Arriving home to a newborn can be both exciting and terrifying for parents – not forgetting pets who may feel left out!
There are various things you can do to help your pet adjust to a new baby, including these tips for introducing your pet and new born together: 1.) Have someone bring home one of the infant’s blankets so your pet can smell it before being introduced directly;
Bring Home the Baby’s Scent
Before introducing pets to your newborn, create a safe and controlled environment in which they can smell your baby for the first time. Make sure they have plenty of space and control so that their first encounter doesn’t turn into something unintended such as tearing off blankets or onesies (or worse!). Have someone bring in something resembling the newborn’s scent such as receiving blanket or clothing the day or morning of arrival so your dog can become familiar with its scent without feeling left behind or that an unwelcomed visitor. This will stop him feeling abandoned by family or feeling that a stranger intrudes upon them all at once!
Bring home a newborn can be stressful for any animal, even the most well-adjusted of pets. A human means added noise and commotion as well as unfamiliar smells – especially a crying newborn who may associate those sounds with stress or discomfort. To help your pets adjust, the ASPCA suggests playing recordings of baby coos and cries ahead of time to help associate those commotions with positive associations – rewards like treats could help ease this transition period for both parties involved!
If your pets react negatively to the smell of a newborn baby, such as by barking or growling at them, do not punish them as this may only increase their fear. If they appear anxious in other ways – sniffing carpet or urinating in the house – do not punish them; these behaviors could be signs that they feel overwhelmed and their only way of communicating may be aggressive behavior.
After several days, it is time to introduce the baby and your pets. Keep both on leashes at all times so the encounter remains under control and supervised at all times. Allow both species to sniff each other until both become calm; eventually allow them to enter the same room together; interactions should last no more than 10-15 seconds at most; praise both and give a treat afterwards!
Change Your Routine
A new baby can bring many changes to a household’s routine that affect pets, including daily walks, feeding schedules and playtime alterations. It is vital that everyone understands these adjustments so as to prevent your furry family member feeling isolated from participation in these changes and be supportive. This will prevent him or her from feeling left out in future visits from friends and relatives.
Allowing your pet to sniff clothing and blankets used at the hospital before you bring the infant home can also help them adjust. Their familiar scent will form positive associations between themselves and the newborn infant. Some people even ask friends with babies for some unwashed cloths so their dogs can smell them.
Cries and movements from an infant can be disturbing to some dogs, so to help your pet prepare you can pantomiming those behaviors before the actual birth occurs. Cradle a doll or roll up blanket while acting out how you would with an actual infant around, and interact with your pet as though the real one were there. You could even play recordings of infant crying over YouTube to familiarize your pet with them.
Once a real baby arrives, be sure to use a leash and supervise every interaction between your pet and baby. Doing this will prevent your furry friend from chasing after or biting at their new sibling causing fear, confusion or anxiety in both humans. Also try keeping him/her away from changing and sleeping areas which could pose dangers to his/her safety.
At first meeting, consider having someone else hold your infant while you walk your pet in a controlled and safe environment. This will create an opportunity to make a good first impression with them while showing that the infant should not be attacked or chased away from.
Now is a good time to introduce your pet to their new surroundings by having them explore the baby’s room for themselves and associating certain areas with something they enjoy doing or eating, like playing or snacks. Soon enough, positive associations will form and your pet will be ready to meet and play with the new addition in your family.
Give Your Pet Some Time to Adjust
Depending on how far along you are with your pregnancy, chances are your pet has noticed something amiss. After all, when gathering baby gear and making changes in routine and rearrangements in your house can all become quite exciting for a dog! But it’s important to realize that anxiety may arise around having another creature in the household; take the time and help your pup adjust before actually bringing one home with these helpful tips.
Introduce your baby to your dog when the pet is calm and on leash. At least two adults should be present so your dog doesn’t become overexcited and potentially pose a danger to the child. Begin slowly so your pet can sniff at and become familiar with baby scent, then reward with treats before giving the freedom of exploring room/items associated with baby.
Your dog still requires daily exercise, playtime and attention with you after having a baby, so make sure this continues for their welfare and to avoid them feeling neglected or resentful about the new arrangement. Doing this will also help them maintain a healthy weight without becoming stressed by being around an infant.
Before the baby arrives, it is a wise idea to teach your dog some basic commands and behaviors that will assist with interactions between the two of you. For instance, if they like jumping onto your lap often, training them to go to a mat on command may help ensure they do not accidentally harm the infant with their enthusiastic jumping!
Training your cat not to jump on small children or you when holding them can also make life much simpler once the baby arrives! Starting this early on will allow everyone involved to live peacefully together!
Give Your Pet Some Special Attention
An unexpected new baby can be an exciting and joyful time for parents, yet can be stressful for pets. Changes to routine and the scent or noises from infants may create unnecessary anxiety for many cats and dogs. Luckily there are ways you can prepare your pet for its arrival!
Before your baby arrives, give your dog or cat time to explore some of the items they will use with him or her, such as strollers, high chairs, diapers and infant clothing. ASPCA suggests playing recordings of baby noises so your pets know what to expect when their new sibling arrives home.
When welcoming the baby home, it is advisable to introduce your pet separately so they don’t become overexcited and jump up on you. Once they come inside the house with baby in tow, keep your dog on leash so you can control their behaviour effectively – particularly important in small tight spaces that could become their territory such as entryways.
Once your pet has adjusted to the new baby’s arrival, it’s important to spend quality time with them every day – from walks to couch snuggles – so they feel included and valued in their new household dynamic. Doing this will give them an important sense of control.
Keep up with your pet’s care needs, including vaccinations and parasite prevention. You don’t want them to become sick due to you neglecting their needs during this exciting time of your lives! Additionally, make an appointment with your vet just in case your pet requires any shots or medications prior to giving birth; arrange spay/neuter surgery if applicable if this hasn’t already happened.