How to Introduce Pets to Babies
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Introducing a new baby to your family can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. Especially when we have dogs, cats, or other pets that have grown used to our particular way of life.
When you have a new baby, it is natural to want to have your pet's love on them right away. However, integrating a pet into your family dynamic requires careful planning and preparation. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks to make the introduction of pets to babies as smooth as possible.
We will break down this process of introducing your baby to your pets into 3 easy parts:
Prepping for before the baby is born or arrives to your house
How to navigate that VERY first introduction
Tips & tricks for smooth/safe interactions every single day
What does this girl ‘Rachel’ know about introducing pets and babies anyway?
Well, I have four pets of my own and I have done this introduction successfully many times.
I have also fostered and rescued animals for years.
I am also a mother/baby nurse and am currently pregnant!
I will be doing another introduction in a few months! Follow along on Instagram to see how that goes…
Learning Pet Behavior
Learning your specific pet’s behavior and ALL animals' body language is extremely important when introducing a new baby.
We want to know when our dog is uncomfortable (lip licking, scratching excessively, looking away, ears back, yawning excessively, wide eyes, etc). Or when our cat is exhibiting signs of aggression or fear (arched back, flicking tail, ears down, eyes wide, etc).
Learning these subtle signs will allow you to react appropriately and move your animal away from the baby safely. All pets will go through an adjustment period and even if your pet is ‘amazing with all people’ you want to approach this situation with confidence and knowledge.
Do not assume that your pet will be friendly with your baby right away.
Do not assume that your baby is safe with your pet.
Prepping For Before Baby Arrives
Pets are very intuitive and most of them are VERY used to their routine. They notice small changes in their daily schedule and in their home. They will definitely notice a baby and alllllll of the items that come along with a baby as well.
Preparing your home and space before baby arrives is very important for this reason. Slowly bring the baby items out and set them around the house weeks before the baby arrives.
Let your animals smell these items and safely ‘check them out’. SET BOUNDARIES HERE AS WELL. Do not allow your cat to sleep in the baby bassinet. We don’t want your cat to learn that is ‘their’ bed.
If you start to notice territorial behavior (guarding, growling, etc)...reiterate that it’s not the pet's belongings. Give them their own toys or treats or beds and praise them for being there.
Play baby crying noises on your phone and place it in various baby items (bassinet, car seat, baby swing). Notice how your animal reacts, think back to that body language we spoke about, and reward calm behavior.
If your pet is showing signs of stress or aggression with these noises, turn them off and reset. Walk around the house or yard and come back to try again. Moving slowly throughout this process will help in the long run.
Practicing these boundaries and slowly changing the home environment with ease the transition and help with everyone’s comfort.
Navigating The First Introduction
The first introduction between your pet and baby is SO IMPORTANT. We want to begin this relationship in the best way possible.
So many new parents think that taking a blanket with the baby's smell and allowing the pet to sniff is adequate preparation. This can be a great addition to the introduction, but there are other things to consider.
Before bringing your pet and baby together for the FIRST time:
Make sure you have said hello first, without the baby. Your animal will likely be excited to see you and worried about where you have been. Allow them time with JUST you to feel comfortable again.
Exercise your pet before the introduction. For dogs– this means one partner takes them on a walk, or hike, or whatever ensures they are well exercised. For cats– this could mean playing with toys for 10-15 minutes with one partner.
Ensure the baby is calm or asleep for the first introduction. We don’t want the first sounds your pet hears to be screams or squeals. This could be triggering.
During the first introduction ensure your dogs are leashed and that you have control of them. We do not want to allow them to jump or run wherever they please during the introduction–we want to be in control. One partner holds the dog(s) and another holds the baby.
Do not lower the baby to your pet’s level for them to ‘have access’. Keep the baby higher than your waist during the entire introduction. Do not allow your cat or smaller animal to walk over baby–keep your body in between them.
Keep the first introduction short and praise your animal for good behavior.
Remember to switch with your partner and give your pet attention. They are used to your attention and will want to know they are still loved by you!
Repeat those steps for the first few introductions. Never leave your baby alone with your pet. Do not set the car seat on the ground and allow your animals to freely sniff. Constantly watch your animal's body language. If they become uncomfortable remove them.
We may know our animals well, and how they have behaved with other children, but having a new human in their life is a big deal. Approach the introduction in a calm way and always stay in control.
Tips & Tricks for Safe Interactions
We want to continue supervised interactions between your pet and your baby. This can be harder with cats so try to have a safe area you can place your cats if they are showing signs of nervousness or aggression.
When doing floor time with your baby keep a leg or body part between you and your pet. This allows you to control the situation and can make your pet feel safe.
Utilize gates to safely separate your baby and pets when you cannot watch them. We used this baby playpen when my daughter was younger and it helped us so much.
Always feed your animals away from your baby.
In addition to supervising all interactions between your pet and baby, it is also important to teach your child how to interact with pets safely. For example, you can teach your child to approach the pet slowly and calmly, to avoid pulling their tail or fur, and to never disturb them while they are eating or sleeping.