Bringing home baby: Helping your pets cope with your new human

Bringing home baby: Helping your pets cope

If your pet has been your baby up until you bring home a baby of the human kind, here are some tips to help with the patter of tiny human feet when you are bringing home baby…

Prior to the baby’s arrival

Start getting your beloved pet used to life with a baby long before your new baby comes home. You can do this by:

• Restricting your pet’s access to certain areas of your home (if you intend to do this when the baby arrives).
• Buy a doll, wrap it up like a real baby and carry it around occasionally. Ignore your pet while you do so (chances are you will later!). Remember to put the doll safely away out of your pet’s reach when you are not “nursing” it.
• Have the sounds of babies around your home. Invite friends who have babies. Play tapes of baby and sounds. Praise your pet for behaving calmly.
• Babies create different smells! Start using baby scents eg. lotions around your home to get your pet’s, especially dogs whose sense of smell is so sensitive, nose acclimatised.
• Touch your pet all over. Tiny babies are not mobile (and this may create a whole new set of worries at a later stage) but they do have an amazing ability to grasp and hold onto objects and dog hair or cat paws may be very grabbable!
• Organise a dog walker, if you will find it difficult to find enough time, giving your dog time to get used to this new routine.
• If your pet has ever shown any aggressive or fearful behaviour towards children, then get help from a professional animal behaviourist long before your baby is due. Likewise, solve any annoying habits such as barking or jumping up before your baby’s arrival, as these will only annoy you more when you are short on sleep and energy!

The best stage in life to get a pet

After the arrival of your baby

• When have had the baby and are still in hospital, get your partner to bring home a blanket that smells of your new baby. Let your pet sniff but not get hold of it. Again praise calm behaviour.
• When you come home, greet your pet. Give your baby to another adult to hold until you have greeted your pet. They will have missed you and expect you to have time for them.
• Supervise all interactions between pet and child. Young children should not be left alone with pets, especially dogs, until they are at least 7 (perhaps even 10!) years old. Teach them to leave their dog alone while it is sleeping, resting, eating or playing with special toys.
• When you are home, set aside time just for you and your pet. Also use quiet times, like baby feeding times to pat your pet and talk to them. They miss mum and dad and getting their undivided attention. Everyone needs a little cuddle sometimes.

Hope these tips make bringing home baby a smooth journey. And remember, there are so many benefits of children growing up with animals. Good luck with your new arrival!

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