Cat Question

EWilday · June 2012

We have two cats and neither of them have jumped into the crib. I am concerned they might start when there is a warm body to snuggle with. What do you guys think? Should I not worry about it or assume they might? TIA!

bigbootyjudi · June 2012

I have two cats and when we set up the bassinet, the one jumped right in and slept there for a few hours. They love smelling all of LO's stuff (even though it doesn't smell like him of course...it's just a new item in the house) and playing with all the little toys hanging off of his swing/bouncer. I babysit a good friend's son and he's 5 weeks old and when he's here, they want nothing to do with him. They're not mean to him, but they don't bother with him. He sleeps on my couch all of the time and they've never made any attempt to cuddle up next to him (although they do lay on the top of the couch above him). They both seem very careful around him, like they're guarding him while he sleeps, lol and when he starts to cry, they get up and walk across the top of the couch. It depends on your cats, but I wouldn't be worried about it! Cats are calm animals in my experience and like to just do their own thing.

ETA: If you are worried about it though, depending on the nature of your cats, I would just start shutting the door to the nursery, so that they begin to get used to not being allowed in that room. You could also move the crib to somewhere in the room that has nothing next to it, so they have nothing to jump on to get into the crib (that's how ours is).

Bemyselfandi · June 2012

In my experience, we have three cats. One of which is very cuddly with anything that moves, one that would rather be "beaten" (seriously, she likes to be hit instead of gently pet), and another that is super cuddly but only with SO and I.

The first is the only one that ever went in DS's crib before he was born. As soon as we brought the baby home, he never went in it again.

The other two have never attempted to go in it.

This LO's crib hasn't been a sleeping pad, yet. However, it has become a leap-pad so they can get to the changing table and sleep there.

So, in my experience, as soon as the baby got home, they stayed clear away.

nataliegrace06 · June 2012

If the crib is going to be in baby's room you could just keep the door closed & make sure the cats don't get in. We never had a problem with our cat getting in but she hates kids so she stays as far away as possible.

ajoycrane · June 2012

We have two cats as well and suspect they won't want anything to do with LO. The crib mattress and bedding are not set up in the crib yet, but we did pull out the PNP and the swing just to see what they would do and they did a little sniffing around but then carried on with their business like they could care less. The times they've been around little kids they just went and hid. I think it depends on the cats, but as long as you are mindful, it will be ok. I plan on keeping LO's door shut when she is in there napping by herself. I've also heard of putting foil down in the crib before LO is born so when the cats jump in it scares them and trains them that it's not somewhere they want to venture...GL!

bsschroeder · June 2012

we have one cat & he has been sleeping in the car seat and on the changing table pad for weeks! but everything is on the floor & both items were hand-me downs and need to be cleaned anyway.

my MIL asked my mom (an RN) about some story she was told about the cat shouldnt get close to the baby because it will lick milk off the baby's lips and then trying to attack & kill it... pure crazyness!

ToxityRue · June 2012

I don't have any experience with cats and little ones - we got rid of the one cat we had when I found out I was pregnant with DD. My mother, however, had 4 cats while pregnant with my little brother and they were ALWAYS in his crib, on his changing table, just everywhere you don't want a cat to be.

I personally wouldn't want all the dander in the room LO will sleep in, so I'd keep the cats out of the room.

Just a note though, I'm not a cat person by any means so maybe my advice is biased.

stever · June 2012

My cat stayed far away from DS when we first brought him home. The whole 'cats smother babies' thing is an OWT.

als33 · June 2012

i think every cat is different. we have two and they are both skiddish so they don't ever go in the crib once the new inhabitant arrives. if your cats are cuddly or you think they will jump in, you can try a crib tent or just close the door. my aunt was super worried about this so she installed a screen door to the baby's room. a little overboard in my opinion, but it made her feel better!

nopegoat · June 2012

My cat liked to get in the crib before my DS was born. Afterwards when she figured out that a moving screaming thing stayed in there, she stayed far far away!

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