Safe Sleeping for Baby - what about the dog?

[mummyduckduck]

We're expecting #2 in June.

We plan to have baby in our room but in their own cot or Moses basket for the first year. It will be a separate space for baby rather than a co-sleeping crib.

At the moment our dog sleeps in our bedroom. This is for practical reasons (so he can wake us if he needs the toilet); although he does prefer to be close to us as well. He has his own dog bed on the floor, but will sometimes sneak into the big bed for cuddles (especially if I'm not there and it is just DP).

In terms of safe sleeping for baby; are we ok to carry on like this?

• baby would never be alone with dog

I can't find any guidance on the Lullaby Trust website about pets.

If it's not ok; then we wed to start thinking about it now, so that we can prepare dog well ahead of baby's arrival. If it want him thinking that baby has kicked him out of the bedroom.

Advice welcome please as I didn't have a dog when I had baby #1. But please keep it baby-safety related, not a general discussion on dogs in bedrooms. Thanks

[ememem84]

We had a similar situation but cat instead of dog.

Catface sleeps on our bed. When Dd was born we had the Moses basket in our room. Catface continued to sleep on our bed. Usually snuggled between me and the basket.

I never tried to kick her out of the bedroom. We tried it with ds when he was born but she cried and scratched at the bedroom door. So it was actually easier to let her in.

I doubt you’ll find any guidance on safe sleeping baby and dog. Because they’ll tell you it isn’t. But I’d go with instinct. You know your dog.

[ThinkPink71]

Im having the same scenario also! I have two dogs & dont want them to feel pushed out.

Ive decided to move their bed (when baby comes) next to my OH side (which is next to the radiator anyway so they will be happy). Im going for a next to me crib so think this will be the best way for us :)

[partypenguins]

If your baby isn't sleeping in the bed when your dog jumps in I don't see why there would be a problem. My only worry would be the stability of the cot, if your dog is anything as excitable as our spaniel can be I would be concerned he might knock it all the time. When ours was a puppy we crate trained him (he tended to sleep with the door open anyway) but it meant we could pretty much put him anywhere in the house and he was happy and felt safe. That could be an option if you do decide to move him out, but obviously take it gradually. We scrapped the cage eventually and he just sleeps in his bed downstairs, upstairs for the occasional treat or if DH is away! He hasn't slept in his crate for 2 years now but if we get it out he'll still go and lie in it as his 'safe place'.

[Monstermoomin]

We have a dog who has always slept in our room primarily on the bed (she is nearly 4).

We had our first baby in June and knew we couldn't kick out dog cos she would cry, scratch and then probably have accidents. We just have a cot bed that baby sleeps in and dog doesn't particularly bother and when I'm breastfeeding in the bed she's happy to move if asked when she gets a bit close. She sometimes tries to lick her hands if sticking out of cot but I'm awake and tell her not to. If you really want to use a moses basket I might be worth popping it inside the cot rather than on a stand just so there's no risk of it being knocked over

[Natsku]

Our cat used to sleep in our room but I started shutting the door when I was pregnant, mainly because she got mean when I got pregnant and would bite me when I was sleeping, but have kept the door shut at night after baby got here, and still keep it shut now that baby is in his own room (although I did once accidentally shut the cat in his room all night!).

[Aneley]

We have two cats and two dogs all of which used to sleep with us in the bedroom - cats on the bed with us, dogs in their own beds on the floor. However, we had to rearrange things when baby came for several reasons:

1. cats showed great interest in baby's next to me
   
2. our dogs are really large (retriever and borzoi mix) and could easily knock the entire thing over.
   
   Our solution was to ease them into sleeping elsewhere before baby came. After a couple of nights, they got used to a new system and while we do miss having them with us at night - we also feel this is a better solution for both them and the baby. Once baby moves into her own room, they can all come back and sleep with us again - but for now, we're just not ready to take any risks.

[kenandbarbie]

It's difficult to plan in advance. You might have a baby who will not settle unless you're co sleeping. Are you planning to breast feed?

In terms of our dog, I stopped letting her sleep with me when the baby was born. I co sleep,!with my husband or other children who come in the night, behind me. With me holding the baby, who would not sleep unless in someone's arms. The dog makes noise as well so I didn't want her waking the baby barking or licking herself.

Common sense would say it is safer for the dog to be in a different room just in case you take the baby in bed when very tired or the dog climbs into the crib. One of my children actually flipped themselves out of a Moses basket in the middle of the night so I couldn't have it on a stand.

As with most parenting practices, you will probably find what you plan to do is not exactly what you end up doing. Certainly the dog will go way down the pecking order and all you will think of is the baby.

