Even the calmest and the cuddliest pet may act jealous once a newborn baby arrives at their home. To prevent future rivalry, here are nine ways on how to prepare your pets for your newborn baby.
Expose your pet to babies
The first on the list on how to prepare your pets for your newborn baby is exposing and introducing them to one. If you have family or friends with babies, invite them over to your place so your dog or cat can be familiar with their sounds and smells. But, make sure to never leave the babies and your pets alone.
Pay for obedience training
Whether your pets have professional training, it's still a good idea to consider enrolling them in an obedience training class. Practicing good behavior techniques like "drop it", "stay", and "down" will make them less likely to harm your newborn baby.
Get your pet used with a baby in the house.
Silly as it may sound, try carrying around a baby doll and practice everyday baby activities to get your pets used to the routine. It's also a good idea to play a recording of a baby crying at home too. Make all of these positive experiences for your pets by offering them a treat or playtime.
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Try out different sleeping arrangements.
If a new bed or sleeping area is going is in the cards for your pets, introduce them to it sooner than later. Fix up a snooze-spot in a baby-free zone with their favorite blanket, pillow, or toy.
Take your pets for a medical checkup.
An addition to our list on how to prepare your pets for your baby is making sure that they are up to date on vaccines and that their flea and tick free. Ask your vet about using a pill version or other method that's effective against these pets and safe to use around a baby.
Establish boundaries near the nursery
You should never leave your pets alone with your newborn baby. So, if your little one will have a separate room, train your pets to stay out of it when you're not there. One good option is a baby gate that keeps him out but allows him to see and hear what's happening in the room.
Don't leave your pet's food out in the open.
If your pet's food and water station is a spot your baby will later be able to access, move it to a place that's out of reach, or at least doesn't invite a curious crawler.
Get your pets used to your baby's scent.
Both dogs and cats learn a lot about their world through their sense of smell. Before bringing your baby home, have your partner introduce an unwashed piece of clothing that your newborn baby has worn to your pets. This helps them become familiar with your baby's scent. And when you bring your baby home for the first time, have your partner hold her while you say hello to your pets. Then, let them have a sniff at your baby. Give them a treat after so they learn that behaving well with the baby gets them the attention and praise that they crave.
Bond with both of them
One of the important things to do on how to prepare your pets for your baby is to bond with both of them. You want your pets to get the message that they are still beloved members of the family. Try to spend at least five minutes of solo time every day with your pets to show them that they are still loved.
