Pets and a new baby

MalVough · September 2014

I haven't seen this discussed yet - if you're a STM+ with pets (i.e. dog and/or cat), how did the introduction of the new LO go?

I have a dog and two cats. We don't have any reason to believe they won't accept LO with open paws, but we definitely want to make sure we take the proper steps and precautions.

What is your experience?

Unknown · September 2014

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Jean6912 · September 2014

We have a dog and we started to set up all of dd things early so that he didn't feel overwhelmed with all the new baby stuff. He was allowed to sniff all her nursery furniture, pnp, bassinet, car seat. While we were in the hospital my husband brought him home treats and dd hat and a blanket with her scent on it. When we came home my parents and sis were here beforehand to calm him down so he didn't get over excited when we walked in. H carried dd in and placed her in her crib while Axel (my pup) got to say hello to us. After he calmed down a bit we let him sniff dd all over while we held her. Like pp mentioned we also never shooed him away from baby we just stood close by and watched while giving praise to Axel

MalVough · September 2014

Great advice, all! Thank you.

shlittertoots · September 2014

We have two dogs, so my in-laws just brought back a blanket with LO's smell on it while we were at the hospital. Then when we came home, we introduced them to LO outside the house--let them sniff her and see her. Then we all came into the house together. So we made it seem like THEY gave the ok to let her come into the house, rather than just bringing her into their territory. They gotten along with her awesome and we've never had any problems. She loves them and there was never any jealousy or bad behavior.

jnowosielski · September 2014

I'm nervous about this to. My dog is a sweetheart but is scared of kids. He barks at them (pretty loud) but will just lick them to death if they come close.

MrsLaurenandDan · September 2014

I'm going to be the downer here. 3 years later, my cat is STILL not ok with the fact that we had a kid.

I've had her for 10 years. She started peeing on our carpet, furniture, and anything left on he floor shortly after after he came home and has never stopped. We have cleaned with nature's miracle, used feilaway, moved, secluded her from the areas she peed on for up to 2 weeks to relitter train. Nothing has worked. We are trying kitty prozac starting this week, and if it doesn't work, we are considering rehoming. It breaks my heart, but I don't know what else to do.

We also didn't handle the transition well. Owen came 6.5w early, and we basically lived at the hospital for almost 4w. We went home to sleep and she always was taken care of, but we were not at all attentive during that time.

MalVough · September 2014

I have two cats. One we adopted from the SPCA when she was 2 months old. She's four (or five?) now. Nothing usually phases her. She's my social butterfly. But she hides her face in my arm when the neighbor kids (almost-4-year-old twins) want to pet her. And there's a picture of her somewhere when my one nephew was learning to crawl and was following her around. Her face is like, "WTF IS THIS THING?!"

The second cat is 2 years old and has anxiety issues. She hates everyone in this world except for me. But she channels her anxiety into running and hiding.

Two totally different personalities to tend to!

Then there's the Rottweiler. She's 4 years old. Big lapdog. She's good with the neighbor kids and the nephews. She just forget how big she is. She'll knock them down with a lick. I think the biggest issue we'll have with her is the sharing of SO.

MalVough · September 2014

@RQuinlin‌ Oh! I would die if I had to part with my pets. I'm the girl with millions of cat pictures on Facebook. Neither me nor SO have fur allergies. Fingers crossed LO follows in our footsteps!

mamajack86 · September 2014

Our dog Niko (chihuahua) was our baby before my son was born. He was spoiled. We think he knew I was pregnant before I knew. He became protective of me and was my little shadow. My mom brought a receiving blanket to him while we were in the hospital to try and familiarize him with LO's scent. Once we got home he didn't seem to care much. He ignored the baby at first then when we'd have visitors over he'd sit right next to whoever was holding the baby. After a couple days of being home he'd sleep underneath the baby's bassinet at night. Now our son is 14mos and him and Niko are little BFF's. In the morning Niko is the first one to hear our son wake up and he runs to his crib and reaches up to kiss our son through the cracks. Then at meal times Niko sits under the highchair waiting for food to fall. I'm just glad they love eachother because I couldn't imagine not having my dog. I attached some pics, hope it works. Good luck with your animals!

