Bringing a newborn baby home for the first time is probably the most magical time in your life. The end of a nine month wait to welcome your child into the world is incredibly exciting for you but not quite as thrilling for your pet! Having ruled the roost in your home, your cat or dog is going to have to get used to sharing their domain (and your attention) with a baby! At The Insurance Emporium, we want your family to be happy and your pets to share in the magic of a newborn! That’s why we put together this guide on how having a baby might affect your pet!
- This is my house, I have to defend it!
First things first, pets are often very territorial so they could start to feel a little threatened by this newcomer! Keep an eye on their behaviour as they might start to get a little defensive.
- Getting curious
Our pets often like to be curious, whether they’re breaking in on you in the bathroom or watching you cook. This new bundle of joy in the house will likely grab their attention, so try to avoid leaving your pet and baby alone without a watchful eye on them!
- For crying out loud!
Babies have a habit of making themselves heard! This can potentially be upsetting for your pet. It could be an idea to prepare them by playing recorded clips of babies before they arrive home in order to desensitise them!
- Don’t break the routine…
Animals are creatures of habit and, although babies can be unpredictable and tiring, it could be important to try and stick to a routine with your pet in the early days. There’ll be a lot going on and the last thing they’ll need is a forgotten meal time or walk!
- Give me some space, man!
Our pets like to have a safe place to retreat, this is especially important when there’s a toddler on the move, poking and prodding everything in sight! Providing them with a safe space could be vital to making them feel comfortable.
- Hands off my owner!
Pets, especially dogs, will naturally want to protect their owner. If your pooch sees another human climbing on you, there is a chance that they could see it as a threat to your safety. Gradually getting them used to seeing this could be important!
- Get yourself a gate
Using a stair gate to separate rooms could be a good idea but you might want to start using these well in advance of bringing baby home. That way your pet will have chance to get used to the separation and see it as a chance to relax!
- Attention please!
It might be one of the most stressful times in your adult life but it could be vital that you ensure your pet is getting enough attention when your baby comes home. Keep rewarding them for good behaviour around the child!
Integrating a baby into a house with a pet might be hard work but could have brilliant results for your family. Being aware of the potential dangers and following some of these tips and could help make the whole thing much easier! It might also be worth considering some insurance for your pet to help protect them during life’s adventures. At The Insurance Emporium, our new Pet Insurance policies offer a 20% Introductory Discount* and have a selection of Optional Benefits available to tweak your policy! Head to The Insurance Emporium to find out more!
*20% Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
