Family Pet Guide: How To Introduce A Fur Baby To Your Actual Baby
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Australia, we love our pets!
The RSPCA has found that we have the highest rate of pet ownership in the world, firmly solidifying our furry friends as part of the family.
And it’s no wonder… Pets offer a whole range of health and mental wellness benefits, including being more effective at decreasing stress than a Zen garden, improving cardiovascular health, boosting physical activity and even reducing the number of times we visit the doctor! Studies show that pets reduce allergies, strengthen immune systems and can even help reduce the number of sick days primary school children take throughout the year.
But more importantly, they offer us a different kind of unconditional love and companionship we cannot get anywhere else - and that’s why we love ‘em!
With so many of us playing house with a dog or cat, often before we even start a human family, how do parents-to-be prepare their fur babies for the impending arrival of a human sibling?
It’s so important that before you bring a new baby home, you prepare your pet adequately - with some experts recommending you start the process at least four months minimum before the baby is born, to train your animal and nip any unwanted behaviours in the bud.
So, introducing your bub to Fido or Fluffy is a two-part process…
Let him in on the secret and prepare your pooch for an addition to his pack.
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1 Before Your Bundle Of Joy Arrives
With your dog, start training him as far in advance as you can. If he didn’t do so well in puppy school, this might be a good opportunity to give him a refresher on basic commands, how to meet new people and on who is the leader of his pack (you). Why? When your baby comes, you’ll need to be in control of your dog at all times - even when you’re sitting down or can only use your voice.
Make sure your pup is ready for the sights, sounds and smells that a baby will bring to your home. Play recordings of baby noises and cries or children’s songs to see how this affects your dog. Let pooch sniff the baby lotions, powders, shampoos and the new things you buy for the nursery - including the pram he’ll have to walk next to - and start getting him used to the way a baby might touch or interact with him.
It’s also a good time to enforce new rules, boundaries and routines. Show your pup where he can or cannot go, what he can or cannot touch. Shut off rooms he’s not allowed to go in. Invest in some baby gates to contain your fur baby (and then you’ll have them on hand for when you have a toddler - genius!). Schedule times you cannot give Fido attention and times when you can offer love. Get your best friend used to a routine he might expect after birth and even start role-playing what it will be like with a doll in your arms. Once you’ve got a good thing going, be consistent.
Invite lots of new people to your house - especially your friends with kids. Start to socialise your pup with children of all ages. If you see any unwanted behaviours, such as overly excitable jumping or nibbling, discourage these and reward good behaviours such as obeying commands.
She knows what’s up… and a prepared kitty is a happy one.
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Like dogs, you’ll need to prepare a cat’s environment in advance. Get her used to sights, smells, sounds and baby furniture around the house in the same way, varying the chaos so she gets used to what it will be like when a baby is screaming down the house. Cats are all about scent, so even wearing some of the baby’s lotions will help your cat to identify baby smells as non-threatening.
Move your cat’s things, such as litter, food bowls and toys, to places a baby cannot reach and get her used to this change as early as possible. If you have to put the toys away where the cat and new baby cannot reach them, get kitty used to you bringing them out at certain times of the day and then putting them away again.
There is always a lot of anxiety around cats and their questionable cleanliness for babies. Parents can rest easy, as the most-feared toxoplasmosis disease from cat poo can only be transferred if your cat actually carries the parasite - which most indoor cats do not, as they don’t feast on birds or small rodents from outside. If you’re worried about your outdoor cat though, you can always have her tested by a vet, or simply wear protective gloves when changing the litter and always remember to wash your hands. There’s no need to rehome your kitty, merely take precautions and you’ll find they are just as cleanly as dogs.
Make sure to set up the nooks and crannies your cat can go to when stressed or tired, and ensure she knows where she isn’t welcome anymore. If she previously slept or hid in a place where you’re putting something for the baby, make sure you shut off the area or move kitty on each time to discourage her from choosing that spot again.
#CatGoals right here…
Source: Unknown.
As cats can roam more than dogs and may be harder to keep out of the nursery, invest in good baby monitors so you can close doors behind you, or use a cot canopy and some form of barrier for the nursery doorway your kitty can’t penetrate (also, anything sticky works a treat). Eventually she’ll learn her place.
Socialise your cat and get her used to lots of people, especially kids. Make sure to encourage play with cat toys only - not with hands or body parts, as you don't want your feline to mistake baby’s foot for a chew toy! If your cat starts to exhibit poor behaviours with children, speak to your vet for advice on training techniques.
Let your feline inspect your belly often and get used to a doll in your arms. Some cats can even appear maternal and nurturing during the pregnancy.
If your cat is particularly stressed about the changes happening inside her home, Feliway is a great calming cat pheromone spray or diffuser you can use to keep her anxiety levels down - and it won't affect baby or you one bit.
But whether you have a dog or cat, the number one thing you must do before your bundle of joy arrives is take your pet to the vet for a check-up. Make sure they are up-to-date with their vaccines, worming and flea treatments, and double-check they are the picture of health. You don't want a sick pet when your due date rolls around!
Always introduce your new baby to your pet slowly, and help build the relationship through supervised play.
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2 The Meeting Of Two Babies
When you have sorted all the prep work, the next step comes when the baby is actually born.
How do we introduce our pet to the baby, you ask.
Before your newborn comes home, get Dad to bring a used item, such as a blanket or onesie, home so your pet can sniff it and identify the baby’s scent before he or she is on the scene.
When baby eventually makes an appearance, introduce your pet as calmly as possible. Have one parent holding the baby and one taking care of your furry counterpart, including having your dog on a lead for the first encounter. The parent with the fur baby will meet the pet first and give it positive attention before the baby is introduced.
Let your pet sniff baby and get used to the idea of a sibling. Reinforce the meeting with a treat so your pet associates the baby with positive consequences.
If your pet loses interest or runs away, let them go until they are ready to interact with baby again. When they are ready in their own time, always supervise the interactions.
Your ultimate goal is to associate your new baby with positivity in your pet’s mind, so don’t be afraid to reward good behaviour wherever possible. And remember to spend time with your pet when you don't have to care for the baby. This may be in the designated times you set in your pet’s routine during pregnancy.
In this turbulent time, it’s so easy for things to slip. Remember to keep up your pet’s worm and flea treatments, as well as grooming, to make sure they are always at their best and safest for bub.
If you start to notice aggression in your pet, make sure to keep them separated from baby and speak to your vet for solutions as soon as you can.
A strong bond between a child and pet can lead to a very fulfilling childhood.
Source: Unsplash.
As your baby grows, you’ll be able to breathe easily as both your toddler and pet learn to cohabit. This is a good opportunity to teach your child how to interact softly and gently with the family pet, but always make sure their interactions are supervised.
While introducing a baby into a pet-friendly household sounds like work, I hope this guide helps you create a really rewarding experience for all. Not to mention, your child will thank you when they have a host of fond memories and pictures of their first pet.
Happy fur family blending!
Don’t have a pet, but want to get one now you’ve started a family? As part of our two-part family pet guide, next week we discuss what pet to get, why and when you should get one.
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