The Introduction
Once your baby is born, have dad or a friend bring home a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby has used so your dog or cat can get familiar with your baby’s scent. If your pet has a special sleeping place, put this blanket or garment there so your pet can get used to it - you want to establish this new smell under positive circumstances. Allow your pet to sniff around the nursery too, but establish that this is not a room your pet can visit any time he or she wants - you need to have this control so there is quiet when it’s time for your baby to sleep.
Many trainers recommend a quiet, brief, and supervised first meeting. Let dad carry the baby inside since your pet will be eager to greet mom who has been away for a few days. Keep the baby at a higher elevation than your pet. This may sound like common sense, but there are other reasons, too. Dogs tend to divide the world into leaders and littermates, and the smaller you are, the more likely you are the latter. Littermates get jumped on, pushed around, schooled, and even bitten. You want to establish early on that your baby is a leader in training.
You may be able to lessen the stress and anxiety of the homecoming by bringing a new toy for your pet - another way to make a positive association with the new member of your family. If you feel your pet has particular issues, consult a professional trainer. GrowingUpWithPets.com is also an excellent resource for information regarding pets with children.
Cat Litter
Just like mom had to avoid the cat box while pregnant, your baby should stay away from it as well. This is not because cat litter is inherently dangerous, but cat feces can be. Cats occasionally carry a parasite called toxoplasma gondii, which they contract from eating infected prey, raw meat, or by digging in contaminated soil (indoor cats rarely have it). The resulting disease, toxoplasmosis, is not very serious in adults who quickly establish immunity. But children who are born with it or contract it as infants can suffer from hearing loss, mental retardation, and blindness.
Wear gloves if you must change the litter and whenever gardening. Always wash hands thoroughly and keep your baby away from the cat box.
Living Together
Once you have gotten over the initial hurdle of the introduction, you still must pay attention as your baby and pet develop their relationship. Don’t be overprotective of your little one, but never allow your pet to be aggressive toward your baby. Whenever possible, use positive reinforcement - give your dog and cat love and affection while your baby is present and show them that there’s plenty to go around.
Keep your pet’s nails well trimmed - a grooming process you can begin long before the baby comes. It’s not hard for a child to get scratched accidentally.
Make sure you dispose of dirty diapers in a pet-proof container. Dogs will play with and even eat dirty diapers as an instinctual way of keeping their den clean. Or some, like our dachshund, just like to be bad. Either way, get those dirty diapers out to the trash as soon as possible.
The most important thing when establishing a relationship with your pets and your baby is keeping things positive and consistent. Your dog and cat look to you as the leader who keeps the peace, and so does your baby. Remember that the way you treat your pets will be imitated eventually by your child, so now is the time to start setting a good example. Unless, of course, you can get your dog to sit and watch Peter Pan.
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