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Preparing the Family Pet for a New Baby

How to Ease the Transition when Bringing Home Baby

Sep 18, 2009 Sarabeth Asaff

Preparing for a baby is an overwhelming task at times. Parents and siblings are not the only ones about to have their lives upended. The family pet will be affected, too.

The nursery is done, the house is clean, there’s a full wardrobe of baby clothes, and older children have been told of the impending arrival, but what about the family pet? When preparing for a new baby, it’s important not to overlook the other members of the family; the family pets. No one wants to have to care for a new baby and a jealous dog or cat. Read on for some tips on making the transition a smooth one.

Don’t Make the Baby’s Things off Limits

It’s tempting to scold pets when they climb into the bassinet; the one that has been specially prepared for the baby, but allowing the pet free range of the new items in the home will help to keep any retaliatory behavior at bay. Don’t worry about the cat trying to smother the baby; when the baby is using the bed and other items, the pet will likely accept them as belonging to the baby. Since these items were never off limits, the pets will be less likely to try and claim them for their own.

Bring Home an Item that Smells of the Baby

Before bringing the baby home from the hospital, bring home a hat, or wet diaper from the baby to let the pets sniff. Place the item briefly in the baby’s bed, to help claim that area for the baby before it’s in use. This way, the baby’s smell isn’t completely alien to the pet.

Have a Special Treat Ready

Have a bone, catnip sack or new toy ready to give the pet when the baby comes home. Make a point of introducing the baby to the family pet, and then whoever is closer to the pet, should hand the baby to the other parent, and make a fuss about how good the pet is being. Give the special treat, and try to prepare to spend at least a few minutes everyday praising the pet for their good behavior. Try not to focus on any poor behavior; unless the baby is in danger focusing on the bad behavior will fuel negative attention getting. Instead, praise them whenever they are being friendly or acting like themselves.

Give Baby and Pet Time

It will take time for the family pet to get used to the new addition, so if the first few weeks or months are rough, don’t feel that all is lost and the old “baby” is going to have to leave the home to make room for the new one. Before too long, dog and baby or cats and babies will be peacefully co-existing and learning to share their parent’s attention.

The copyright of the article Preparing the Family Pet for a New Baby in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Sarabeth Asaff. Permission to republish Preparing the Family Pet for a New Baby in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A Baby and the Family Cat