for mommies with pets & babies

DS is 5 months and we also have a 8 yr old bassett hound. We live in a very small house. Since he's a hound dog he's always sniffing stuff outside...and I'm sure some of it is gross This may sound a crazy but I've been thinking and I'm a little concerned about DS crawling on the same floors that the dog is walking on. I mop often but no matter what I do its a fact that the baby and the dog are sharing the same area. Putting up one of those hexagon shaped gates to contain the baby is not an option b/c we simply dont have the room. (yes our house is that small). Any suggestions? What do you all do with your crawling babies and dogs? Am I being too much of a germ-a-phobe? Please be honest

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

Posted by ShaunsMommy

DS is 5 months and we also have a 8 yr old bassett hound. We live in a very small house. Since he's a hound dog he's always sniffing stuff outside...and I'm sure some of it is gross This may sound a crazy but I've been thinking and I'm a little concerned about DS crawling on the same floors that the dog is walking on. I mop often but no matter what I do its a fact that the baby and the dog are sharing the same area. Putting up one of those hexagon shaped gates to contain the baby is not an option b/c we simply dont have the room. (yes our house is that small). Any suggestions? What do you all do with your crawling babies and dogs? Am I being too much of a germ-a-phobe? Please be honest

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

My dog loves to lay with DS in his play area. It grosses me out, but I wash my dogs feet the best I can when she comes in and out of the house.

There really is not much you can do about it, unfortunately.

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

You're not crazy!

We use baby wipes to wipe down our dog (focus on paws, butt, face, and quickly over her underside and top) everytime she comes in from a walk outside. I'm not sure if your dog is in and out all day, if so that might be harder to do. But if you just take the dog out for a walk 2 or 3 times a day, then it doesn't really take that long at all to do.

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

DH has a similar problem with our cats. "If they're constantly in their litter boxes and scratching around, what about DS crawling on the floor where they've been walking?"

IMO kids are going to be exposed to germs everywhere and if I start worrying about this, them i'm going ot worry about that and I will just start worrying. I am the opposite of a germaphobe...

if it falls on the floor, i wipe it on my pants leg and give it back.
DS can crawl wherever he wants
DS has eaten the cat food
DS has stuck his fingers in the litter box
DS has crawled through the muddy lawn.

I think some exposure to germs is healthy and keeps up their immune system. He is almost a year and so far has only had one ear infection. Knock on wood

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

I have a large hound mix that smells everything. The dog hair gets me more than anything else.


I try to vacuum everyday and mop the floors once a week.


I dont worry about it, I think you are probably putting too much thought into it.

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

Just clean as often as you can. We are in the same situation as you with our small house. Germs are just a part of life. Your baby will be fine.

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

all you can do is clean the floors regularly -

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

We have a dog (boston terrier) and a cat. The dog being dirty isn't something I worry about too much, expect when she gets into gross things, like the cat litter (ewwww). We live in an apartment so she isn't able to go in and out all day/ The cat grosses me out a lot though (cat is my SOs; I'm a dog person) LOL.
Regardless though, I try not to get too worried about germs. I feel like they are going to be exposed to so much over time, so why stress about it? My DS has only gotten a couple of runny noses, and I think that was just from his step sister.
Again, we have an apartment, so it's not nearly as big as I would like. But we got one of those hexagon play pens than converts and can be like a wall barrier. We block off a section of our living room just for my DS, but the animals love going in there too. And he loves the animals, always hugs and kisses them, so cute.... Anyway, my girlfriend lives in a super small house, smaller than my apt and wouldn't be able to have a barrier. I don't do the barrier bc of dirt/germs, just so i can keep my eye on him and get other things done. I would try to not worry about it too much. A little dirt never really hurt anyone, right? We've all survived and those before us did, too.

Sorry, a bit long winded. good luck and try not to stress!

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

We have a maltese who LOVES to lick...no matter what it is. He is CONSTANTLY licking DS's face. Of course if I am there I stop it, but what am I really going to do about it? I have given up. The other day Captain(my dog) was licking DS's face and he got a booger(DS has a cold) and he was chewing on it like it was a treat!

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

Posted by JoJo2010

We have a maltese who LOVES to lick...no matter what it is. He is CONSTANTLY licking DS's face. Of course if I am there I stop it, but what am I really going to do about it? I have given up. The other day Captain(my dog) was licking DS's face and he got a booger(DS has a cold) and he was chewing on it like it was a treat!

Re: for mommies with pets & babies

thanks everyone....I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
I agree with those of you that said that some germs are good. I'm just paranoid. I'm going to try and be a little more "relaxed" about it