You Lucky Dog You
Monique Eames
You lucky Dog you, that is until baby comes along. Is it
possible for pets and babies to co-exist in peace! From
every corner I received advice on how things will have to
change with our dog once the baby comes along. Everyone said
there is no way they can live together in the same house
without baby getting sick or worse still being bitten. How
wrong they all were!
There is no doubt about it, you certainly need to take great
care when mixing pets with babies and you should definitely
never leave a baby or child alone with any animal. However,
we couldn’t have got a better playmate for our little
toddler. He absolutely adores our little white powder puff.
There are some tips though to ensure that all goes smoothly
when you bring baby home from the hospital. If you do decide
that your indoor pet is to become an outdoor pet, you need
to make this change well in advance of your baby being born.
It is important that your pet doesn’t feel resentment
towards your baby. Therefore, start getting your pet used to
being outside at least 6 months before the baby is born so
that they don’t associate the baby with being put outside.
You can also help your pet get used to the scent of your
baby before you bring them home from the hospital. Purchase
a cheap bunny rug and wrap your baby in it while at the
hospital for one night, then bring it home and give it to
your pet. This way your pet will get used to the smell of
your new baby and they won’t be so anxious or curious once
baby finally comes home.
Also, make sure you give your pet attention when baby is
awake so they know they don’t have to wait until baby goes
to sleep to get any playtime from you.
Ensure that all pet bowls and litter trays are way out of
reach of children. Don’t let animals play with baby’s toys
and vice versa. Both are sure to put the toys into their
mouths! Pets that are wormed and vaccinated are unlikely to
pass diseases on to your child, however make it a habit to
always wash hands after touching the pet and before eating
meals.
Lastly, make sure that your pet has somewhere to call their
own where they can get away from toddlers little hands and
sleep uninterrupted.
If things do start to get out of hand at home, call a
Behavioural Animal Specialist to see if they can help you
sort things out.
About the Author
As well as being a fulltime Mother, Monique is a partner in Bella Creations, an online gift shop specialising in unique gift arrangements & individual gift products for Men, Women & Babies. To view her gift range, log on at Baby Gifts Australia.
