Introducing Your Pet to Your New Baby

For parents, a new baby is a joyous, exhausting and often trying time. Getting the new member of your family settled into your home requires you to change: your schedule, the layout of your home, your sleep, what you eat, etc. Babies require non-stop attention and are the new focus of your world. Eventually, you settle on a some-what predictable routine again, but parents, especially new ones, are often overwhelmed with their parental duties and lack of sleep from a newborn that needs to eat every two hours. Your patience is thin and your time for other things is limited.

While your once predictable schedule is now in chaos, so is your dog’s schedule. Dogs are predators and thus rely on predictable patterns and pack mentality for their daily routine. You are the pack leader and therefore you establish the schedule. Your dog observes your routine and therefore knows what to expect to happen throughout the day. Whether you realize it or not, you communicate with your dog through your energy.

Have you ever been expecting company and seen your dog on alert or constantly going to the door even though you never even looked out the window? Maybe he or she started barking before your guests arrived. Although you didn’t verbally tell your pet guests were coming your energy and body language did.

As you neared your due date your energy changed. You were anticipating the birth of your baby. Your pet probably became more watchful to see what was going to happen. You went into labor and left your pet at home for a few days. When you returned, you brought a foreigner into the home and your routine changed. Just like humans, some animals adapt to change and circumstances better than others. I’ve heard many people referring to their dogs as their “furry babies” or “four-legged children.” Your dog might be used to having all of the attention and could become jealous or feel scared, isolated, displaced, or threatened by your human child as most of your focus switches to the baby. Your job as pack leader is to make the transition of your new family member into your home as comfortable as possible for your pet; this helps ensure the safety of your child and the well being of your dog. Your dog is struggling to learn the new schedule and adapt to the new patterns, sounds and scents in the household. Understanding your dog’s psyche can help you prevent problems. Not placing the dog in a situation where he or she feels they need to protect themselves can be critical.

I suggest that you help prepare your dog ahead of time for these changes to minimize the shock. Here are some simple, but effective steps:

1. Set-up the nursery ahead of time so you and your pet are prepared for the baby. This will minimize stress for both of you and give your pet a chance to become accustomed to the new layout.

2. Introduce new scents like wipes, diapers, lotions and shampoos to your dog so he or she is familiar with the baby smells and accepts them as part of your household.

3. Make noise with the baby toys. Shake rattles, turn musical toys and mobiles on and off, open and close high chairs and play pens. When the baby comes, the dog will already be accustomed to these noises and less likely be afraid or intimidated.

4. While in the hospital, have a family member or friend take an article of clothing worn by the baby, like a knit cap that was on the baby’s head, to your house and let the dog sniff it; introducing the dog to your baby’s scent ahead of time can make the transition easier.

5. Expect your pet to be curious about the baby and praise him or her as much as possible for their positive reactions. Yelling or being aggressive towards your dog when it expresses interest or disinterest can set up a negative vibe towards your child. Let your pet take their time getting to know your baby.

6. Setting boundaries for your pet is okay. For example, not allowing your pet in the baby’s room or play area is acceptable, but you want to be firm, not aggressive.

7. Let your dog know it can always leave the room or situation if it’s uneasy. Flight, in this case, is okay. This can help protect your child.

8. Try, if possible, to take some time daily to acknowledge, pet, or brush your dog so they know they are still loved and haven’t been forgotten. If you find you don’t have time for a while for your daily walk consider asking a friend or family member for help or hiring someone. Less stress on you means less stress on your dog. Exercise also helps your dog’s disposition and stress level.

I hope you find these tips helpful! A new baby is precious; having synergy in your house is possible. You can have children and pets. If you have any questions, or feel you need more hands on help, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.