Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

When you are pregnant it is not uncommon to worry about how your pets will react to your new baby. I know that with a very jealous dog at home I was particularly worried about how he would cope when my youngest arrived.

You never know exactly how your critters will react. A new baby not only is a big change in your life, it also is a big change in their lives. Suddenly instead of being able to dominate your attention they are set aside for a squalling, hair pulling little creature that doesn’t have any interest in their needs.

Lap time has been taken over by the new arrival and cuddling up is not longer an option. Going for walks may be delegated to family members usually not a part of the usual routine and sometimes are forgotten altogether. In the worst case scenario pets are no longer allowed to spend time with the family and are forced to while away their time in another room where no-one even notices that they exist.

It is no wonder than many pets react badly to a new baby. Their lives are turned upside down. This is especially true if the pet has been the primary focus of the family before the baby arrives.

There are ways to minimize the stress on your pet. A lot of this actually starts before you get pregnant, but if you already have a baby on the way it isn’t too late to start now. By putting these strategies in place you can minimize the stress brought on by a new baby and minimize the chance that you pet won’t cope with the new arrival.

First of all, it is important that your pets know that while they are important to you, they do not rule your life. Many pet owners make the mistake of letting their pet dictate many aspects of their lives. Start out by setting some basic rules.

For example, if you pet likes to sit on your lap start teaching him that he must be invited onto your lap and can’t just jump up whenever he feels like it. If he does, gently push him off and don’t let him up until he is invited. By being in charge of the situation you show your pet that he is only allowed to get your attention when you initiate it, not whenever he feels like it.

Another smart plan is to teach your pets to accept being away from you for periods of time. Many dog owners choose to crate train their dogs. This can be a great solution. Others teach their pets that certain rooms are out of bound or create a room that is a pet-zone. This way if your baby is fussing or your pet isn’t coping well you have a safe place to put your pet so that he can settle down and have some baby-free time.

If at all possible, invite friends over who currently have babies. This will give your pets a chance to see what babies are all about and to learn good manners around them. If your pet doesn’t behave itself be sure to jump in and reprimand it immediately. This is the way animals learn. They don’t understand it if you leave the punishment to a later time, by then they have forgotten what it was that you were punishing them for.

If al goes well your pets can adjust wonderfully to your new baby. When my daughter arrived I was amazed at the reactions of my pets. My cat was enthralled by the new arrival and wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. She would come up and lie with my daughter any chance she had. One memorable moment was when I put my baby on the sofa in her car seat. My cat came up and lay down so that her front feet were on my daughter’s legs. She was so protective of the new baby that she actually growled at my mother in law who was trying to take a photo of her and the baby!

My dog likewise quickly fell in love with my little girl. He was jealous, as can be expected, but also very protective. He would lie by the feet of whoever was holding the baby. If my little one was sleeping in her cradle he would stay nearby to protect her. The moment she awoke and started to fuss he would get up and come running to me to tell me that it was time for me to take care of her.

As you can see, animals are remarkable in their reactions to babies and can be incredibly sweet and protective of them. If your pet does react badly, take your time and teach him that there are appropriate ways to behave around babies. Be sure not to neglect your pet as he will surely feel resentful and react negatively to the source of the neglect. On the other hand, if things work out you may find that the baby is soon your pet’s new best friend and won’t leave her side.