With a large number of households having a cat or dog in them, you will find cause for concern if a new baby comes into the household. There are a number of concerns that arise and these will have to be attended to to keep your child secure.
Sibling Rivarly
Animals can become quite envious any time there is a new family member in your house. A lot of little ones get harmed every year because of the family dog or cat, simply because of this particular reason. Take into account, your dog or cat was initially your first "baby" and it's accustomed to being the center of the focus. Therefore, its understandable that they may feel something similar to sibling rivalry whenever you introduce a new infant into your residence.
You could lessen feelings of jealousy by working together with your pet before you bring home your child. Little by little acquaint your pet to spending less time with you. As a result of doing this, your pet will more than likely feel less anxious once the newborn arrives home.
Make certain the dog is thoroughly trained and responds to your instructions. Your dog must be able to stop as well as stay when told. Should your pet ha a issue in this particular area, make sure you get professional dog obedience training before bringing your baby home.
Set limitations
Prior to bringing home your baby, be sure to set up off limits locations. Do not allow any dogs and cats to jump or even climb into the baby's crib or spaces designated to the child. However since animals like new smells, let them smell baby powder or lotions so they can get accustomed to these new smells.
In the event your pet is not used to being around little children, consider bringing friends or perhaps relatives over so they can become accustomed to children and the way they play. Continue to keep an eye on your pet's demeanor to make sure they aren't anxious or displaying warning signs of aggression. In some instances it could be necessary to look for a different home for your pet, at least till the baby is old enough to be safe and sound within its presence.
Introductions
When you return home with the infant, introduce your pet and invite them to take a seat next to the baby. Encourage your pet with snacks for appropriate behavior. Remember, you would like your pet to view associating with your newborn as a pleasant experience. In order to avoid anxiety or even harm, don't force your pet to get close to the newborn, and constantly monitor any interaction.
Daily life will no doubt become stressful taking care of your newborn, however seek to keep normal schedules as much as possible to help your pet adjust. Make sure to devote one-on-one quality time together with your pet on a daily basis. Together with training, supervision, and adjustments, an individual, your new baby, and your pet should be able to reside together safely and happily as one big family.