Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

Linky:
http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-44527-1.html

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

Can't help you from personal experience, but I've heard people with dogs should buy a doll a few weeks before the baby arrives and train the dog to show what it would be like if the baby was there. Not sure if that's true or not - maybe someone else knows?

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

I can't help you with personal experience either but here are some articles from the net.

Introducing Your Pet and New Baby







Congratulations, you're expecting a baby! If your family already includes a pet, you'll need to help that first "baby" adjust to the new one you'll soon bring home. You can help your pet cope with this big change in much the same way parents help children understand that a new brother or sister will be joining the family. By following the tips below, you can ease your pet's stress, help her welcome your new baby, and ensure that your pet stays where she belongs—with you and your growing family.
Can I Keep My Cat?

If you're pregnant, you've probably heard of toxoplasmosis because it can cause serious birth defects. However, toxoplasmosis is a rare disease in the United States and is one that can easily be avoided. While the disease-causing parasite can be found in the feces of cats who ingest raw meat, birds, mice, or contaminated soil, toxoplasmosis is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat.
If you're concerned about a possible exposure, ask your obstetrician to perform a simple blood test. If the result shows you were exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you may be given medication and your baby may be tested and treated soon after birth. Keep in mind that the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are extremely low, and even lower for your baby. Being pregnant does not mean you have to give up living with and caring for your beloved cat. Toxoplasmosis is easily avoided by practicing good hygiene and responsible pet care. Just follow these simple steps to reduce the risk:

Avoid handling or eating uncooked meat.
Be certain to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come in contact with meat before using them to prepare other foods.
Keep your cat safely indoors and away from wildlife.
Have someone else clean the litter box daily.
If you must clean the litter box, wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.
Feed cats only commercially prepared cat food.
How Will My Pet React?

No matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member may be difficult for your pet. Remember, your dog or cat was your first "baby" and is used to being the center of your attention. So it's understandable that she may experience something akin to sibling rivalry when you introduce a new human baby into your household.

You can minimize this feeling by working with her before you bring home your baby. For example, because your new baby will demand a lot of your time and energy, gradually accustom your pet to spending less time with you. Drastically decreasing attention and frequently scolding, ignoring, or isolating your pet after the baby comes home will likely make your pet feel stressed. If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, another family member should develop a closer relationship with the animal. That way, the pet can still feel loved and provided for while mom is busy with the baby.

How Can I Prepare My Pet?

Below are several suggestions to make introducing your pet and baby safer and smoother for all. Be sure to carry out these changes months before the baby's arrival to best prepare your pet.

Take your pet to the veterinarian for a routine health exam and necessary vaccinations.
Spay or neuter your pet. Not only do sterilized pets typically have fewer health problems associated with their reproductive systems, but they are also calmer and less likely to bite.
Consult with a veterinarian and pediatrician if the thought of your newborn interacting with the family pet makes you uncomfortable. By working with these experts before your baby is born, you can resolve problems early and put your mind at ease.
Address any pet training and behavior problems. If your pet exhibits fear and anxiety, now is the time to get help from an animal behavior specialist.
If your pet's behavior includes gentle nibbling, pouncing, or swatting at you and others, redirect that behavior to appropriate objects.
Get your pet used to nail trims.
Train your pet to remain calmly on the floor beside you until you invite him on your lap, which will soon cradle a newborn.
Consider enrolling in a training class with your dog, and practice training techniques. Training allows you to safely and humanely control your dog's behavior and enhances the bond between you and your pet.
Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all pet and infant interactions.
Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying, turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.
To discourage your pet from jumping on the baby's crib and changing table, apply double-stick tape to the furniture.
If the baby's room will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still allow your pet to see and hear what's happening in the room, he'll feel less isolated from the family and more comfortable with the new baby noises.
Use a baby doll to help your pet get used to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll, take the doll in the stroller when you walk your dog, and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing and diaper changing.
Talk to your pet about the baby, using the baby's name if you've selected one.
Sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin so your pet becomes familiar with the new smells.
Finally, plan ahead to make sure your pet gets proper care while you're at the birthing center.
What Do We Do After Baby Is Born?

Welcoming a new baby is exciting for your family. Remember when you first brought home your dog or cat? But before you bring your baby home from the hospital, have your partner or friend take home something with the baby's scent (such as a blanket) for your pet to investigate.

When you return from the hospital, your pet may be eager to greet you and receive your attention. Have someone else take the baby into another room while you give your pet a warm, but calm, welcome. Keep some treats handy so you can distract your pet.

After the initial greeting, you can bring your pet with you to sit next to the baby; reward your pet with treats for appropriate behavior. Remember, you want your pet to view associating with the baby as a positive experience. To prevent anxiety or injury, never force your pet to get near the baby, and always supervise any interaction.

Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your new baby, but try to maintain regular routines as much as possible to help your pet adjust. And be sure to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet each day—it may help relax you, too. With proper training, supervision, and adjustments, you, your new baby, and your pet should be able to live together safely and happily as one (now larger) family.

Message edited 4/12/2006 2:35:52 PM.

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

Another one:

Cats, Canine and babies

Today a great number of women have chosen to pursue a successful career before motherhood. But many couples that have postponed parenthood haven’t wasted the love they have to give; they’ve simply spent years redirecting it to non-human babies – their pets.

