Dogs and babies

[flyingcloud]

Hello, my first post under 'Pets'

We are expecting our first child in just under three weeks time. We have a nearly four year old Jack Russell who we have had since he was a puppy.

I grew up with dogs and am very laid back about them. DH didn't but he works with animals (not a vet) so is also pretty laid back about them.

Obviously there is the issue of settling the dog and the child in together which I am not too worried about, have had advice and we will just have to take it as it comes.

My question is more about hygiene. Is there anything that we have to be wary of, should we keep the dog and baby apart and take extra care sterilising etc? FIL gave me a ticking off the other day as the dog came into the nursery while I was showing it to him (FIL) - I was too busy dealing with FIL to bother about the dog, although ideally I will try and keep him out. If the dog is up to date with his worming (and general parasite control) is there anything else I should worry about.

Anyone have any practical advice for me? My own opinion is that if the child is going to grow up around dogs the child will need a certain amount of day to day exposure to the dog, not necessarily hands on, but I really don't need to be panicking about this and reacting to PIL's own panics!

My PIL are the same - they've never had dogs and don't really 'get' them (I think they think they're smelly and needy and annoying, which is so far from the truth... and I never really trust someone who 'doesn't like dogs' )

Anyway, my advice would be to do exactly what you're planning to: keep things relaxed, keep dog out of baby's room (we also have cats who are even harder to control as they just do whatever they want, but the dog has learnt that the baby's room is now a no-go area), make sure he can't jump up at baby/lick baby's face.

Is your dog allowed on the sofa? If not then maybe keep the moses basket up there, out of doggy's reach. If he is then maybe opt for a basket with high sides so he can't jump in (though he's unlikely to anyway) or keep the baby's pram in the sitting room so he/she can snooze safely.

So long as your dog's up-to-date with worming etc then it is highly unlikely that your baby could catch anything from him. In fact, his immunity will probably be super-strong as a result.

How lovely that your baby will grow up with a doggy companion - good luck with everything and ignore anyone's unhelpful comments about dogs+babies.

Hi, im also due in 3 weeks to and have a chocolate lab....

One piece of advice from a dog owner friend who just had her baby was this...

Before taking baby home from hospital, let your dh take home something the baby has worn for a few hours so it gets used to the smell ( i have bought a cheap all in one for this very purpose) aparently the dog will get used to the smell and be more relaxed when you and the baby get home. Also keep dog treats by the front door and make sure the continuous stream of visitors all fuss the dog when they enter so the dog doesnt feel left out...just make sure they wash their hands after!

Good luck x

Yes - I came back from the hospital with ds in his car seat - plonked it down in the hall and made a big fuss of the dog. Ours was most jealous when I was bf... so some of the time we put a rug on the sofa next to me and she could cuddle up and get a stroke at the same time.

Ds is now 4.9 and seems to have survived the experience so far - despite using the dogs toys when he was teething when I got distracted (normally dogs toys not in the same room!) and eating the odd bit of dog food (dry, vegetarian biscuit form!)

It is really useful having play mats early on (and a play gym) becuase they wash - so you can put them down on the floor knowing that the baby has something clean to be on that the dog hasn't been on...

Good luck!

MT, my cat was my bf pillow for DS - I don't know if was jealousy as she was purring and happy.

Ds would have squashed my dog let alone a cat - mind you, he was 10lbs 5oz when he was born!!! Really needed a pillow though - couldn't hold that weight up for any length of time without it!

Thank you all - this post appeared twice for some reason - so I have double the number of replies.

That's a good tip about the playmat and about bringing clothes home - I will be in hospital for a few days so it's a good idea to send DH home with something that has been worn. I am pretty sure my parents were more than lax about hygiene when we were babies and it has had no effect on us but PIL are liable to be a bit precious about this.

The dog is more liable to be jealous of DH than of me as, despite being my dog, he worships the ground that DH walks on. However he has recently become quite clingy towards me as my EDD approaches (due in two weeks).