I have two wonderful, loving, gentle dogs—but I was still terrified to bring my newborn daughter home and introduce the fur babies to their new sister.
Every pet parent I know has felt a splash (or WAVE) of anxiety when it came time to introduce their baby to their fur child. Our cats, dogs, and even rabbits mean so much to us. They’re part of the family, and for many couples, they were the “babies” long before an actual baby came along.
So, the thought of everyone clashing was enough to sour my stomach when it came time for introductions.
Would my dogs be jealous? Would the crying scare them? Would they understand that the tiny human in my arms wasn’t another toy? And, perhaps most importantly, how could I make sure both my daughter and my pets were safe?
Thankfully, there are things you can do before and after your baby arrives to help make the transition easier.
Plan Ahead
You don’t have to wait until you’re walking through the front door with a newborn to begin preparing your pets for the changes ahead. In fact, the earlier you start, the better.
If your pup is a little rusty on etiquette, consider investing in some training before your due date. Commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “leave it,” “down,” and “place” can become especially helpful once you’re juggling a baby, diaper bag, bottles, blankets, and everything else that seems to come with a newborn.
The American Kennel Club offers helpful advice for preparing your dog for a new baby, including gradually introducing changes to your dog’s routine before your little one comes home.
Stock up on busy toys, puzzle feeders, and other safe distractions for your dog, too. There will inevitably be times when you need your pet happily occupied while you feed, change, or soothe the baby.
If your dog or cat is sensitive to loud or unfamiliar noises, you can also begin gradually exposing them to some of the sounds that will soon become part of everyday life. Playing recordings of babies crying at a low volume and gradually increasing it may help some pets become accustomed to those new sounds.
Remember, though, every animal is different. If your pet shows significant anxiety or aggression, talk with your veterinarian or a qualified animal behavior professional rather than trying to force an adjustment.
Set the Limits Before Baby Arrives
Are you planning to keep the pets out of the nursery? Don’t wait until the baby arrives to make that a rule.
Imagine your dog being allowed to nap in the nursery for months and then suddenly being banished from the room at the exact same time a mysterious new human moves into the house. That’s a lot of change at once!
Instead, begin establishing boundaries while you’re still pregnant.
Set up baby gates and other dividers ahead of time. Let your pet become familiar with the crib, swing, stroller, changing table, and all the other strange new equipment that seems to multiply during pregnancy.
For cats, make the crib and bassinet off-limits from the beginning and provide appealing alternative sleeping spots. Rather than relying on home remedies that could create another hazard, focus on keeping sleep spaces physically inaccessible to pets whenever you aren’t actively supervising.
Parents offers additional expert tips for introducing dogs and babies and preparing your home for the transition.
Always, Always, Always Supervise
This is probably the most important rule.
Never EVER leave your baby or toddler alone with your pets.
I trust my dogs implicitly, but it’s a disservice to both them and my daughter to leave them alone together and put the responsibility for everyone’s safety on them.
Even the sweetest dog can become startled. Even the calmest cat may react when grabbed unexpectedly. And babies and toddlers don’t understand warning signs or boundaries.
As your baby grows, teach them to be gentle and kind to animals. Don’t allow children to climb on dogs, pull tails, tug ears or whiskers, take food from an animal, or bother a pet while it’s eating or sleeping.
Your pet also needs a safe place where they can retreat when they’ve had enough. Baby gates can be incredibly useful because they allow everyone to remain part of family life while still giving both baby and pet some space.
Teaching children and pets mutual respect is one of the keys to creating a peaceful home.
Take It Slow—and Take It Cautiously
Adjusting to a baby is tough for everyone.
Within days of bringing our daughter home, we realized our dogs were almost as sleep deprived as we were! They were up all night with me and then napping off and on throughout the day.
We also noticed that one pup warmed up to our daughter sooner than the other.
And that was okay.
Your pet doesn’t need to instantly fall in love with your baby. In fact, calm indifference can be perfectly fine! Give your pet time to observe this noisy little newcomer from a comfortable distance.
The new human arrives with new sounds, smells, schedules, visitors, furniture, and toys—and sometimes those toys strongly resemble dog toys. Ask me how I know…
Before we came home from the hospital, we sent one of our daughter’s blankets home with my brother so the dogs could smell it before meeting her. You’ll hear this tip frequently, although there isn’t strong evidence that the blanket ritual itself is necessary. What matters more is keeping the first meeting calm, controlled, and positive.
The New York Times also offers guidance on introducing pets to a new baby, including ways to prepare pets for changes in the household.
When you first arrive home, you may want to greet your pet without the baby in your arms, especially if your dog is an enthusiastic greeter. Give everyone a chance to settle down before beginning introductions.
Keep the first interactions short and relaxed. Don’t force your pet to sniff, lick, cuddle, or get close to the baby. Let them approach at a comfortable pace while you maintain control of the situation.
Remember Your Fur Babies Need You, Too
Your schedule has changed dramatically, but your pet doesn’t understand why.
Whenever possible, try to maintain some of the routines your pet enjoyed before the baby arrived. That might mean a morning walk, five minutes of fetch in the backyard, a cuddle on the couch, or simply a few minutes of undivided attention.
Those little moments matter.
And give yourself some grace, too.
I found that my postpartum depression (PPD), exhaustion, and stress sometimes left me with far less patience than I normally had. If you notice yourself becoming unusually angry, overwhelmed, anxious, or unable to cope—not only with your pets but with everyday life—please reach out for support.
Sleep deprivation is real. Hormonal changes are real. The enormous adjustment of bringing home a newborn is real. You don’t have to navigate all of it by yourself.
Your pets are adjusting right alongside you.
When in Doubt, Ask for Help
If your pet is showing signs of fear, anxiety, guarding behavior, growling, snapping, or aggression around your baby, don’t punish the warning signs or simply hope the problem will disappear. Separate your pet and baby safely and talk with your veterinarian or a qualified professional who specializes in animal behavior.
There are also trainers who focus specifically on families with babies and dogs. For example, certified dog trainer Dominika Knossalla-Pado shares educational resources about preparing dogs for life with babies and young children.
Most importantly, remember that your goal isn’t to create the perfect Instagram moment where your newborn and dog are instantly best friends.
Your goal is safety, trust, and a peaceful adjustment for everyone.
With preparation, supervision, patience, and plenty of love, your baby and your beloved pet can learn how to share their home—and, before you know it, you may get to watch a beautiful relationship grow between them.
Sources & Additional Resources