Years later, many couples expecting their first baby are faced with the reality that Fido or Felix may not be too thrilled about the whole idea!

Questions prospective parents-to-be often ask:
• How will an older dog or cat react to the birth of my child?

• What kind of behavior problems—if any—can we expect? Should we get rid of the pets?

Then there are well-meaning friends and relatives who flaunt heart-wrenching tabloid headlines like “Doberman Eats Baby Alive!” and other equally unbelievable (and untrue) horror stories.

These questions, combined with fears of how the pet will react and self-doubt about their own parenting skills, lead many expectant couples to give up their pets.

Ultimately, many of these much-loved animals wind up in the adoption kennels at ananimal shelter. Not all of them find new homes.

While some pets may have a difficult time adapting to the presence of a new family member, most dogs and cats will take the change in family dynamics in stride. In the majority of cases, children, cats and canines can co-exist in the same household.

Common Sense Rules
• Never allow a pet of any kind to sleep in the baby’s crib, playpen, or car seat, or on their toys and blankets.

• Never leave your pet and your baby unattended in the same room. Remember, it only takes a split second for a child (or the pet!) to be scratched or bitten.

• Always keep the door to the baby’s room closed. (Ensure that your cat or dog hasn’t snuck in unseen.)

• Use a baby monitor so you can hear your baby if he or she cries out for you from behind the closed door. If you think you really can’t endure the thought of closing the door, install a screen door for safety’s sake.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after playing with your pet or handling their food or kitty litter.

• Train your dog not to jump up on people, but to sit and stay, well before baby’s arrival.

• Give your pet an opportunity to meet the baby by letting him sniff. Discourage licking!

• Never allow your dog to jump around in your car when you have your baby in the car seat. (Fido can stay at home for a while or leave to ride in a dog crate or be secured with a dog seat belt.)

• Ask a friend or neighbor to help you exercise your dog during the first few weeks, while you adjust to life with a newborn.

• Don’t forget to take time to play with, groom, and bond with your pet when baby is sleeping. Regardless of how much you love your pets now, when your first child is born they can no longer take first place in your heart and home. The important thing to remember is they still can have an important place in your life.

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

And yet another one:

Babies and Pets


Things to do before the baby is born:

Make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date for both dogs and cats.
Make sure pets are checked for internal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and heartworms.
Make sure you have enough heartworm prevention, flea preparations as well as any necessary drugs the pet may need on hand for a few months past your due date. Ask your veterinarian about the one-a-month heartworm preventatives (dogs) and flea control products (dogs and cats).
Begin introducing your pet to the idea that a change is coming:
Introduce the nursery to the pet. Expose pet to "baby" smells, i.e. baby lotion or powder.
Practice cuddling with a doll, devoting your attention to it, and monitor reactions of the dog or cat.
Ask friends their opinion of your pet; have they noticed any particular changes of attitude?
Let your pet have experience around babies, toddlers, and children, borrow a child/toddler/baby and parent for a few hours.
Tape baby's crying and play those sounds.
OBEDIENCE TRAIN YOUR PET!!!
Decide if you want an inside or outside pet, and make those changes before the baby arrives.
If your pet does things now that you don't want him to do later, i.e., sleep with you, jump up on you, etc., start now correcting those behaviors.

Things to do when the baby comes home:

Consider boarding the pet or having a neighbor come by to give the dog some extra attention while the primary focus is on you and your newest member. There will be a lot of traffic in and out of the house the first week or so.
Send home a garment the baby has worn in the hospital to acclimate the dog to the new smell.
If the pet jumps up on you or is bonded to the person who will be holding the baby when you enter your home, let the "unbonded" person hold the baby.
Begin a gradual introduction, with a leash, 2 people, the baby and a lot of praise.
Look for protective signs from the pet: guarding food and water bowls, guarding toys, etc. The crawling baby may enter territory that could set up aggressive behavior from the pet.
Never leave the pet alone with the baby initially.
Toddlers using pets as a guide to walking could be in trouble. Some pets do not like the aggressive position a toddler assumes when the toddler holds onto the dog's shoulders.
Beware of all exotic pets, esp. ferrets.

All the efforts used to incorporate the pet and the baby into the family will be justly rewarded. The outcome will be to enlarge the family and not divide it.

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

I don't have a dog, but have read up a bit on introducing pets to babies.

The Blanket idea was one of the things i've heard. Getting the dog used to the scent of the baby is very important.

I read that carrying around a doll wrapped up is a good idea - particularly if you have a dog that jumps up. So she's used to seeing you with something & can lose interest in it before you actually introduce the baby.

Rather than shower your dog with attention, you should be doing the opposite. Getting Dixie used to being "last". While she's your first baby, priorites will be changing drastically for her. Getting used to it now rather than when there is a crying baby stressing you out is better for everyone concerned.

Also, while this isn't directly baby related. Dogs are pack animals. In a pack, the leader of the pack eats first, followed by a pecking order. You should always feed Dixie after you & the baby have eaten. Feeding a dog first, gives him the sense that he is the leader. My ex & I did with our dog - and I can tell you he definitely thought he ran the house.

Hope this helps.

Re: Since this board gets more traffic, I have a question...

WOW! Thanks Ladies.

Message edited 4/12/2006 3:43:01 PM.