copperrose · September 2014

I would definitely do everything suggested in terms of introduction. We had two dogs when DD was born and the one was my baby from before I met my husband. So, slowly he had to share me-with my husband, his dog, and now this new baby. I'll just say, it did not go well and we had to rehome him which totally broke my heart. We even tried a behaviorist coming to the house but ultimately we could not give him what he needed.
So, my advice is also think about routines and how the dogs are treated now. It may be difficult for them to adjust to a new routine (e.g., less walks, different food times, less one on one) so either start with them now or think about how to keep up the routines when your LO is born. We have since gotten another dog-a very high energy pit mix and we plan on doing doggy daycare at least once a week maybe twice to get her through the winter. DH will run with her when all the show and ice melts but it will be difficult to do that when I am due.

CrystalTrues · September 2014

We sent a t shirt that DS wore in the hospital with my grandmother when she visited us (who was watching our dog) to have our dog smell at several times a day. By the time we brought then both home she was used to his scent. She checked him out and sniffed him, mostly she was like "this is new" and then curled up in her bed. Every time DS cried she looked concerned, after a while she would give us a dirty look when he cried, like a what did you do look. It was funny. We have never had a problem with her.
Our son has a mild form of eczema that seems to flare up due to dog dander. As long as we bathe her regularly it is not an issue.

MrsLaurenandDan · September 2014

RQuinlin said:
@MrsLaurenandDan‌ I'm so sorry you may have to do that! My DH told me when we were expecting DD that if she turned out to be allergic or the cats couldn't handle it we'd have to get rid of them. I cried big ugly pregnant tears at the mere thought of it. Have you had your kitty checked for kidney infections or anything? A lot of older cats have that. One of mine did. He (fortunately?) started peeing everywhere before DD was born, so we didn't think he was mad. He's passed now due to his kidneys, but it definitely made him pee everywhere.

Edit: because I can't type

Not recently, but we've had her checked periodically over the years, and she's never had one.

thejucheidea · September 2014

We're convinced that our Corgi is going to take the child as her own and not allow people besides my husband and myself touch baby. She already gets angry when our other female dog runs at me and likes to spend her time across my stomach or smashing her face against mine while giving me little kisses. She did not do this prior to me getting pregnant.

We're not worried about the other two. Both of them have experience with kids and love them.

Lmsq1611 · September 2014

@MrsLaurenandDan‌ This is my fear! My cat is 12 yo and has been my baby since he was 8 weeks. He adjusted and eventually accepted by husband but it took some time. He is declawed in the front which left him terrified of any people he doesn't know. He is also 20 lbs (part Maine coon) so a very large kitty who will swat and hiss at strangers. When friends come over with toddlers he always runs and hides. I'm really nervous about how he handles the baby. My hope is that he won't be very interested in the baby and hopefully by the time the baby can crawl he will be somewhat used to him. He is the sweetest most cuddly cat with me but I really worry about his transition to no longer being the spoiled baby.

Anyone else with difficult cat transitions? Any advice?

thejucheidea · September 2014

Lmsq1611 said:

@MrsLaurenandDan‌ This is my fear! My cat is 12 yo and has been my baby since he was 8 weeks. He adjusted and eventually accepted by husband but it took some time. He is declawed in the front which left him terrified of any people he doesn't know. He is also 20 lbs (part Maine coon) so a very large kitty who will swat and hiss at strangers. When friends come over with toddlers he always runs and hides. I'm really nervous about how he handles the baby. My hope is that he won't be very interested in the baby and hopefully by the time the baby can crawl he will be somewhat used to him. He is the sweetest most cuddly cat with me but I really worry about his transition to no longer being the spoiled baby. Anyone else with difficult cat transitions? Any advice?

My mom had no issue with her very single human Siamese when I was born. He ignored me most of the time and that was it.

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