Pets
and babies - do they mix?
You coo over them, cuddle them, revolve your life around them - and then a baby comes along. Like a new sibling, there's a big adjustment to make when a baby arrives. Get the first weeks right, and they'll probably become best friends. Get it wrong and the results could be fatal
- Introducing dogs to babies
- Will your dog attack?
- Introducing cats to babies
- 'The dogs come and get me if Ella cries'
- Where to next?
Introducing
dogs to babies
Dogs bond very strongly with their owners and a new baby usurps its place
in the 'pack', with first claim on your attention. Most attacks on babies (and
these are rare) happen within hours or days of the baby's homecoming, so it's
vital that your dog's first impressions are good.
David McDowell, RSPCA veterinary officer and animal behaviour expert, says:
"Dogs can find it difficult to accept a younger animal coming into the
house, because to a dog, that's what a baby is - an animal which suddenly gets
all the attention. If you're not careful, your dog will quickly associate your
baby with being booted out of the room and having its routine disrupted."
Before your baby's arrival
It can be difficult to combine looking after a dog with caring for a baby so
make changes to your routine as early as possible:
- The dog will need to be quiet around the baby, so teach him to 'sit' and 'stay', regardless of what you are doing
- Teach your dog not to go upstairs
- Get your dog used to just one walk a day
- Introduce your dog to the sights and smells of the nursery
- Try rehearsing having a baby in the house - wrap a doll in a blanket and coo over it. See how your dog responds.
- Look at habits or behaviour that might cause a problem - pawing, pulling on the lead, jumping up - and work on each in turn. Be patient and use rewards rather than punishment.
Hello baby!
On arriving back from the hospital, first greet your dog without the baby around
and keep them apart for a few hours while the dog adjusts to the new smells
and sounds. When there's a quiet lull, leash your dog and get him to sit and
look at the baby from a distance, gradually moving him nearer. Be calm and soothing.
If all is well, let him have a sniff, then praise him and offer a treat. Repeat
this several times on the first day. Don't leave the baby and dog alone together
until you're confident it is safe. If, after a few weeks, you're still not happy,
use child gates to bar the dog when you need to leave the baby unattended. It's
wise to be cautious, but the chances are your dog will probably become your
baby's playmate and protector.
Business as usual
RSPCA's David McDowell says: "Make sure your dog is fed and walked as usual,
and that he gets fussed when you've finished feeding or playing with the baby.
If he's constantly vying for your attention, give him a favourite toy as a distraction.
Be firm and clear about guidelines - for instance, he can sit next to you while
you feed the baby, but not put a paw up. Always praise good behaviour."
If you're retraining after the baby's arrival, use rewards when the baby is
asleep, rather than just telling him off when the baby is around.
Will your dog attack?
Most family dogs will happily accept a baby. However, animal experts suggest that the kind of dogs likely to harm babies may have these tendencies:
- Previous aggressive behaviour to children or adults
- Will have killed cats or squirrels etc
- Will have never been close to a baby
If your dog falls into these categories, seek professional help and be very vigilant. "If you see warning signals, such as growling and slinking around, act quickly - don't ignore the signs," says McDowell. "Occasionally you get a dog that just won't take to children, and if that's the case it's safer to accept this quickly and re-home him."
Introducing
cats to babies
Cats are unlikely to attack a baby - injuries are more common once a child
can grab a handful of fur. In rare cases, babies have been accidentally suffocated
by cats - but only because prams or cots make warm places to sleep.
The biggest danger, however, is that your disgruntled puss will leave home.
As the McDowell says, "Cats are prone to moving out if their nose is put
out of joint, so make sure it gets fussed over"
Before your baby's arrival
Most cats detest the sound of a crying baby, so before the birth, try playing
a tape of crying while stroking your cat. You could also ask friends with babies
to visit. Keep the cat out of the room the baby will be sleeping in and teach
him not to sit in the new pram.
Keeping a happy home
Handle your cat with care - if he is constantly turfed out of the room when
your baby appears then it's likely to leave or turn on you - include your cat
by talking to him or giving him a treat when you feed the baby.
If your cat tries to sit on your lap when feeding, firmly but gently encourage
him to sit next to you instead. When your baby's in the pram or cot, use a cat
net, making sure it's taut or your cat will simply use it as a hammock. Finally,
many cats end up loving playing with children, but teach your child early on
that cats are not toys.
'The dogs come and get me if Ella cries'
Jane and Bryan Cameron introduced baby Ella, now five months, to their busy household of three dogs and two cats...
"We treated
the baby like we would a new kitten or puppy: telling the retrievers to be gentle,
letting them approach Ella slowly, giving lots of praise and fussing them while
holding the baby. However, unlike with animals, you can't leave your pets and
the baby to sort out their own pecking order. The dogs have to realise that
Ella is higher in the pack order than they are. This means she is fed or fussed
first. Ignoring attention-seeking behaviour, like bringing me a ball when I'm
feeding, works better than telling the dogs off. Now they'll come and get me
if she cries, or lie by her pram. And Ella is completely unfazed by them. She
doesn't even flinch when they bark - she must have got used to the noise when
she was in the womb!"
By Sue Rose
Where to next?
- Share your experience with pets and babies. Visit our discussion forum
- Get labour and birth advice
- Just had a baby? Check our guide to essential information
- Need some advice? Ask a babyworld expert
