As any pet parent can tell you acclimating your furry friend to your newborn child can be a stressful process, but we are confident that if you can follow this simple and sensible advice then you will have no problems!
When preparing to welcome a new child into a home, humans sometimes don’t realize just how much is changing in their pets’ lives. Furniture is being rearranged, nurseries are being stocked, and new smells seem to be taking over! This can make a scardy-cat out of even the most fearless feline, so it’s best to keep your cat’s litter box in sight, on hand, and available in order to discourage them from spraying all over your brand new powder pink or baby blue! As for the canine set, let them get a good whiff of the various baby lotions, powders, and products that are soon to become household staples in order to ease the transition. Additionally, occasionally playing clips of baby sounds (screams and all) will help prepare your pet for the impending temper tantrums and midnight wakeup calls.
Aside from the new person and all of the new things that come along with your bundle of joy, many pet parents forget that having a baby will limit the amount of time and attention that you will be able to lavish on your pet. While it may seem like ruff love, prepare your pet for your soon-to-be hectic schedule by allowing them their independence. Replace quantity with quality and make sure that every second you spend with your pet is filled to the brim with puppy love!
And our final advice: supervision, supervision, supervision! No matter how much of an angel you know your pet to be, human babies are simply not to be trusted alone with your four-legged friend for both of their safety. Children should never be allowed to climb on, poke, prod, or pester your pet, and your furry friend should not have free reign of your child’s cradle. Pets make an incredible addition to any child’s life, but infants and toddlers need to be taught how to live safely and respectfully with their pet.
There’s no better way to merge both pet and people parenting than by having a big, happy, interspecies family. Just follow our lead and we guarantee that you will have harmony in the home from kindergarten through college and beyond!
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