Hi everyone,
Please reassure me - I'm so nervous about our dog meeting my baby boy.

Baby Finlay came home on tues after me being induced on fri and having an emergency c section on sat night he's wonderful and were so happy but the birth wasn't what I'd imagined as I'd had such a straight forward pregnancy I had prepared myself for the prospect of complications and have a section and being in hospital longer than over night....

Anyway when I imagined coming home with our new baby I always imagined coming home to our greet our excitable but very good natured dog (a bouncy 18 month old labrador) who'd missed me and then introducing him to the baby very gently and it all being lovely instead we've left him with the ILs for 4 days as I just couldn't cope with idea of settling finlay in and the dog bouncing around when I was still so sore after the section.

Now DH is going to collect the dog and bring hom home this morning and I'm so weepy about it - I've got such a close bond with the dog and he's a dearly love pet but I love my baby so intensly and he needs my attention but I'm sad that the dog won't understand this (he's an animal after all!!!) and that he'll play up and be unmanagable and we'll not be able to cope with baby and dog and we'll have to re home .....all through pregnancy In my mind I imagine idyllic family walks with the dog and baby in a sling and the baby being a toddler and him and the dog getting into mischeif together (forgive the cheesyness please!!)

Sounds insane to be so emotional about a pet but just wondered if anyones got some good experiences they can share to reassure me that it'll all be ok

Thanks

XX

I know nothing about dogs but I am wondering if letting the dog smell something of the baby's before he came home might help.

Could it be an idea for your husband and baby to go on a quick walk round the block while you say hello to the dog & let him have a sniff round the baby stuff? Then have your husband come back & do whatever gentle introductions you'd planned?

Not sure how it would work practically (perhaps leave dog in car for few minutes while your husband got the baby?) but this is what I would do.

When he gets the dog make sure he takes something baby has worn with him. Let the dog sniff it, but not 'play' with it in any way.

(we did this, but obv dh took it home to dog, a day or so before I left hosp)

Is dh the main handler of the dog? If so, you hold the baby, keeping dog on lead. Dh brings the dog to you (you sitting with baby). Again, let dog sniff baby, but not nuzzle etc. Offer treat for good behaviour.

Then when dog is calm/ok let off lead. Let him smell, but not nuzzle, offer treat if req behaviour.

The dh needs to hold baby, repeat above.

Then have baby on floor, let dog smell, not nuzzle, treat.

This worked for us. The dog was v good & still is. I offered a treat each time I fed as the dog would come & sit & smell her. For a day or so, each time he showed good behaviour, we gave him a treat. He used to lie next to her on the floor & when she cried he would come up to us and put his head on our lap then go back to her. Almost as if alerting us to her cry!

I am thinking doggy should be in the house when baby is brought in, rather than baby in the house and dog brought in.

Please try not to worry too much - baby and dog will pick up on your anxiety.

My best friend has a jack russell and he has always been very protective of her youngest -right from the day she was bought home. Initially she was obviously very careful but the dog has been brilliant.

We have a lab puppy (6 months now so still only a baby himself) and a ds with severe ASD. Puppy treats ds differently to everyone else and is very protective when we go out - he will not leave ds side, I think the lab gets ds is vulnerable. At 18 months your lab is still a pup himself.

It is a time of change for all of you and you have a lot to cope with while feeling sore and having those pesky pregnancy hormones to contend with. Don't feel guilty about leaving your dog - you had no choice. Welcome it back and give it time to get used to the baby.

Congratulations on your son

Our dog was outside when we came in. Dh let him in, played with him, gave him a treat & when dog was calm, we started the process. I stayed in the lounge with baby until dog had greeted dh. I don't usually greet the dog when I let him in, so I didn't do anything different.

This is similar to what we read in preparation.

We brought our newborn home last year to a very lovable, but bouncy, 2 y/o lab cross.

We were advised to simply always ensure that the dog knew he was still a part of the family and loved, but bottom of the pack. Also to make sure he stays calm when around babe, even if this means being on lead in the room so that he doesn't bounce, until he learns to relax. Let him approach babe but not until he can stay completely calm. Then give a bit of a fuss.

DS is 1yr now and he and our lab adore each other.

We were advised to let the dog sniff/lick babies feet (just before bathtime), as we were worried about his nose getting anywhere near DD's poor head that was all marked from monitoring clips / scratched where they broke the waters etc.

We had a huge 7st German Shepherd who was about 2 at the time. We made sure the dog had loads of attention too (DH's job) and honestly we had no problems. Dog used to sit on the midwifes feet whenever she held DD

Thanks so much everyone - feeling much less emotional now as we had a really sucessfull baby/dog introduction using your tips.
Spent the afternoon cuddled up as a family on the sofa - dh and I got to watch a film whilst our boys slept soundly - baby in his moses basket, dog with is head on my lap.....
Thanks v much for your help xxxxxx