The minute you decide to bring a pet home, it becomes a crucial part of your family. When we adopted our dog, he instantly became attached to me. He hardly left my side and would always want to snuggle with me. When I suffered my first miscarriage, he sensed I was sad and was not feeling well. The entire time I healed he stayed by my side. I was his person, and essentially he was my baby.
When I became pregnant with my son, he leaned toward my husband because he could sense the change. I worried how he would react to me bringing a baby home and the feeling of being replaced. That is when we started game planning the best methods to introduce our dog to our baby to make the transition easier.
Below are some methods you can use for introducing your dog to your new baby (I’m sure then can be used with other pets as well):
Prepare the dog.
When I would spend time in the nursery, I would make sure to have our dog come with me. I wanted him to get used to the smell, the sight of the crib, and all the surroundings in the room. We figured it was best to acclimate him to that room so he felt like it was a safe space instead of a negative space. You can also have the dog sniff and explore the different baby equipment, such as swing or pack and play, that you will be using to get them used to the equipment.
Give the dog the baby blanket or clothing.
After our son was born, my husband would come home at night to be with the dog. The baby’s receiving blanket and his hat from the hospital came home with my husband to give to the dog to help him get used to the smell of his new sibling.
Introduce gradually.
This is the most important method that we used to help with the transition. When it is time to bring your baby home, I recommend one parent go in and greet the dog alone. Then, put the dog on the leash to prevent them from getting too excited and jumping on the baby. Next, the other parent should go into the house but keep the baby in the car seat. Finally, hold the dog’s leash as tight as you can to prevent it from jumping as the dog sniffs around.
As time goes on, you can choose when you’re ready to introduce them when the baby is in your arms and the dog is off the leash. Always make sure to let the dog approach you and the baby. Do not force the interactions. Make it the dog’s choice so it doesn’t become a negative reaction to the baby.
Always supervise.
Never leave your dog alone with your baby. You never know if your dog will snap and go after the baby. Even if they get along extremely well, if the dog is sick or irritated, any sudden movement or noise can cause the dog to turn on the baby.
With our second baby arriving soon, I will use these methods again to introduce our dog to our new baby girl. It can be scary introducing your dog (or any pet) to a new baby because you’re never sure how it is going to go. I’m hoping these tips help new parents or pet owners make the transition smooth.
