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Introducing Dog To Baby: Activities To Help Introduce Your Growing Family
- 20/08/2018
If you’re getting ready to bring home a newborn baby, you might be concerned about how your firstborn “babies” will feel about the new addition. As a pet owner, your dogs, cats, and other animals are family, and will become your new baby’s first playmates and new “siblings.” Bringing home a new baby will definitely alter the family dynamic. Some new parents may also be concerned about the safety of their baby when first introducing their newborn to the dog.
However, with a bit of planning and effort, you can help your dogs adjust to and begin to love the new baby. Use the following activities and dog and newborn safety tips to make sure that your baby’s arrival is a happy and successful one—for every member of the family.
1. Introduce New Routines
Before the baby’s arrival, make gradual changes to the dogs’ routines and schedules, such as changing where they sleep or when they get walked. If they were once allowed in the room that you’re converting into a nursery, put up a baby gate now and begin encouraging them to stay away if you don’t want your pets in the baby’s room. If you make adjustments before the baby’s arrival, the dogs won’t associate the changes with the newborn.
Also, go through the motions of taking care of a baby with your pets nearby. Practice changing, rocking, and feeding. When you go on a walk, take an empty stroller out with you.
2. Introduce Smells First
Begin introducing the dog to the baby by first bringing in your newborn’s smells. Before the baby comes home, have a family member bring a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby has worn, and allow your dogs to smell and play with it. Say the name of the baby while they smell the item so they can begin to associate it with the smell.
When baby does arrive at home, keep your dogs on leashes at first. After you have greeted the dogs as you normally would, bring in the baby, but don’t let the dogs near just yet. If your pets handle the new sights and smell well, allow them—still leashed—to approach and sniff around the baby. Don’t force your dogs to approach; instead, invite them and reward with a treat as they show interest and behave well around the baby. When you are ready, allow them to approach without a leash.
3. Give Plenty of Attention
After first introducing your newborn to the dogs, you may be tempted to keep your pets away when you’re taking care of the baby. Your pets may get enthusiastic and want to play, getting in your way while you try to feed or diaper the baby. But if you are constantly shooing your pets away, they will associate a feeling of rejection with the baby.
Instead, you want them to develop positive feelings when they see the baby. To do this, allow your pets to stay near while the baby is around. Play with them, pet them, and give them plenty of attention in the baby’s presence. Don’t wait until nap time to bond with your dogs—you might actually consider being more reserved with affection while the baby is sleeping or away, which will help them anticipate the baby’s return and associate it with fun and attention.
About the Author: Danielle Adams is a freelance writer who works with various publications, including Owlet. In her free time, you can find Danielle reading, attending plays, and spending time outside.
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