Expecting a baby? Know someone who is?
Bringing a baby home is an exciting and stressful time for new parents. But it can also be a stressful time for the four-legged babies in your home.
Unfortunately, some pets are abandoned to the backyard, surrendered to shelters or worse when the arrival of a new baby is looming. New parents can feel so overwhelmed with their round-the-clock responsibilities and dwindling pocketbooks that there seems to be no room in the home for Fido anymore.
Of course children come first, but there’s no reason that the family pet has to suffer. There are many things you can do to peacefully and safely introduce a new baby and a pet as you grow your family.
Introducing your new baby starts well before the big arrival. You’ll be setting up your nursery, and that’s a good time to set restrictions on your pet. If you don’t want Fido in the nursery, and there’s plenty of reason not to have him in there, put a baby gate up right from the start.
Initially, he may be very curious about all the new stuff, but if you set limits early enough eventually, he’ll get bored with the off-limit room.
As far as your cat goes, I got a great suggestion from one of my nurses at the hospital. She had her husband install a screen door on the nursery! That way she could see and hear everything that was going on in the baby’s room but her cats were kept out.
Take your pet to the veterinarian before the baby arrives to catch up on vaccines, spay or neuter, and to check for potentially dangerous parasites. If you have a long-haired dog or cat, get them clipped short for easier maintenance. Once the baby comes there will be little time for these activities.
Pets rely strongly on their sense of smell and you can use this to your advantage. Let your pet smell the baby’s new things as they arrive in the house. Baby powder, diaper bag, blankets and toys should all be introduced before the big day.
You can even practice carrying around a baby doll swaddled in your baby’s clothing and powders to get your pet used to the idea.
Set up a plan for pet care before you’re rushing off to the delivery ward of the hospital. Enlist the help of a close neighbor or family member to be “on call” when the big day comes. Make sure they know about pet medications, special dietary needs and bathroom schedules to ease the transition.
When arriving home from the hospital it’s a good idea to strategically plan your entrance. Of course your pet will be curious, that’s natural. The last thing you want to happen is for Fido to jump up to greet you like always, and then yell at him for nearly hurting the baby in your arms.
Ideally, you should greet Fido warmly and assign another person to handle the baby in a separate room. Spend some good time bonding for at least several minutes. Bring home a blanket your baby used at the hospital and let your pet get a good long sniff. Once he settles down, reward his good behavior with a treat.
Don’t rush the formal introduction and never force your pet to meet your baby. It may take a few days for that to happen. In the meantime, your pet will get used to the baby smells and noises and the drastically altered routine in the home.
Remember to avoid yelling at your pet for his curiosity. Instead, reward calm investigation and break things up with a little one-on-one playtime away from the baby when your pet is feeling frisky.
With a little planning and patience you’ll all be able to ensure a peaceful introduction between your baby and your pet and, hopefully, the start of a great new friendship.
Dr. Melissa Wheeler owns Central Carolina Veterinary Hospital and 24 Hour Animal Emergency in Burlington. For more information call 229-0060.
