Hi. I have 2 awesome Bichons. They have been my babies for 7 years. I am 5 months pregnant and I'm wondering how to bring the baby home? Should I just bring the baby in the house right away? Should I go in first and greet the dogs, then bring the baby in? Should I just act like nothing is different? They will be very excited to see me, since I will be gone for a couple of day after birth. There's gotta be a proper way, so the dogs aren't overly jealous....thanks in advance for all of your answers!
2006-10-25 09:35:59 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
I think you should just come in with the baby and just act like nothing has changed. Your dogs will know something is up! It might be for the best not to introduce them right away. You dont want your baby getting hurt by an extremely excited dog! Just make sure to give your dogs extra attention even though you will be very busy with the new baby and everything will be fine!
2006-10-25 09:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Proceed carefully - the dogs must understand that the baby is the 'boss' and their job is to take care of the baby. Try not to change their routine too much right when the baby comes home - if you anticipate a routine change go ahead and start that now so the dogs don't associate that with the baby.
Get a small flannel baby blanket to use especially for the dogs - can get one cheap at a dollar or discount store. Take it to the hospital with you when you deliver and keep it with you, then put it in the bassinet with the baby at the hospital. Once it's got your/the baby's scent on it, send it home with someone close to you to give to the dogs (your spouse/partner or someone else who lives with the dogs or sees them frequently). Have them hold it out to the dogs and let them sniff it - they can say 'baby's blanket. love the baby.' or some such in a soothing tone. Then, leave the blanket with the dogs. That way they'll know baby's scent when they meet baby.
If you normally greet the dogs immediately upon coming in, then do that when you get home from the hospital. Spend some time with them away from baby. Then introduce the baby to the dogs carefully - have someone else present to navigate the dogs while you navigate the baby. Hold the baby firmly and show baby to the dogs - let them smell baby. If there are any signs of tension - raised neck hairs, grumbling sounds, nipping (or other signs particular to your dogs) - then remove them from baby immediately and say 'no' firmly. Wait awhile before trying again. If they are receptive to baby - say 'good dog' using your most approving tone. Then go on to tell them that this is their baby and they have to take care of baby - use a tone of importance. Of course they won't understand your words, but your tone and manner are important.
Don't ever leave baby alone with the dogs and don't allow them to play rough around baby. My two dogs are great with my girls (youngest is two and a half and came after the dogs were both well established members of the family), but sometimes they like to 'doggie wrestle' which could inadvertently hurt my child if she gets into the fray. When they start up, I immediately put them outside or into another room. I move the dogs, not the child, as I want them to know she's the 'top dog' in the hierarchy!
Good luck - hope all your babies get along beautifully. Happy mommyhood!
2006-10-25 09:51:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you have the baby, just bring the baby inside when you go in. Put the baby down in his/her crib and then visit with the dogs. There really isn't a good answer to this since the dogs are going to be jealous no matter what. They have been you babies and the center of attention for 7 years, so it will just take some time for them to adjust to the baby. I brought my son home and my cat started peeing on the stove, on the counter, in the sink, things like that, so i threw her out of the house. Dogs are more understanding about this than cats are.
2006-10-25 09:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by redheadedmom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a Bichon too they are very jealous dogs... when my sister was born my mom took the blanket they gave her from the hospital that my little sister was wraped in and put it on the dogs bed so he could get use to the smell of the baby and know that she was part of the family now ..... they will be very hyper at first but let them smell the baby.... dont worry the blanket thing works... trust me in no time those dogs wont want any strangers around the baby .... good luck
2006-10-25 09:49:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay all those people are just crazy. Just let your dogs smell something of the babys first before you bring the baby in the house
2006-10-25 09:46:08 · answer #5 · answered by justalilwickedx3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The advice I give you having two jealous attention hounds myself is to allow your baby's hat or blankets to be brought home before the baby is for them to smell. My OB also suggested that to me. My dogs are a brittany spaniel that weighs 60 pounds and a 10 month old black lab that is 100 pounds. I allowed them to "meet" the baby through their kennel where they could smell him. The dogs already can sense something is different. Your child is your number one priority and so is its safety. This worked for me and my dogs did great. I wish you luck.
2006-10-25 09:45:20 · answer #6 · answered by texas_angel_wattitude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I brought my baby in and greeted my little dog. Later when the baby was naked I laid her on the couch and (under a very watchful eye) let my little dog sniff her. My dog was in love from that day on and never left her side. My daughter is grown now and has beautiful large close up photos of her and the dog. He was also VERY protective of her.
2006-10-25 09:44:25 · answer #7 · answered by Bella Donna 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would pat my stomach and talk to by boxer about the baby. I was pregnant when we got him though and never let him jump up on me. I'm not sure about smalle dogs, I know they can tend to have a bit more of a jealous temperment.
Good luck.
2006-10-25 09:38:57 · answer #8 · answered by Laura R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start now. Carry around a blanket wrapped stuffed animal when you walk in the door. If they are jumpers, you need to take them to obedience classes and make sure they are kenneled before you bring the baby inside.
2006-10-25 09:45:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i might kennel her, and then take a piture of her and placed an advert interior the paper or make fliers. somebody is definite to return and get the canines, via fact that she has a collar. If no longer then perhaps you need to get a kennel for her and shop her. often a canines with a collar and is got here upon interior the streets and acts hungry possibly has been abused and ignored. I had a chum who took an abused canines homestead, yet they could no longer shop her and the dong's call replaced into Casey-that I remember.
2016-10-02 23:02:28 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