How can you protect your newborn from cats? I'm afraid mine might jump into his crib?!?

Question

How can you protect your newborn from cats?? I'm afraid mine might jump in his crib!?

I haven't had him yet, but I will, so now I'm worrying about how I will protect him from my cats. They always get into the bed with me so I'm scared that they will scale the sides of his crib and jump in with him, which is very dangerous because of SIDS, plus they could smother him. Also for the first 3 months he will sleep in a bassinet, so how do I protect him then as well?

Answer 1

I had three cats when I had my daughter. More often than not they wanted absolutely nothing to do with climbing into the crib. Too much of a bother. When my daughter was in her bassinet, two of them would sleep at her feet. If she awakened they would jump out and run for me crying. They were my own personal baby monitor. When she moved into a bed they still slept with her. Do your cats sleep on your face at night? Chances are they don't and there isn't really any reason that they would sleep on the baby's face either. SIDS is NOT caused by cats or any other animal. Other than the urban legends, I have never actually heard of a cat injuring or killing a baby. Dogs on the other hand......

Answer 2

1. Keep the door to your baby's room closed when he or she is napping, thus keeping the cats away from baby's crib, and put a baby monitor in baby's room so you can hear him or her.
2. Put the cats in a confined space such as a basement or spare room when the baby is sleeping if you are afraid of closing the door to baby's room.
3. Introduce the baby to the cats a little at a time each day. The cats will be less likely to explore the crib or bassinet if they know what is in there. Also DON'T let them get into the crib or bassinet before the baby is born or they will feel that the baby has invaded their space.
4. If none of these answers seem to work for you, perhaps you might have to give the cats to someone temporarily until your baby is over three months old. But this should be a last resort.

Answer 3

Don't let the cat in the bedroom when the baby is sleeping. During the day you just have to keep an eye on them. The cat will probably lose interest in the baby pretty quickly. Just keep the baby in a room with the door shut when he/she is sleeping. If you aren't in the room use a baby monitor, and just make sure that the cat doesn't go in with you when you go in to check on them. And start now not allowing the cats in the crib or the bassinet.

Answer 4

You can buy a cat protection cover, cost about £11 and ive seen them sold in John Lewis. I think you can get different sizes depending on where the baby is sleeping ie in the cot or moses basket. Other than that shut the door and have a baby monitor to hand. Im sure the cat and the baby will be fine x

Answer 5

I have cats as well and am worried about the same problem. My husband has already informed me that the cats will be moved to the back yard when our baby comes. I intend to let them in the house during the day, but only when I am around to watch. There are also nets you can buy to put ontop of your crib so the cat wont jump in, or you can close the door to keep the cats out completely.

Answer 6

I had cats. Notice the word HAD. Cats dont know a baby from an adult and what you allow them to do to you they will do to the baby. I got rid of the cats my SD had (she doesnt live with us) my baby's health and safety was more important to me. However if getting rid of them is not an option lock them out of the rooms where he/she is sleeping. When they jump (if) into the crib or bassient go over tell them NO and remove them. Cats arent stupid most learn quickly. Also if they have their claws be careful they do not scratch him on accident. The biggest reason for me to get rid of my SD's cats was beacuse they had a bad bad habit of laying on ppls heads at night plus they would jump on counters and steal food and piss everywhere.

Answer 7

*******CINDY**** You are a SMART Lady!! I loved your answer! It is the only one I read that made any sense! I am SO glad to read it! Good for you!*******
Honey, cats do NOT hurt babies!! They love them! I raised five wonderful, healthy, breastfed babies and always had my cats around them! My cats loved my babies and it was very common for me to go in to check on the baby and find at least one, usually two of my cats cuddled up with them!
I have SO many pictures in my baby books (and now in my scrap books) of the baby in the crib with a cat or two curled up at the foot of the bed.
Cats are very loving and are the best mothers in the world. They know that it is a baby and they would not do anything to hurt it! That is an old wives tale! Just watch your cat with the baby and you will see how infinitely gentle thay are together. The cat will purr and purr and rub so gently around the baby. They would not hurt that dear little baby for the world! Watch them and you will see. They are adorable together. When my babies got a bit older they actually enjoyed the cats and would cuddle with them when it was nap time. I have had as many as 4 cats in the house with my babies and never had a single problem!
Cats and babies are just natural perfect companions so don't worry! I promise they will be fine. I remember when I was first newly pregnant (30 years ago!) and I asked the doctor about that deal with cats and babies. He delivered me and he also delivered MY babies so he had been around quite awhile. He told me that he had never known of one single situation where a cat had hurt a baby but that he had known of lots of cases where a baby had been seriously hurt by dogs that were jealous. Now I love my dogs too but I have to tell you I would be seriously careful about having a baby and a dog. I would have to be VERY sure of the dogs temperment.
Take care honey and good luck!
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 8

I've got a 6 mo. old daughter and we have a cat. We closed our room off at first. Our cat doesn't have much interest in her. When your in the same room with your baby and the cat, just watch what your cat does. But I would keep them separated at first until you know what your cat will do.

Answer 9

I have a cat as well. Before I gave birth to my baby, he would jump into the bassinet. I would get a squirt bottle and squirt the water at him. He would jump out of the bassinet and run and hide. I kept doing this and he finally get the point of not going in there. If you see them in the crib or the bassinet try squirting them with water..it worked for my cat.

Also, if you are concern still when the baby is asleep in the room...take the cats out and shut the door. When the baby is asleep keep them out of the room.

Answer 10

Having had more than one new born, and more than one cat I can tell you my experience. The cat would jump in the crib if it was empty but if there was somebody asleep in it, ie the baby, they would avoid it.