"Teach your child to handle the pet gently and lovingly, speaking in soft words to assure the pet that all is well."

While this may sound strange to you at first, remember I am thinking from the pet's point of view. If you make sure to include your pet in the frenzy of activity that surrounds the months leading up to the birth of a baby, you will find them helpful and protective when you bring the baby home instead of fearful and jealous. It does not have to be an ``either/or'' situation. People who love their animals would find it very hard to give up their ``baby in a fur coat.'' It is up to you to prepare your animal properly to not only accept a new baby, but also to understand that the baby is as much a part of the family as the pet. If you do this, you should have smooth sailing and find that your pet can be relied upon to help you care for and protect your baby.

Teach Your Child to Respect Your Pets

Families who have done a good job of introducing a baby to the household sometimes stumble when it comes to teaching that baby how to interact with pets. As babies grow and become toddlers and become more mobile, a whole new dynamic emerges in your house. Your pets have been used to having the baby confined and under control and suddenly this wild little person has the run of the house, pulling tails, upsetting food dishes and grabbing the pet's favorite toys.

Time once again for a bit of planning and intervention. If you teach your child to treat all living creatures with love and respect, you will not have any problems. But of course, you must first get your toddler through those trying years when he is exploring and learning, and no is his favorite word.

Make sure there is a safe place for your animal friend to go when your baby starts toddling around. If you have a crate with the door open for your animal companion, make sure the baby cannot crawl inside while your pet is sleeping as he needs to have his own private, secure space. If an animal is suddenly startled awake from sleep he will snap at whatever is near out of fear, uncertainty and surprise, never intending to hurt your child. Teach your child to respect a pet's quiet times, and if necessary, make sure your child cannot intrude upon your pet's privacy. Having a toddler in the house can be stressful for all concerned, and our animal companions need to get away from time to time and relax on their own too.

During your son's or daughter's transition from infant to toddler to young child, you must take steps to protect your pets from your child or children, just as you took steps to protect your baby when you first brought it home. First, you must never allow your child to take your pet's toys or food dishes, both for sanitary and safety reasons. Second, make it quite clear that no shouting, hitting, kicking, squeezing or tail pulling will be tolerated at all. Teach your child to handle the pet gently and lovingly, speaking in soft words to assure the pet that all is well. Remind them that sometimes a pet simply does not want to be picked up and petted and they must respect that. If your children have trouble understanding why they cannot grab the pet any time they want, tell them to put themselves in the pet's place and ask how they would feel getting scooped up willy-nilly into your arms in the middle of lunch, or dragged away while they were playing a game or watching a video? This will help your child to understand that pets have daily agendas just as people do and it is important for us to respect both their wishes and their moods.

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