Special thanks to Alicia for contributing this post with valuable advice for expecting parents.
Photo via Jon on Flickr |
Life
is changing in a big and wonderful way for you when your new baby arrives. But
it’s also changing in a startling and unpredictable way for your pooch or
feline. Pets dislike change because they thrive on routine, and with a new
family member in the house, adjustments are inevitable. Yet the change doesn’t
have to be startling for your first “kid.” Whether your baby’s arrival is still
months away, or just around the corner, it’s never too early or late to start
prepping your pet.
Investigate Your Resources
Many
people have been where you are: nervous to introduce their pet to their new
bundle of joy. As such, there’s a plethora of resources to guide you in your
preparation.
- Books. The book “Tell Your Dog You’re Pregnant: An Essential Guide for Dog Owners Who Are Expecting a Baby” focuses on a plan of action; Figure out how your dog responds to a number of child and toy noises, and then get them used to those new sounds.
- CDs and videos. Cats need to get used to baby sounds too. Some CDs and videos are available so that you can slowly introduce your pets to new noises.
- Local classes. Many cities have organizations or stores that host sessions led by certified trainers on how to prep your pet for a new arrival. Contact local pet stores and the ASPCA about classes. The Anti-Cruelty Society also offers a free behavior hotline.
- Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDTs). If you have a rambunctious dog, particularly one who doesn’t have much experience around kids, consider one-on-one training to prep your pooch.
Master Commands
A
well-behaved dog is key to creating a good relationship between your pooch and
your new baby. That’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure that he
understands all commands, starting with the most basic: sit, down and stay.
‘Settle’ is important too, so as to tame any overexcitement your dog feels when
greeting people, including you when you’re carrying your baby. Additionally,
work on ‘leave it’ and ‘drop it’ commands to avoid the dog playing with the
child’s clothes or toys. ‘Come’ is always important too, because you’ll want
your dog’s immediate attention if he’s doing something he shouldn’t be.
Once
you’ve mastered all the basics, work on developing other commands that will
make life easier, and safer, for you and baby. Practice hand targeting (perhaps
use the command ‘touch’ or ‘kiss’) so you can distract his snout. Additionally,
teaching him how to appropriately play fetch, and not tug of war, can teach him
how to later play appropriately with your baby.
The
training doesn’t end there either. If your pet has any behavior issues, such as
peeing in the house, address and fix them now. Behavior problems will only get
worse once your baby arrives, and the last thing you need is added stress. Talk
to your vet if there’s an issue that training alone doesn’t help, as your pet’s
health can be responsible for some behaviors.
Create a New Routine and Come Up With a Plan
By
making adjustments to your routine before the baby’s arrival, your pet won’t
necessarily associate the changes with the baby, and there will be less
resentment.
· Decide where the pet is allowed
to go:
- The couch. Especially if you plan on nursing on the couch, consider this a no-go zone.
- The bed. If you let your pet sleep in bed with you and you’ll be co-sleeping with your newborn, find new sleeping arrangements for your pet. This is particularly important, because when you’re exhausted parents, you can’t keep a close eye on your pet and baby’s interactions.
- The baby room. This can be one of the most difficult off-limits spots to maintain. But cats can easily climb into cribs, for one, and dogs may get into your child’s toys or diapers. Consider keeping the door closed when the baby is in the room. You can also work on training your dog to stay at the door and only come in when you invite him in.
- The car. Since you should always be present and attentive when your baby and dog are interacting, either create a barrier between the car seat and your pet, or put your pet in a different part of the car.
Switch up the feeding schedule. Prepare your pet for changing feeding routines by giving him his food at different times. Alternatively, get an automatic feeder, or give less food but more frequently.
Introduce baby-related items. Prior to baby’s arrival, expose
your pets to the baby’s things. Let them investigate by sniffing things and
hearing the noises they make. This includes bringing out the stroller and
taking your dog for a walk. It may look strange, but you’ll be thankful you’ve
practiced this new routine when you’re trying to wrangle both your child and
your baby during those first few walks!
About the Author: Alicia is a “Jill of all trades.” She writes about travel, health, and
communication on her blog MarCom Land,
works as a content coordinator for Inbound
Marketing Inc., and dresses up as a Disney princess to visit kid’s birthday
parties on weekends.
Introduce Your Pet to Other Children
There
is no substitute for experience with other children. Invite over friends with
children, particularly babies and toddlers, so that your pet can get used to
the sounds kids make, as well as how they behave. This may also provide an
opportunity to see how well your training has paid off, as well as things you
may need to work on, such as if your dog barks at the child.
Photo via D. Sharon Pruitt on Flickr |
Give Your Pet a Safe Space
Babies
can be overwhelming, and as such, your pet needs a safe space. While the baby
has his or her room, give your dog a gated area that he can access but that the
baby can’t. Crates work well for this purpose too. As for cats, give them cat
trees or perches so they can escape when they need some alone time.
Having
a baby is a big transition for everyone. Your attention is going to be on your
baby a lot when they’re born, but don’t forget about your pets, the other part
of your family. Don’t ignore their needs, including their desire for attention,
and start preparing them early on. By preparing early, you’ll reduce stress and
create a loving home for everyone.
Great advice, thanks for sharing. I often wonder about how Del will cope when we have a baby (far away in the future). Must be a strange time for pets :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rach! Yes, especially when they aren't usually around children.
DeleteHope this information comes in handy for you Rachel.
DeleteThank you for this great advice Ann, have a great day
ReplyDeleteWow! Great tips and a great post on an ever so important topic!!! Good job!
ReplyDelete((husky hugz))
"love is being owned by a husky"
Lucky we are baby free at our time of life but great tips and advice Ann. Have a terrific Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
This is some great advice. Although I probably won't need it for a few years I will definitely bookmark this for the future.
ReplyDeleteVery thorough research Ann. :) One of my sisters had trouble with one of her dogs when her first child was born. If I ever have kids... if... I know I probably won't have any trouble with Maya, but Pierson will require some preparation.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dawn but I am not responsible for this post :) It was written by Miss Alicia.
DeleteSo important! Great article. And even more important, how to prepare your pet for a toddler :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad when loyal pets get dumped when a baby comes.
ReplyDeleteI agree Brian and have seen it happen before. Hopefully if people research more about this topic it will be an easier transition.
DeleteI so agree with Brian. Heartbreaking. This was a good article and although I'll never need it (Annie is much relieved), it's so important for people to be educated that do need it. If I were younger and kids were in my future, I know I would find this very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie. Brian is right and I totally agree with him too.
DeleteGreat post, thank you for sharing! Thanks to Alicia for writing, and Ann for sharing here on her blog.
ReplyDeleteFar too often, new parents believe they can't have a pet and a baby, and that's just narrow-minded, unenlightened thinking. When my son was born, I had a 6 year old Siamese who was very bonded to me. People said there would be trouble. But there wasn't, because I helped him get prepared for baby. I also cared enough to make it work.
Thanks Christina. A relative of mine had 2 cats when her baby was born. One had some urinary issues, probably behavioral but I don't know really, so they gave her up to the shelter. Very sad. I wish more people would care enough to make it work too.
Deletethat is some great advice ANn,xx Rachel
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I pinned this for future reference. We want a baby SOOOOON! Having some serious baby fever Ann LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Ann. We've seen a lot of animals come to the shelter because the family had a baby. I sure wish more people would prepare their pets for the arrival of a little human.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, thanks for sharing. I often wonder about how Del will cope when we have a baby
ReplyDelete