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Home › Articles › General Safety Issues › Will Fido and Baby Get Along?

Will Fido and Baby Get Along?

Preparing Furry Friends for the New Baby

By Heather Larson

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. Besides crying, the CD plays babies breathing, grunting, squeaking, cooing, babbling, laughing and more. Whether you play the sounds for dogs or cats, start playing the CD at a very low level and then gradually increase the volume.

When Baby Arrives
When Jennifer Renfrow, who lives in Heidelberg, Germany, delivered her first child, she had her husband take home one of the blankets the baby slept on for their dogs to smell. "As soon as I walked in the door with the baby, I knelt on the floor to introduce the baby to the dogs at their level," says Renfrow. Her dogs were always very gentle with her children.

When Monique Fields of St. Petersburg, Fla., brought her baby home, her husband played with the dogs while she brought the baby into the house. Then they introduced the baby to the dogs who had been hearing the word "baby" for months. Whenever they got near Fields' belly, she would say "Watch the baby" or "Easy with the baby." Now the dogs don't bother the baby or her belongings. If a pacifier falls to the floor the dogs don't even bother to sniff or lick it.

After the baby comes keep the pet's routine as consistent as possible. Be sure you provide the dog with a private place where he can retreat, such as a crate. Cats seem to be able to get away easily enough on their own. But be sure to give your pet some personal attention to ease the transition for him and prevent jealousy.

No matter how well you prepare your dog or cat for the new baby, never, ever leave them alone together. It only takes a second for something unforeseen to happen.

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