Baby Safety

Baby Safety
Author: Diana L. Guerrero
Copyright ©; 2005 Diana L. Guerrero. All rights reserved.
This article may not be reprinted or distributed without written permission from the author.
Baby safety is a concern for households with pets like dogs and cats. Learn pet care or integration tips in this article about baby safety around dogs, cats or other animals. Learn what steps to take and simple training techniques to make the integration of a baby into a pet household a successful and smooth transition.
When the arrival of a baby is imminent, many pet households donďż˝t know how to prepare for a smooth integration. Preparing your pet for the babyďż˝s arrival is just as essential as prenatal care for the motherďż˝but much easier! Simple, consistent steps can assist pet parents in becoming good parents for both the household pets and a new baby.
Unfortunately, after having had run of the household for years, many critters often get the boot after a new baby arrives. There are a variety of things you can you do to help integration. Can you keep the animal and child together without disaster? The answer is yes.
People are choosing to have kids later in life. This trend has sparked a flurry of pet parents who coddle and rear their non-human companions with as much love and care as others who raise kids at younger ages. Pet surrogate children often experience stress or trauma when the new human baby arrives.
In the past it wasnďż˝t unusual for animals to be tossed outside, or kept isolated from the new child when it arrived. The chaos surrounding the entrance of the new family member means a change in schedule or abandonment of routines. This creates confusion, chaos, and trauma for all involved.
There are many worries that come with having a new baby, including hormonal changes, lifestyle changes and additional stressors or problems that come with the needs of that new bundle of joy. When pets are involved, efforts to prepare should start the moment the expecting mother first visits the doctor.
Here are nine steps to help you plan for the happy integration and reduce stress on all involved:
1. Begin efforts to prepare immediately.
Pet preparation should start when you find a baby will be entering into your life. This means the minute after you find out that you or your significant partner is pregnant. Discuss what changes may need to occur, outline your concerns, do some research and develop some strategies to handle the upcoming integration successfully.
Animals are curious, playful, and can be rambunctious and persistent. These normal behaviors can be a danger to any child. Sudden changes in a petďż˝s routine can be stressful so you must understand this and adjust accordingly. Early planning removes the additional stress for everyone involved.
2. Develop a list of changes and concerns.
When a baby arrives in a household the routines and rules change. New parents get exhausted and overwhelmed. Often new patterns appear and different rules apply. What is the household like now? Will the rules change completely? This will be confusing for the animal. Identify areas where minor adjustments are possible instead of drastically changing everything.
Your preparation should also include discussions about boundaries. Will the animal be allowed in the babyďż˝s room? If pets are allowed on the furniture, will that change? Animals ideally need to remain integrated within the home. Do you know how this can be accomplished?
3. Invest in your family by training yourself.
Investing in your family is important. Donďż˝t forget that investing in animal behavior modification or pet training is part of your baby effort. If your beast dominates the household or you, then you can expect some problems. Family training is advisedďż˝the plus is that animal training techniques work well for kids, too!
Some of the training efforts should include:
Educating animals so they are non-reactive to baby noises and smells. Also desensitize pets to baby swings and teach stroller manners.
Prepare pets for changes in routines. Predictable patterns will alter, so gradually teach new habits and allow time for adaptation. Habits need to be diversified and unpredictable.
Tired pets are good pets. Invest in pet playgroups or services that can help lessen the demands on your time and attention.
Boundary training may be necessary. Will the pets be banned from certain rooms prior to the baby coming home? Pets should not be banished from the home or abandoned at a shelter. Early efforts work wonders.
A professional behaviorist can assist you in learning how to

safely introduce pets to the baby while keeping pets under control,
reinforce a positive association to the baby instead of creating jealousy or a negative association,
help you avoid and address issues over toys or other possessions.

