Bringing Baby Home... to Pets!

There’s been a bit of a baby boom in my life over the last year or so, and most of my friends and family who've had babies (or are now pregnant) also have at least one pet. In preparing for their new arrivals, each of them seemed to have concerns about how their pets would react to a new baby, but there didn’t seem to be many resources immediately available to them for making the pet-baby transition a smooth and safe one. I’ve found Pet Meets Baby: A Guide for Families Bringing Children Home to Pets by the American Humane Association and summed up some of the tips below.

1.     Preparation is key—your pets need time to adjust just like you will, so include them in your baby preparation time while you’re still pregnant. Think about how much time you spend with them now compared to how much time you will once your baby is here, and try to start adjusting accordingly. Increase your quality of time with pets if you must decrease the amount of time with them. On the same note, if you think you won’t be able to give your pets the appropriate amount of exercise or time once the baby comes, consider asking friends, family or a pet-sitter to help out until you can resume your normal pet exercise routine. The thought of making this big change sounds like a difficult one, but it’ll be best for both you and your pets once your baby arrives! 

2.     If you pet has any behavioral issues that you foresee as a problem when the new baby arrives, address is now! Your dog doesn’t listen when you say “no”—sign up for pet training classes. Your cat hates loud noises—introduce a cd with baby noises, starting it low and gradually getting louder as time passes. You get the idea.

3.     Some of us allow pets on couches and beds, but you may want to rethink this habit, especially for larger pets. You don’t want your dog jumping up on the couch where your baby may be laying, as it’s an accident waiting to happen (even though your pet probably means no harm). So break the habit well beforehand to make these areas safer for your baby when the time comes.

4.     If you need to move your pets’ bed or general area (say, from a spare room that’s now going to be the baby’s room), then do it gradually and plenty ahead of time so they get used to their new routine and feel comfortable with the change before the baby arrives.

5.     To get an idea of how your pets will react to a baby, use a realistic baby doll that makes noise and treat it like a real baby. See how your pet reacts, praising good behavior and deterring any biting or other unwanted attention to the doll. You can also ask friends to bring over their children or babies to see how your pets react, at a safe distance at first until you can gauge their reactions.

6.     Before you bring your baby home, have a plan for someone to care for your pets while you’re at the hospital (if you’re the main caretaker). And once the baby is born, have a friend or family member take your baby's cap or receiving blanket that's been worn (after being bathed) so your pets can get used to the smell. Make sure the cap or blanket is introduced in a calm manner, and hold it for them to smell rather than letting them take it from you. You want the smell to be associated with the behaviors you expect with the actual baby.

7.     When you bring your baby home, introduce your baby to all of your pets at the same time. If you have large animals, pet them on leashes for the introduction. Take your time during the introduction, and keep trying slowly over time if the first intro doesn’t go as smoothly as you hoped.

8.     Don’t punish your pet for hissing or growling at the baby, as they’re telling you that they are unsure of the situation—instead, simply put more space between the animal and the baby. It’s a good warning on their part, as they’re communicating their concerns to you. With that said, you should contact a professional animal trainer to get tips to find a better way to introduce the pet to the baby. It does not mean you must always confine or give up your pet.

9.     Always be aware of your pets’ behavior when around the baby—look for signs of possibly stress and address them appropriately.

10. Last, the guide says to never leave your baby alone with pets. While I agree with this, it’s sometimes not realistic or necessary for certain pets. You have to make that crucial judgment call—but if you’re not sure which way to go, then you should always follow the never leave them alone rule. Always supervise children with pets as they grow older to ensure proper behavior from both.

I’d like to add my own important reminder that starts well before pregnancy… If you plan to have children at some point in the future, please keep this in mind when adopting a new pet! Even if you fall in love with a cat or dog that you know doesn’t interact well with children, make the right decision to fall in love with another pet instead, one that is okay with kids. It’s better for both you and that animal in the long run, and you do have to think of the animal’s future well-being—you don’t want to put yourself in an awful position of making a unnecessary, difficult decision when you can easily prevent it.

The guide goes into much more detail, so if you’re an expectant mom with pets or know someone who is, be sure to share it with them!