Bringing home a new baby is exciting but stressful—especially for your pets.
New sounds, new smells and changes to their environment and routine can cause your animals stress.
Luckily, there are steps you can take leading up to the birth and after you bring your baby home to make the process easier.
We interviewed Dr. Vanessa Spano, director of veterinary services for the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), to learn more about how parents-to-be can prepare their homes and their pets for the arrival of a newborn. Spano is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB).
Before the Baby Arrives
For cats, Spano says the ASPCA recommends using the entire pregnancy to slowly prepare them for the baby’s arrival.
“If litter boxes need to be moved to a quieter spot, take those steps slowly to avoid accidents or litterbox deterrence by dragging the box to its new location a couple inches at a time,” Spano says.
Spano also recommends playing baby sounds occasionally and on a low volume for dogs and cats, and gradually increasing the frequency and volume over the course of the pregnancy so that by the time the baby arrives, your pets will be used to the sounds.
“As you start to work on desensitizing and acclimatizing your pet, training should stop if they are consistently showing signs of fear,” Spano adds.
If this is the case, Spano recommends that parents consult with a trainer, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or veterinary behaviorist who uses positive reinforcement techniques and reward-based methods.
Another way parents should prepare their pet is to start using baby products ahead of time, as the new smells can be unsettling or off-putting to pets. This includes using baby washes, creams or powders.
There are a few additional steps parents can take with dogs, which include practicing for disruptions to routine and teaching the dog basic obedience skills.
“Important skills include basic manners, like ‘Sit,’ ‘Stay’ and ‘Leave it.’ These can be useful if you need to create space between your dog and yourself, or if your dog confuses their toys and baby’s toys,” Spano says.
Crate training dogs can also be helpful because it provides the animal with a safe, relaxing space to retreat to when they experience stress.
According to Spano, pregnancy should also bring a few changes to the pet parent’s routine for their pet.
Expecting families should not feed their cat or dog a raw diet or allow cats outdoors because of risks associated with parasitic infections. For the same reason, someone who is not pregnant should be charged with scooping the litter box frequently. If having someone else scoop the litter box is not an option, Spano says the pregnant person should make sure to wear disposable gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterward.
After Baby Comes
When parents first arrive home with the new baby, they should make sure to greet their pets alone in a calm and quiet room before bringing in the baby or other family members, Spano advises.
“First impressions are important. Your dog or cat should have pleasant experiences with your baby right from the start,” Spano says. “It’s also key to never force interactions—if your pet is seeking space away from you or the baby, respect that distance and let them come to baby when they are ready to approach on their own.”
When the baby starts to interact with your pets, you will need to keep an eye out for the baby’s safety, as well as the safety and comfort of your pets. Reinforce good pet behavior with treats and attention, and don’t allow babies or toddlers to climb on, touch roughly or pull at a cat or dog.
“One of the single most important things that every parent should do is to only allow the pet around the baby or child when under trusted, active adult supervision,” Spano says. “Always monitor the cat or dog’s body language very closely, and if they are showing even subtle signs of discomfort, like whale eyes, yawning, turning their head away or walking away, all touch and interactions should end.”
Whale eye is a term for when you can see the whites of a dog’s eye. This expression is an indicator of worry or stress.
“Despite all the preparation you might put into making this a smooth process for your pets, if you notice aggressive behavior, it’s crucial to seek professional guidance from a certified [trainer] or behaviorist before it escalates,” Spano says.
