you need to have a new walking or feeding schedule for your pet? Do your pet toys resemble baby toys in any way? Your house may need to be set up differently after having a child, and its best to make the adjustments as soon as possible for the safety of everyone involved.
If your pet has never been around children, it is a good idea to invite friends or relatives over who have small children so your pet can be introduced to young people. Children obviously have more energy and some pets can take longer than others to grow accustomed to this. Not only will this introduction (which should happen more than once) help acclimate your dog or cat to younger children, it will also help you to see your pet in a new situation with new people. Remember while these introductions are taking place, never leave a child unattended with your pet - especially if your pet has rarely been around children. Always supervise their interactions.
When you set up your baby’s nursery, it is completely acceptable (and often encouraged) to let your pets explore the baby’s room. Let them sniff around and investigate what is happening. Even if you aren’t planning on letting your pet be in the room after the child is born, it is best to let them know what the room is all about before the baby comes home. Most pet owners find if they make the room off limits and never let their pet explore, it tends to create bigger problems of jealousy and anger in the pet. By letting them explore and investigate, most pets sniff around and then lose interest very quickly.
If you have a dog, make sure there are two people available to help with the introductions of your newborn infant. One adult should hold the baby and another should have control of the dog on a leash. Let your dog sniff at the baby and their belongings, but remember to keep hold of the leash. Your pet may be interested, or they may have little to do with the new family member. Cats are generally easier to make introductions with, if only because of their size. Cats are also more independent and will usually sniff at a new person a couple times and return to whatever they were doing. If your dog or cat shows little interest in the baby, don’t force them to interact. Your pet will let you know when they are ready.
Most importantly, never leave your infant unattended with your pet. Even if your pet and infant seem to be comfortable in each other’s presence, accidents happen. The best way to prevent accidents is to always supervise their interactions.
It is important to remember that before your infant was born, your pet was probably treated as your child. It is normal to see some mood changes in your pet in the days immediately following the birth of your new baby. This is generally because of jealousy and the simple fact that you can’t spend every free moment with them anymore. Remember to take a few minutes (perhaps when the baby is napping) to snuggle or play with your pet. This can truly help with feelings of jealousy or resentment.
In the rare case that your pet is having problems with aggressiveness or dominance after being introduced to your infant, it is best to call your vet. Generally, pets do not display acts of aggression or dominance suddenly after a new child arrives. If pets are going to fall into this category, they are generally pets who had issues with aggression or dominance in the past (i.e., has an “attitude” or certain “personality”). In rare instances, cats will begin marking their territory by urinating on the baby’s items. This is a very hard habit to break and in some cases may mean finding a new home for your cat. Dogs may show aggressiveness by snapping at a baby. This is never acceptable and should be immediately brought to your vet’s attention. A dog with aggressive issues and cannot behave safely in the company of a child will need to be placed elsewhere.
When a family makes the appropriate adjustments and pets receive obedience training, bringing home a new baby can be a wonderful experience for everyone involved…even your pet!
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