What research have you found regarding having a family dog and a new baby?

Congratulations, you're expecting a baby! If your family already includes a pet, you'll need to help that first "baby" adjust to the new one you'll soon bring home. You can help your pet cope with this big change in much the same way parents help children understand that a new brother or sister will be joining the family.By following the tips below, you can ease your pet's stress, help her welcome your new baby, and ensure that your pet stays where she belongs—with you and your growing family.

Can I Keep My Cat? If you're pregnant, you've probably heard of toxoplasmosis because it can cause serious birth defects. However, toxoplasmosis is a rare disease in the United States and is one that can easily be avoided.

While the disease-causing parasite can be found in the feces of cats who ingest raw meat, birds, mice, or contaminated soil, toxoplasmosis is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat. If you're concerned about a possible exposure, ask your obstetrician to perform a simple blood test. If the result shows you were exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you may be given medication and your baby may be tested and treated soon after birth.

Keep in mind that the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are extremely low, and even lower for your baby. Being pregnant does not mean you have to give up living with and caring for your beloved cat. Toxoplasmosis is easily avoided by practicing good hygiene and responsible pet care.

Just follow these simple steps to reduce the risk: Avoid handling or eating uncooked meat. Be certain to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come in contact with meat before using them to prepare other foods. Keep your cat safely indoors and away from wildlife.

Have someone else clean the litter box daily. If you must clean the litter box, wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward. Feed cats only commercially prepared cat food.

How Will My Pet React? No matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member may be difficult for your pet. Remember, your dog or cat was your first "baby" and is used to being the center of your attention.

So it's understandable that she may experience something akin to sibling rivalry when you introduce a new human baby into your household. You can minimize this feeling by working with her before you bring home your baby. For example, because your new baby will demand a lot of your time and energy, gradually accustom your pet to spending less time with you.

Drastically decreasing attention and frequently scolding, ignoring, or isolating your pet after the baby comes home will likely make your pet feel stressed. If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, another family member should develop a closer relationship with the animal. That way, the pet can still feel loved and provided for while mom is busy with the baby.

How Can I Prepare My Pet? Below are several suggestions to make introducing your pet and baby safer and smoother for all.Be sure to carry out these changes months before the baby's arrival to best prepare your pet. Take your pet to the veterinarian for a routine health exam and necessary vaccinations.

Spay or neuter your pet. Not only do sterilized pets typically have fewer health problems associated with their reproductive systems, but they are also calmer and less likely to bite. Consult with a veterinarian and pediatrician if the thought of your newborn interacting with the family pet makes you uncomfortable.

By working with these experts before your baby is born, you can resolve problems early and put your mind at ease. Address any pet training and behavior problems. If your pet exhibits fear and anxiety, now is the time to get help from an animal behavior specialist.

If your pet's behavior includes gentle nibbling, pouncing, or swatting at you and others, redirect that behavior to appropriate objects. Get your pet used to nail trims. Train your pet to remain calmly on the floor beside you until you invite him on your lap, which will soon cradle a newborn.

Consider enrolling in a training class with your dog, and practice training techniques. Training allows you to safely and humanely control your dog's behavior and enhances the bond between you and your pet. Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies.

Supervise all pet and infant interactions. Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying, turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair.

Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.To discourage your pet from jumping on the baby's crib and changing table, apply double-stick tape to the furniture. If the baby's room will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still allow your pet to see and hear what's happening in the room, he'll feel less isolated from the family and more comfortable with the new baby noises.

Use a baby doll to help your pet get used to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll, take the doll in the stroller when you walk your dog, and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing and diaper changing. Talk to your pet about the baby, using the baby's name if you've selected one.

Sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin so your pet becomes familiar with the new smells. Finally, plan ahead to make sure your pet gets proper care while you're at the birthing center. What Do We Do After Baby Is Born?

Welcoming a new baby is exciting for your family. Remember when you first brought home your dog or cat? But before you bring your baby home from the hospital, have your partner or friend take home something with the baby's scent (such as a blanket) for your pet to investigate.

When you return from the hospital, your pet may be eager to greet you and receive your attention. Have someone else take the baby into another room while you give your pet a warm, but calm, welcome. Keep some treats handy so you can distract your pet.

After the initial greeting, you can bring your pet with you to sit next to the baby; reward your pet with treats for appropriate behavior. Remember, you want your pet to view associating with the baby as a positive experience. To prevent anxiety or injury, never force your pet to get near the baby, and always supervise any interaction.

Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your new baby, but try to maintain regular routines as much as possible to help your pet adjust. And be sure to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet each day—it may help relax you, too. With proper training, supervision, and adjustments, you, your new baby, and your pet should be able to live together safely and happily as one (now larger) family.

I have been doing a lot of research on this as well for a website I wish to deploy. THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE DOG. If you can let me know which dogs you are considering, I can give better information.

Large dog / small dog is not a suitable "catch all" solution. Regardless, any dog, even though some breeds have better dispositions, is still an animal and must be treated as such, and you must be present any time the dog and baby are near one another.

Cute dog btw I'm studying Psychology, and I know that if anything traumatic happens your baby may develop a phobia for dogs. Worse, your baby could be injured (although the dog is cute and loving, accidents happen and it can still bite hard). My recommendation is to not get a dog if you are considering it.

If you already have a dog, make sure that the dog does not EVER come into direct contact with the baby for the first few YEARS of your child's life. I know it will be hard and an inconvenience, but I think we can agree that your baby comes first.

From personal experience (friend, not me), avoid large dogs. Keep them away from the baby if you have them. They can severely injure a child while not meaning to.

I have two large dogs and have never had any trouble from them during the life of my child, but I am always careful, even now, to supervise contact between the child and the dog, at least until the child is large enough to not be easily knocked over. Smaller dogs are less of a problem and can even aid in the child's development. Be careful to make sure your dog is healthy, as there are lots of interesting parasites, bugs and other nasties a dog can pass to a child by licking the child's face.

With smaller dogs, it will be very hard to avoid the licking, as it is instinctual. If you have a dog already trained not to lick, it is less likely. As for research, I have none; I just have the 'tribal knowledge' as my family had dogs and cats when I was a kid, and my dad's family before him and so on back into the mists of time.In all that time, I have only heard of one instance of a dog attacking a child, and that makes it a very rare occurrence, indeed.

An interesting note, for which I have no citation at the moment, is that the environment in which a newborn finds itself may 'set' its allergies, so if there is a dog nearby, the newborn may not be allergic to dogs.

I've got two large dogs and a baby around the house. They do just fine with each other. One of my dogs is a little skittish and weird, but she would never go after the baby.

You just follow the obvious rules. Don't let your baby crawl around when the dogs are playing. Always supervise when the dogs are in the same room as the baby.

They'll do just fine, mine have. And they are extremely energetic weimaraners and mutts. The biggest rule that they have is don't let your baby be on the ground lower than the dog, if a dog is playing around.

The dog will consider your baby lower on the food chain and a member of it's pack. If the baby does something the dog doesn't like, the dog may nip at it or do something else harmful. So never put your baby on the ground when your dogs are on the ground nearby.

Everything is going to be fine. Do yo wonder the newspapers are not full of stories about loyal pets eating their master's newborn babies? Because that doesn't happen.

Cats don't climb into cribs to suck the breath out of babies either. Good luck.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.