Keeping Your Baby Safe and Your Pet Happy
Before my husband and I were even married, we bought a little rat terrier we named “Tyson.” Our sweet, cuddly little terrier eventually grew up and became a mid-sized, energetic and excitable dog who loved to roughhouse with my husband and play in
the backyard with his toys. He also wormed his way into our bed at night, snuggling under our covers. He was our little baby.
When my husband and I married, we soon found out we were pregnant. Our joy was a bit overshadowed by our concern that Tyson, who was very protective of us, would not accept the new baby into the family. We also knew that the transition from being the center of our attention to just the family dog would be difficult for him. We set about learning how to safely introduce our dog to our newborn, with the goal of keeping our pet happy, too.
Preparing a pet to the introduction of a newborn in the household should begin before the baby is even born. We began the process as soon as we brought new items into the home for the new baby. For instance, when we brought home baby blankets, clothes, and toys, we would show them to our dog, telling him that they were for the baby. When he tried to mouth the toys or clothes, we would use the phrase, “Not yours.” He quickly became used to the idea that the toys were not his to play with, and he became accustomed to the furnishings, diapers, and blankets filling the house. His anxiety about the new smells associated with the impending arrival of the new baby was replaced with familiarity, though he certainly did not know that we would soon have a newborn in the house.
When our baby did arrive, I had to spend several days in the hospital. While I was there, my husband made sure to spend time with our dog and slept at home so that his schedule remained roughly the same. We also made sure to bring home a receiving blanket that we had used for the baby so that Tyson could become accustomed to the baby’s scent. My husband even placed the blanket on our bed for the dog during the night.
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