How to Introduce your Baby to Household Pets
Introducing a baby to household pets is no simple task. Babies and animals are both unpredictable. You’ll need care, patience, and safety precautions. We’ve put together a micro-blog for you on introducing the two, without either getting hurt or scared.
Never leave the baby and pet alone, even for a moment!
Prepare the Pet First
- Reinforce obedience and calm behaviour: Make sure your pet responds reliably to basic commands like “sit”, “stay”, and “leave it”.
- Gradually desensitize: Let your pet get used to sounds and smells associated with a baby (their crying, their food, the baby lotion, or any other new experiences a baby will bring to your home).
- Maintain routines: Keep feeding, walks, and attention schedules consistent so the pet doesn’t feel neglected or stressed.
- Before bringing the baby home, allow the pet to explore the nursery and sniff baby items like blankets or clothes.
· Set boundaries by teaching pets to stay off furniture or the crib where the baby sleeps. Baby gates can also provide separation when needed.
Build Positive Associations
- Reward calm behaviour around these items with treats or praise.
- Let the pet associate the baby with good things (treats, praise, toys).
- Gradually increase the pet’s exposure while monitoring behaviour.
Supervised Introductions
- Hold the baby securely in your arms during the first meeting.
- Don’t force contact! Allow the pet to approach slowly.
- Calm, soothing tones can reassure both your pet and your baby.
- Reward the pet for gentle, calm behaviour.
Watch for Warning Signs
- Growling, hissing, pinned-back ears, stiff tail, or avoiding the baby indicate stress or discomfort. Watch your child carefully; their signs of stress may be harder to catch because they’re still learning new ways to behave.
- If you’re not sure your pet is in a good mood, give them space. Slow down the introduction process by waiting a few hours, or even days, to continue with introductions. The same goes for your baby, make sure they’re in a calm mood, so they can enjoy meeting their pet!
Every new parent has to learn new things, at some point. Just remember, you grew a human; you did that! So, you can totally learn all these new things! You’ve got this! As always, take things slow, give yourself time to react to any problems, and give your baby time to decide how they feel about animals! Good luck with your new family!