Preparing your fur baby

lovalove101909

Has anybody done anything to Prepare their fur baby for their little one?

WildRumpus

We've started setting up baby stuff like the swing and letting him know that he isn't allowed to touch them; he's allowed on the couch, but I don't think his 50lb slobbery face belongs in the baby's swing or stroller! We've also played some crying sounds off and on, and have carried a doll around or sat holding it on the couch so he will *hopefully* get the idea of when it's ok to be rowdy and when he needs to be easy.

ELauren88

We've had quite a few posts about this.

I'm setting up all babies stuff around the house: a PnP in the living room, keeping the nursery door open, a swing in the basement, etc. So they get used to the equipment. Once LO is here, MH will bring home blankets and hats that have her smell on them so the furbabies get used to it. Then we'll do supervised introductions, one at a time. We'll be introducing LO to our pup at the IL's however, so it's on neutral territory, in the very unlikely event pup shows any aggression, it'll be less if he feels like "his space" isn't being invaded.

floridababy3

we have set the swing and rock n play up in the living room so they could sniff at it and get use to the new stuff every where.  We turn the swing on including music so they can hear and see how it all works.  We did an obedience class early on and plan to bring a blanket home from the hospital so they can sniff before we bring LO home.

JBear02

I have a pretty easy going cat, so I'm not too worried about her. I've started setting everything up, she knows shes not allowed in the PNP or the crib, so far I think she'll be fine.

lovalove101909

Thank you guys so much. I'm in the Process of moving, We live in the old house but are setting up the new one. Everything at the house is set up we just need to bring over our bed and a few other small items. But when we brought Our two Chihuahuas over they where Afraid of the mamaroo and Tried to mark their territory! I quickly Let them know that that's bad. I feel like this is so much stress on them, and want to make this a smooth Process.

nurseclare9

I am trying really hard to teach my 2 cats to stay OFF the baby stuff. So far they think the changing pad is the best cat bed ever. I have washed the cover several times already. They also recently discovered they could get in the crib. A few days ago I put aluminum foil on the crib, cradle, and change pad. So far they have jumped on it a couple of times and were pretty shocked and jumped out so I hope it works. I have been leaving the baby door open and they have been sleeping in there because it has a really soft plush/shag rug. I don't think they will have a problem with the baby...but I am a little concerned my dog will be very jealous. She doesn't get aggressive but she is even jealous when we pet the cats and chases them (nice and playfully) away.

carlieanddanwedding

Yup, all of the above! We discovered early on that my shepherd is terrified of the noises the sleep sheep makes (seriously tucks his tail and flees from it!) so we've been working on that. Obedience class, let them get used to all of the gear/noises/etc. I'd also have a plan in place for the first few weeks when you won't have much time to give them - see if you have a friend who would be willing to take them for walks or hang out with them, or see if there's a good dog daycare in the area that they could go to once or twice a week. If you can, it's a good idea to get them used to getting less attention now, so that they don't associate that decrease in attention with the baby!

TurtleMomma

Anyone have any advice for a bird? I'm scratching my head in bewilderment on this one, lol.

carlieanddanwedding

TurtleMomma:

Anyone have any advice for a bird? I'm scratching my head in bewilderment on this one, lol.

I would think noises would be the most important adjustment for a bird, so maybe a cd of a baby crying/making noises, and making noises with anything of LO's that makes noise? Is it a caged bird or a free-roaming bird?

Jkip0705

We have done a couple different things so far. The baby's room used to be the cat's hideout so we cleaned out that room a few months ago and shut off access to it so the cat could no longer go in it. She now barely goes near the room. We also got a gate to go at the top of the stairs so we can keep the cat out of the upstairs where the baby's room is.

For the dog (who is like my child) we have introduced her to all of  the new things in the baby room and let her sniff around when we are in there. She used to never go in that room and now she loves to lay on the floor by the door. I have packed quite a few blankets in the baby's hospital bag so DH can bring them home for her and the cat to sniff. 

As for when we come home, I plan on coming in first  to greet my pup and then DH will come in with the baby after. I will probably have my mom with me to help too. 

Caz1221

We've done the same as most of the PPs - we set up the baby stuff and praise/reward the pups for behaving calmly around it. Sniffing is fine, but they can't chew on it or lay/sleep on any of it.  We let them in the nursery whenever we are in there.  We also maintain the training they already have (they are both CGC certified, and one is a therapy dog, so we've worked with them extensively over the past several years) and try to think of anything that might be particularly important once baby arrives (for example, teaching them not to come down the stairs at the same time we do; rather, they need to either wait at the top/bottom to be called, or we send them up/down first so they aren't under foot when we are on the stairs).

BlueJewelM

I have two pit bulls.  They both are very tolerant of DS.  We didn't do much to prepare them for his arrival. Gasp, we didn't even do the blanket sniffing thing...I don't think it would have done much, IMO. 

 When we brought DS home they got chewy bones and treats galore.  When baby cried, treat....when baby was on the floor and they stayed a good distance away, treat.  When baby was nursing and I needed them to back off, treat. 

So I just made sure they had very positive associations with baby.  Keeping them busy is important too.  I took them for walks just me and the dogs a lot more often when DH was off work and with DS.  It helped me get the baby weight off and they got some "mama" time. 

I actually plan on using the same tactics with my son when I bring home baby...building my arsenal of yummy somewhat healthy snacks that I usually don't buy him because they are too expensive.

rooftop

just have a kitty so dont need too much prep but ive let her sniff around the hursery when im in there and made it clear shes not allowed in the swing or pnp