baby’s arrival. Set up a special area for your pet, if they
don’t have one already. I recommend a pet bed, basket or
cat gym. This should be placed in an area of the house
where the pet feels like they are part of the family, but
where they can also get a little peace if they need it – a
quiet corner of the living room is typically a good choice.
This area should be their safe place, and should be off
limits to children and other disturbances.
The next stage of the introduction starts when the
mother and newborn are still in hospital. I normally ask
the father to bring home a swaddling blanket that the baby
has used in the hospital. Place the blanket somewhere in
the living room, on a chair or sofa, and allow the dog or cat
to learn the new baby’s smell. Pets will nearly always show
interest in the blanket and the new smells, but don’t force it
on them; just allow them to get used to it.
After everybody’s initial excitement settles a little when
the new baby comes home, take a moment to introduce the
dog or cat. I suggest parents hold the baby and gently lower
her down to let the pet sniff the blanket and the baby’s
lower body. However, for hygiene reasons, I suggest you
avoid letting your pet lick the baby excessively, especially
around the face.
As the days go on, I do think the family pets should
be allowed to interact with the baby, have a sniff when the
baby is lying or playing nearby, and be involved. Try to
let the dog or cat feel that they are part of the experience,
rather than having been displaced by this new member
of the family. Any interactions should be supervised at all
times and you should never force your pet to interact. And
on a related note, cats should not be allowed to sleep in the
same room as the new baby, as they could try to snuggle up
to the baby in the cot, which can be dangerous.
Still man’s best friend
Make sure the family pet still feels important. New
parenthood is a very busy time, but make sure to set aside
ten minutes a day to have pet-only time, where the pet gets
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