One of the best things you can do in the early stages of pregnancy and planning is to attend an animal school. This is just as important as the commitment to go to baby or parenting classes. Both parents should attend. The expectant mother activity levels will change later, but the skills acquired in class are critical to learning proper control and safety with a new baby or child in the house.
4. Professional help for existing problems is a must.
If any of your animals are pushy or aggressive over food or other items you MUST find a good animal behaviorist to help you. You should get help even if the animal is ďż˝justďż˝ hyperactive or out-of-control.
5. Plan quality time.
Time management becomes more important with the addition of a new child. Schedule time for your spouse and animals once the new child arrives. Things will be very hectic and stressful and YOU will need a break. Grandmas and Grandpas, neighbors, and other family members might be interested in assisting you with the baby or with walking the dog or playing with the cat or other animals. Be creative! Take advantage of any offers for help. Donďż˝t forget that you can hire a pet professional like a dog walker, pet-sitter, or another similar service.
6. Never leave animals and kids alone even for a few seconds.
Children should NEVER be left unattended with an animal. Accidents can happen. Some risks include suffocation or injury from curious animals or from their playful invitations. Even a gentle pawing can injure a baby. Babies do not have the physical control to roll away from an animal that may lie on it or in front of the face. To state the obvious, donďż˝t forget that jealousy or predatory behavior in an unruly animal or hybrid can be deadly.
7. Use tools and other aids to your advantage.
Baby gates, monitors, and restraint are great tools. Training classes, pet play groups, professional assistance or reading are others. It is strongly suggested that the normal routine be kept with an animal. If they sleep in your room, modify the pattern and keep them there instead of throwing them outside into a stressful lifestyle of isolation or abandonment.
8. Get the facts from the right sources.
To get the right answer you need to talk them over with someone who really knows. Wives tales concerning women not cleaning cat boxes while pregnant and disease transmission from animals are misunderstandings. For instance, toxoplasmosis is usually contracted from gardening and not litter boxes!
Most household animals are in good health and not as great a health risk to the baby in comparison to other humans or children (transmission of disease or germs). Make sure you do have a veterinary check up and also screen pets for roundworm before the baby comes home.
Again, animals and children should not be left unattended. Keep to that rule and you will avoid a lot of problems. Donďż˝t ask people without professional training in animal behavior or pet training for answers. Go to the right source for that information.
9. Tips for introduction and integration.

Prepare in advance as suggested above.
While the mother is away at the hospital bring home a blanket or wrap that has the babyďż˝s scent on it to let the household pets smell it and familiarize themselves.
When it is time for baby to come home, make sure the animals have been active and are tired before you come back with the baby. For instance, take the time to run the dog in the park or play with the cat until they wear out and lose some of their excess energy.
Upon arrival, first come in and greet the animals and get them under control. Use behavior strategies or mild restraint.
Next, switch with mom and let her greet the critters while you hold the baby. This is especially important since the animals have not seen her for a few days!
After you have both greeted the animals, one person will attend to the baby while the other will work to keep the animals calm and under control.
Have mom and baby seated and let the pets investigate. Keep things calm and allow a brief encounter, then get on with normal activities as soon as the pets are done sniffing and greeting.
Using the leash as slight restraint so the dog canďż˝t jump may be a good idea. They will want to sniff and look and will be excited about the new addition to the family.
The integration of a new baby to the household can be successful if planned. Get guidance from professionals. With careful planning, monitoring, you can adjust your activities and lifestyle. The gradual introduction will help create a stable environment despite the chaos of the new addition to your family.

About The Author:
Our critter columnist, Diana L. Guerrero is an animal expert, professional speaker and author. This pet pioneer shares over thirty years of revolutionary techniques and innovative services. She is the author of many books including, ďż˝What Animals Can Teach Us about Spiritualityďż˝ and ďż˝Blessing of the Animals.ďż˝ Guerreroďż˝s distinctive areas of expertise are animal disaster preparedness, animal and pet careers, animal personality styles and animal kingdom etiquette. Readers are invited to subscribe to her FREE monthly electronic newsletter, enroll in her classes, explore wild and domestic animal behavior, or learn more about pet training at:
http://www.arkanimals.com

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