Worried About Introducing Pets to Your Baby? Here’s How to Do It

So you’re having a baby and soon things will be very different. We know that you’ll be adjusting to your new life as a parent, but have you thought about how your pets may need to adjust to the new bub too? And how can you make sure that your baby will be safe around them? Here we’ve trawled through the research and compiled the information you need for when it comes time to introduce your pets to your new baby.

Before Baby Arrives

The first part of our advice is: be prepared. You may need to start training your pet a few months in advance so that the changes won’t come as such a shock.

Set the hierarchy

Cats and dogs need to know where they belong in the family. Dogs especially have a pack mentality that means they need to know their assigned place. Dogs determine this through things such as who eats first, who sits the highest and who goes through the door first. For example, it might not be a good idea if your dog sleeps in your bed, higher than your baby or they could start asserting themselves as the superior. If this is the case, make the change even before baby arrives.

Two in the bed…

You should train your pet to stay out of the room that will belong to your child. It’s also essential to stop cats jumping into bed with your child. We all know that cats love getting to high places and secret spots they’re not allowed to, but jumping into your baby’s cot or pram could spell disaster. In rare cases there have been reports of cats sitting on and sothering babies.

Train your cat to stay away from the cot or pram even before there’s a baby in it. Spray your cat with a water bottle whenever your cat goes to jump in and keep the baby’s room a cat-free zone.

A little too much love

It’s natural that your child will start exploring their world with their hands, feet and mouth and this extends to your pets. How will your cat or dog take a poke in the eye or a pull of the tail? They may need to be trained to stay calm and not become aggressive. Before bub arrives, introduce your pet to other children so they can get used to small people and make sure they understand basic commands. At the very least ensure that your pet understands ‘No’ so that you can stop them if the play becomes a little rough.

When Baby Arrives

The big day is here! You’ve arrived home with your new baby and it’s time for him or her to meet the family, including your pets.

Introductions

If you have a dog, put him or her on a leash and allow him or her to look at your baby from a distance. As you let your dog get closer, use lots of praise and treats to help them have positive associations with your child. As for cats, let your kitty come up to the baby and sniff around in their own time. It may take a few days for your cat to really interact with your baby and it can help to have your cat in a good mood (lots of pats!) before they meet. And remember – don’t leave baby and pet them alone together. Pets can react unpredictably towards new creatures.

Loud noises!

When your baby cries, it’s best to take them away from your pet as animals can interpret the loud noise negatively. Whether your baby is crying or not, watch your pet closely and look out for signs they are irritable, such as raised hackles, fast movements and rapid breathing.

Take a chill pill

If you have a particularly anxious cat or dog who is not taking the new arrival of baby well, it might be time to invest in a pheromone. The dog pheromone product DAP-dog or the cat calming pheromone product Feliway can help your pet to relax and adjust to the new changes. Diffusers can be purchased from most vets.

Ongoing

The introductions might be over but now is the time that your baby and pet can start to develop a good relationship. Here are some ways to keep them both healthy and happy.

Sharing is not always caring

Check that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date and keep them cleaner than usual. Babies have a fantastic habit of putting everything they can find in their mouths, but they also have underdeveloped immune systems so you may need to be careful about what they touch. For example, cat faeces can hide parasites that are fine for felines but harmful to your baby. Pets can also pass on the fungal infection ringworm, cat scratch fever, ticks, fleas, parasites and even tuberculosis. So keep the faeces out of sight, discourage licking, bathe your dog regularly and keep both pet toys and treats away from your child.

However, don’t worry about sanitising everything. Some research shows that children who are exposed to pets in their first year of life are half as likely to develop allergies to them.

Watch out for allergies

Animal allergies are relatively common in children and adults. And getting a hairless cat or dog won’t always help! Children can be allergic to the saliva of animals just as much as their hair or dander.

Signs to look out for that may suggest your child is allergic to you pet:

• Itchy skin
• Hives
• Runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Worsened eczema
• Worsened asthma

If your child starts to exhibit these signs it would be a good idea to take them to your GP and have an allergy test done. Allergies can range from the mild to the severe and life threatening in the case of anaphylaxis so it always pays to be on the safe side.

Share the love

Your pet was probably your baby that you doted on with love, attention, treats and toys. But now there’s a new favourite in the house. What’s a pet to do? They can become jealous, depressed or even hostile towards the intruder so make time for your pets. Give them the love and attention they need and schedule in some pet-only time.

Keeping both baby and your pet happy can take a lot of effort, but keep in mind the huge emotional and physical benefits that your child will gain from learning to interact with an animal. Do you remember how much pleasure you got from your childhood pet? Some of those memories will stay with you for your entire life. So allow your child the same privilege and soon your child and pet could be best friends for years.

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