1. In
today's society, many couples choose to
delay child-raising and instead turn to
pets as surrogate children. Recent
surveys consistently show that owners
use children's names for their pets
rather than historic
"pet" names.
2. These
pets become integral parts of the
household, joining their owners in many
daily routines and being treated
similarly to how parents treat their
children.
3. When
the couple decides to welcome a child
into the home, this can cause a change
of routine. Any change can be
upsetting to any member of the family,
including the pets, who are very ROUTINE
oriented.
4. Such
changes can cause many different
reactions, such as destructive behavior,
loss of appetite, or house-soiling.
5. Include
your pet in the planning and
rearrangement that comes with a new
addition to the household. Allow pets
to explore the new room or furniture you
might set up in the nursery.
6. Excluding
the pet from preparation activity can be
very harmful and cause undesirable
behaviors and unusual habits. Serious
or lingering behavior problems should
always be discussed with your
veterinarian.
7. Continue
the pet's normal routine but try to
expose the pet(s) to an infant or child
so that they can get use to the sounds,
smells or activities of a child.
8. Have
a friend stop by or, if possible, go
visit a friend's home that recently
added a baby to their family. This is a
good way to socialize and introduce your
pet to an infant in a controlled manner.
9. If
you have the time allowed by a pregnancy
or waiting period for your child, it
would be good to slowly limit or
decrease the time that you spend with
your pet. If you generally spend long
periods with the pet, they will need to
adjust to less time with you.
10. When
the new baby arrives at home, try to
keep a routine and make sure that the
pet(s) get attention sometime during the
day. If the pet has never been around
children, always supervise interaction
with the new arrival
11. Do
not be swayed by "old wives tales" about
"cats stealing the breath from babies"
or dogs attacking children. Studies
have shown that children raised with
pets are less likely to be allergic,
learn compassion, care and
responsibility plus tend to be healthier
than those who grow up without pets.
12. Younger
pets do appear to adjust better than
older pets, but that may be a factor of
the older pet taking longer to adjust to
the new schedule.
13. Occasionally,
pets will exhibit undesirable behaviors
that cannot be controlled and may need
to be placed in a different home. While
this is rarely necessary, be sure to
note that the pet needs to be in a home
with NO children or older children.
14. Prior
to the child's arrival, stop by your
veterinarian's office and make sure your
pet is up to date on all vaccinations
and is parasite free to protect the baby
and visitors.
15.
Remember, in many
instances, pets were your babies first,
so they don't really understand what is
happening. Make sure to allow special
time with pets and as your children
grow, teach them to respect and treat
your pets properly.
16.
Pets and newly arrived
children can change everyone's life, but
with a little planning, the transition
can be smooth and a happy family unit
can be the result!
Adapted from Media Message
Points for Veterinary News
Network Reporters 2009
