Baby and Mum's dogs

[Eggoispreggo]

Hello all,
Looking for a sounding board. Am going to be leaving my three month old with my Mum for a couple of hours in two weeks time. I'm EBF so can't leave her for long, probably 3 hours max.
Mum has two Jack Russell terriers and she is convinced that the dogs need to 'get used to' the baby. She's asked me to bring the playmat I use at my house, which is fine, but she doesn't see any problem in having the baby on the floor with the dogs in the same room. I don't want this to happen, especially because I can't reasonably expect her to watch every second, she might want a drink or the loo so I'm absolutely NOT ok with her being out of the room while baby is on the floor and dogs aren't shut away somewhere else.
Have asked Dad to talk to her and he also doesn't think it's an issue, although maybe they should be shut away if she goes to the loo etc.

How do I tackle this?
I absolutely want her to be able to have the baby and appreciate the time she's willing to give to help me out, but almost don't trust that she'll do what I ask because she thinks I'm being over dramatic?

AM I being over dramatic?

No you are not in my view. I would be looking for alternative care until your mum comes round to your way of thinking

Id ask your mum to come to yours. Ywnbu to say its that or nothing.

Have the dogs met your wee one at all?

At 3 months old I don't think I could have left my DD for that length of time during the day without her needing fed. Is this an absolute must that you leave her there? I think you will spend the entire time worrying about her tbh. Could your mum come with you and take your DD off you while you do whatever it is?

My mum has 3 dogs and was of the same view. I took a travel cot round for dc to be in to play. Told very firmly if I found out that she had gone against what I had asked then she wouldn't see them again as it would be unforgivable to me.

I am in no doubt her dogs would probably be ok... but it's not fair to the dogs to end up either being screamed at/pulled about by babies or shouted at by us for doing something wrong... and at worse PTS for causing dc harm.

DM is now happy that DC stay in travel cots until dogs are out of the room.

YANBU OP, I never left my babies unattended with our gorgeous dog.

He was an absolute sweetheart and never hurt a soul in 13 years, but no way would I have left him with my DS’ not worth the risk.

An absolute no! No discussion.

I have a JR, he's great but I would trust no dog with a small baby on a playmat.

If you're at all uncomfortable with the situation then don't do it.

Jack Russell's are 1 of the most vicious dogs out there and are responsible for more dog bites than any other breed please check out the RSPCAs statistics and show them to your mum don't leave your baby with the dogs

Erm. Massive no no from me. Ask for her to look after baby at yours instead.

Travel cot is your friend! I put our playmat in the travel cot.

then baby is safe from dogs and you won't need to worry.

You're not being over dramatic. Jack Russell Terriers are a working breed bred for hunting. Being reactive to high pitched noises and rustling movements is instinctive for them. Have you tested how they react to your baby when baby is being safely held by you? Are they keen to investigate? If your mum's going to care for baby at her home then as a minimum baby needs to be in a travel cot - but remember that even small dogs can jump quite high.

My dog is wonderful. She's not a terrier and she's big, soft and calm. I'd like to think she's totally bombproof with children but there's no way I would put a baby on the floor in the same room as her.

YANBU. From what I have read, Jack Russells aren't the safest dogs to have around children. They're often very high-energy. Even a friendly Jack Russell has the potential to accidentally harm a child.

Our dogs gets sent into the kitchen if I have to leave the room dd is in for any reason (7 months). They're that used to it that as soon as I get up they run into their beds. I love them and don't think they'd ever intentionally hurt my baby but the one is quite big (but doesn't quite realise it) and heavy but it's never something I'd risk. DP didn't see the danger either and it really got my back up, he's now cottoned on to the fact that leaving the dogs alone with the baby is a MASSIVE no!

To be honest I wouldn’t leave the baby there. I know people like this. They make the right sounds but don’t listen once you’ve gone.

I’d be constantly worried.

If possible, have your mum come to your house to look after your baby. Her dogs will be territorial at home and introducing a baby isn't to be done lightheartedly - said as an owner of a terrier. Yes they're lovely etc etc etc but ultimately they're dogs and should never be trusted. Mine is very good around my near 2 & 8yos but they're not allowed together if I'm not there and he was definitely banned when Ds2 was tiny

Thanks all, this is what I thought!!!
I think you're right I will get a travel cot and if it becomes a more regular thing I'll suggest she comes to my house rather than baby going to her.
Cheers all, good to know I'm not being mental!

We have ddogs.
Never left unsupervised with dc under 10 .
Offer to fit a baby gate on the understanding dogs on one side and baby on the other. Or baby doesn't go there alone.

I just wouldn’t be leaving the baby there at all , probably until it was old enough to talk and tell me what goes on . If your mum wants to have sole charge then she will have to some to your home .

This is a weird and unsafe way to introduce the baby to the dogs. Even if the dogs are well socialized and even tempered there is no need to test them like this. The dogs should get used to the baby gradually while she is in your DM’s arms and on the lookout for any fear and stress reactions. A travel cot isn’t perfect for popping the baby in when unsupervised.

I trust my dogs implicitly with children/babies. Would have no issue with them on the floor together but I would never leave them unsupervised. Even with the sweetest dog and most chilled baby, accidents can happen. The dog doesn't have to turn on them to cause injury. One of mine gave my niece a black eye when she was 2. Completely accidental, she was hugging him and he turned around while wagging his tail so enthusiastically that he knocked her over with it and she smacked her face on the table.

no. jack russells can and have killed babies. dont be the next terrible headline.

Are you absolutely sure that you can trust your Mum to put your babies safety ahead of her feelings about her dogs?

I wouldn't leave my baby with someone who had such a cavalier attitude to my child's safety, whether in a cot or anywhere else.

I wouldn't leave the baby there at all. Can you 100% guarantee that your mum won't leave your baby unattended with the dog? Travel cot or not, if the baby is on the floor and she goes for a wee will she use it considering she thinks the dog's ok with the baby?

Ergh the more I think about it the more I'm worrying.
It's also not fair to the dogs if her attention is entirely taken up by this new 'thing' in their eyes, when they're used to a quiet house with just them and her. Understandably they'll be distressed I'd have thought.
I'll have to talk to her tomorrow and see if she would be ok with shutting them out of the room, our out in the garden, and I'll gauge from her reaction whether I believe she'll actually do that or not. If not, or if she thinks I'm being stupid, I guess I just won't go in to work for those couple of hours, or will ask DP's Mum to have her instead.
Thanks again all