How to Prepare Your Family Pet for a New Baby

It is hard for a dog who has always been treated like a baby to start playing dog when a real baby comes. They will have to do that though when you bring you baby home from the hospital. Your dog may mope around and thats pretty much unavoidable. You need to do whatever you can, however, to prevent excessive jealousy and/ or aggressive reactions. These are just a few suggestions of things you can do.

Invest in an obedience training program if they are not already trained. Friskiness an puppy-like behavior may not be a problem now, but when a baby comes it could happen. Obedience training will not take the dogs spirit, but it will make them more stable. You could also try inviting friends who have babies over to your house. This could help the dog become familiar with the scent and moves of babies. If you do not have friends with babies you could use a doll. Treat the doll like you wold your child. Diaper it, feed it, sing to it, and even rock it. You can also play a tape of a baby crying.

If you have a cat you can try these tips. Most of the above tips for dogs can work for cats as well. Attach a specially designed mesh crib net over the babies crib to keep the cat from bedding down with the baby. Cats like cuddling up next to warm bodies, but doing that with the baby could end in injury or worse. Also, keep any pets from licking your infants face or any broken skin.

Here are a few more tips for either pet. If your pets feeding spot is one the baby will later be able to get to you may consider moving it to a cellar, garage, or even a room that the baby will never get in to. You can also use a small non tip water bowl unless you like mopping a lot.

After delivery, have your spouse take an unwashed piece of clothing the baby has worn so your pet can become familiar with their scent. When you get home let the pet sniff your baby to satisfy its curiosity. Do not act overprotective of your baby around the pet it will only make the pet more jealous. Try to make a point of spending at least five minutes every day alone with your pet. If you try all this and your pet still shows hostile behavior keep it tied up and away from the baby. Just because a pet has never bitten before does not mean that will not now.

I hope these helpful tips will help someone. I know that when I brought my first child home our inside family dog got extremely depressed. I wish I would have read some articles or stories about it to get her ready. Hopefully this will help at least one family and their pet.

SOURCE
Murkoff, Hedi. Eisenberg, Arlene. B.S.N. Hathaway, Sandee. 1989. "What to Expect the First Year". Workman Publishing Company. New York, NY.