[Hohonoshow]

The dog may not be alone with the baby, but you will be asleep so it's not exactly as if they are being watched together. In a cot the baby would be fairly high up which sounds safer - though not beyond a dog to jump in I'd imagine. But you don't know the baby you will have - I had no intention of ever having my baby in my bed but no.2 would not sleep anywhere else.
If the dog particularly likes your dp maybe they could sleep together for the first 6 months while baby is tiny! Lots of couples end up with one of them sleeping elsewhere during the week to get more sleep (and you can make noise when you're up feeding and put lights on etc).

[Grandmi]

Definitely use a cot not Moses basket!! We have a lovely terrier who is still getting used to this interesting smelling,squeaky creature called a baby!! She is constantly watching her and did manage to jump into the Moses basket as we were settling the baby!! That happened with two wide awake adults literally standing by the basket. This is only day 5 and doggie is gradually settling down but we need to be 100% alert at all times unless the dog is in a seperate room .

[thosethreewords]

My dog sleeps in our bed and I'm reluctant to change this as it is all she's known. She's small and very placid, but despite this I'm planning on being cautious and going with a small cot (probably stokke sleepi mini) that will be sturdier than a Moses basket.
I'm pretty sure it's considered "not safe" going off the checklist in the red book about safe sleeping though.
Co-sleeping is not something I'm willing to consider but if I HAD to, then DH will have to sleep with the dog in a spare room those nights. People may think we're mad for not just turfing her out of our room, but it's important to both of us that she still feels settled and content at night time.

[mummyduckduck]

Thanks everyone.

Good points about a cot being sturdier than a Moses basket. I can't imagine our dog trying to jump in, but better safe than sorry.

I won't be co-sleeping as I'm absolutely terrified of it (yes, I know lots of people really rate it; but it's not for me). I barely sleep if I'm sharing a bed with DD8 (e.g holiday) as I'm paranoid about smothering her, or her drowning in the giant duvet; so I'd be a million times more paranoid with a baby.

Glad to hear that keeping dog in the room has worked ok for some others; I think I'd have a battle trying to get him to sleep downstairs.

If needs be, I'm quite happy to sleep in the spare room with baby, but at the moment DP is saying not to. I guess that might change when he's woken up a million times before work.

[Itsnoteasyfeelingqueasy]

This is really helpful. It’s nice to hear from other dog lovers. Our dog sleeps in our bed, either on my pillow or under the covers between us, we have had tried many times to get her used to sleeping elsewhere but my husband doesn’t like it and wants her in the bed and most of the time I’m happy with it.

I was thinking of getting a crib next to the bed before the baby comes and getting dog used to it and making sure she knows is a no go area. Our main fear is her jumping in with the baby

[sassenach84]

Our dogs used to sleep in our bed before baby. We trained them to sleep outside the bedroom before the baby arrived to reduce any risks, eg jumping on bed when breastfeeding etc. I think it all depends on how your dog is and if there is any chance of access to the baby at any point.

[Darkstar4855]

I wouldn’t feel comfortable having a dog in the bedroom with the baby overnight. You don’t know how the dog will react to the baby until the time comes. I would have thought better to keep the dog out for the six months or so that the baby is in with you.

[stophuggingme]

I’ve got three cats and a dog
They were allowed into the bedroom before my eldest baby arrived but since then they have never shared the space since any of my three children have been born. It is not fair on them and more importantly unsafe for the child.

No no no to a pet in the same room overnight or when a baby especially a newborn is sleeping. You will be exhausted and it could only take a few seconds for them to suffocate or harm the baby.

[carly2803]

no - my dogs are not allowed in the room with kids at night. They sleep downstairs on their beds in the kitchen.

We had a moses basket, the cot and even with the cot i was never happy having a dog near the baby at night. rediculous i know but istarted before kids arrived to slowly turf the dog out!

[Starlive23]

I wouldn't risk it, I know it's so very unlikely anything would happen but just for your own peace of mind I think it would be one less thing to worry about in your upcoming sleep deprived months!

[Runsawayandhides]

Our dog used to sleep on the bottom of the bed. When dd was born she had a next to me crib. Ddog never went in the crib but obviously when I'm asleep I can't watch them so he now sleeps in his crate in our walk in wardrobe (so he's able to see us etc but he's not in the room). This arrangement suits everyone, occasionally he gets in for a cuddle while we watch tv etc then one of us will say 'bed' to him and off he trots 😂 everyone safe and happy 😊

[katmarie]

Our two dogs used to sleep on the bed, until I was pregnant with dc1 at which point they were moved downstairs and crate trained. Younger dog was a puppy so fine with it and the older dog took to the crate really well. I would never have a dog and a newborn sleeping in the same bedroom. The risk just doesn't bear thinking about. It only takes a second for a dog to snap, and a sleepy dog might be even more likely to snap if its woken suddenly. It's just more stress than I felt we needed with a new baby.