Having a newborn and a pet can seem overwhelming, since you have to pay a lot of attention to both of them. It’s very important to know how to approach this and figure out a way to make the entire process fun and simple for both of them. With that being said, there are some things to keep in mind, all you have to do is to check these options here, give them a try and then adapt accordingly.
Plan beforehand
It’s very important to plan for this before your newborn is on this planet. As soon as you know you are pregnant, you must do some medical tests on your pets. Cats in particular have toxoplasmosis, and this can affect pregnancy. An infection with such a parasite can lead to birth problems, so that’s definitely one of the things to keep in mind.
You also want to address behavioral problems in the case of your pet, such as jumping randomly and so on. Stuff like this might not seem that much of a problem, but it can lead to issues, and you want to tackle it the best way that you can. Making sure that your pet is not aggressive and that it’s healthy as well as free of parasites is very important, so try to take that into consideration as much as possible for the best results.
Prepare the house properly
A good idea here is to offer your pet time to adjust to the environmental changes. You want the pet to become accustomed with new furniture like the baby’s crib, among many others. A very good idea here is to also take your time and teach your pet what zone is off-limits and what zone is ok. A lot of pets end up going places where they are not allowed, so this kind of stuff becomes an issue. You want to address the problem as fast as possible if you want great results, so keep that in mind. Also, you can also use a motion sensing pet sprayer to help train your cats/dogs. It works great and it can be very efficient.
Start to model new behaviors
What you can do is to try and walk around the house, cradling a rolled up blanket or a doll. While it might seem strange for you, the truth is that such behavior can help your pet learn more about what life with a child can actually be. It’s a very good idea to address this properly and prevent any issues that might arise. That’s what you want to go for, and in the end that’s what will make the process better all the time.
Scent adaptation
When your baby arrives, the pet will automatically sense a new scent. That’s why before the baby arrives, you want to introduce your dog to baby powder and baby location if you can. It’s a very good idea for the family member to take a piece of clothing that the baby wore once he’/she is born, then introduce that to your pet. Adapting to these scents is a very good idea, and it will help bring in some incredible results and benefits in the long run. That’s certainly something to consider as much as possible, and the payoff can be really impressive.
Make the first meeting simple and cute
Ideally, you want this introduction to take place on a neutral territory. Don’t bring the pet into your baby’s room, and also avoid bringing the baby to your pet’s place. Try to go outside and ensure that the pet is on a leash or a container. You never know what reaction might appear, so trying to ensure that everything is safe and there are no side effects or problems is very important to keep in mind here. With that being said, you need to supervise everything. And if any of the two parties ends up doing anything strange, then you want to address that as much as possible for the best results and experience.
Documenting the meeting with some pictures and videos can be a great idea. But if you do this, try to do it from afar if you can. It will set the right boundaries and ensure that there will be no issues. The more you address this, the better the results that you want. That’s what makes it well worth it in the end, so try to take that into consideration if you can.
Taking your pet and baby in a car together
Here you need to make sure that you have arrival plans. You want to know who will hold the baby, if he/she will be in a car seat or not. Also, will your pet be on a leash? It’s crucial to create a plan and figure these things out. You want to ensure that you take good care of your child and all the simple things here are important. That’s the right way to address such a thing, and the results can be second to none.
It’s also a good idea to try and teach your child to better interact with your pet. After all, your pet will find your kid a great family member if he offers him food, cleans up after him and so on. Nurturing this type of relationship takes time, but it can be a great idea, and it’s something you need to keep in mind.
Conclusion
You should always consider using these tips if you want to introduce your newborn to your pet. It makes a lot of sense to do that, although you need to realize that it takes time to perform a proper introduction. As you saw, you need to prepare this beforehand, get them accustomed to one another, and then slowly introduce them on a neutral territory. As soon as you do that, things will become a lot easier, and you will be able to address the problem in no time. That’s what makes it well worth it, and results can indeed be second to none if you manage this properly!