"I always find it is easier to understand your pet's behavior and thinking if you put yourself in its place."

Introducing a Baby into Your Household

When you have your first baby, it is the most exciting time in your life, however, the introduction of a baby into a previously tranquil household can precipitate a variety of behavioral problems with your pet. Displays of jealousy, destructive behavior, soiling, wetting, barking, hissing and even nipping can result. All too often a family gives up their beloved pet because they are fearful for the safety of the baby when all that is required is a bit of thoughtful planning in advance to make the transition a smooth one.

I always find it is easier to understand your pet's behavior and thinking if you put yourself in its place. Think how you would feel after years of being cosseted and doted upon, to be suddenly shoved completely aside in favor of the screaming, squalling bundle of energy that is a baby. It is devastating for pets when this happens because it makes them feel like they are no longer loved, and they cannot understand what they have done to fall out of favor. In a situation like this, it is natural for pets to start blaming a new baby for their perceived loss of status, and behavioral problems are sure to follow if you don't prepare them ahead of time.

Many of my clients ask me exactly how to prepare their furry friends for the arrival of a new baby. There are several things to do. First, if you have a friend who has a baby, get her to record the sounds the baby makes and then play them back to your animals. This way when the baby arrives, his cries and the other sounds that a baby makes will already be familiar to your pets. Before your bring your baby home from the hospital, send a blanket home with your husband that has been wrapped around your baby and allow your animals to lie on the blanket so that they may become familiar with the baby's scent. 

Finally, when you do bring the baby home, always bring your animals into the room with the baby and make a big fuss over them. Tell them how they are helping you to take care of the baby and how you could not manage without them. Then when you put the baby back down to sleep, don't make a fuss over your pets until you pick the baby back up again. If you make a fuss over them and give them treats each time you talk to the baby or have the baby in your arms, then your animal friends will come to associate the baby with good times, and they will feel joy over the baby's addition to the household because you have taken care to keep reassuring them that even though there is a new baby in the house, they are still a very special part of your life too.

Because animal babies are so much better able to care for themselves right from the moment of birth, it can be quite difficult for our pets to fully understand just how helpless human infants can be. Animals do not understand that our babies cannot walk and depend upon us for absolutely everything. When they see us fussing over a new baby they feel neglected and shut out. Just as a child who craves his mother's company will often do something naughty to grab her attention, so too will an animal who is feeling ignored contrive some way to gain your notice.

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