Safely Mixing Babies and Pets
Choosing a Pet
Keeping a pet healthy
Dog Bites
Teaching Pet safety

If you've raised your dog through puppy-hood than bringing up a baby should be a breeze, but not without some planning.

Before baby arrivesIf your pet has been the "baby" in a childless home, get her used to being around babies before yours arrives. Invite over friends with babies. Let your pet sniff (under supervision, of course) and get used to the scent of babies. Remember, the attention you lavished on Fido will now go to baby, so a bit of prepartum weaning is wise. When your pet demands attention, sit in a rocking chair and "mother" a baby doll; this will help your pet learn an ability that few humans have—delayed gratification. Like life with a new sibling, after an initial decrease of attention, sharing the house with the baby will eventually mean more attention for the pet. Veterinarians recommend bringing home an unwashed blanket or sleeper of baby's from the hospital, so that your pet can get used to baby's scent before the real person arrives.

And, of course, if your dog or cat has been a member of the family bed, get it used to sleeping outside your room before your new bedroom mate arrives.

If your pet is proves not to be baby-friendly, as tough and heartless as it may seem, find a new home for it before baby arrives. It's not worth the risk.

When baby and pet first meet. When mom, dad, and the new baby return home, be prepared for your pet to jump into your arms. Sit down on the floor or couch at pet level for a get-acquainted sniff. After pet and baby have met, let your dog or cat snuggle next to you while you feed the baby—like you would a sibling.

Postpartum with pet. The first two weeks at home with baby and pet are a get-acquainted period. Never leave them together alone. Snappy dogs are unpredictable, and cats like to jump into bassinets and snuggle next to babies.

Beware of this parent trap: Stray dogs or cats wander into your yard, and your older children pounce to adopt the stray. Clutching their homeless furry friend, your child pleads, "Please, mommy, can we keep her?" The combination of a begging child and hungry pet is hard to snub. As charter members of the can't- say-no club, our home has provided shelter—and more than overnight—to many a stray, and sometimes at a cost we weren't prepared for. Here's a pet bargaining tip: When your older child wants a pet, be sure he or she agrees to care for the animal—and get it in writing.

Choosing a pet. Certain pets and babies don't mix. Kittens and cats are usually kind to babies. Certain breeds of dogs are more baby-friendly than others. Avoid unpredictable breeds. Shun breeds that have high-strung personalities, such as little "yappers" who often compensate for their size with unpredictable and unpleasant behaviors. Try a gentle breed, such as a Labrador retriever. A purebred is less risky. A healthy pound dog with a gentle nature can be brought home on a trial basis. Before purchasing or bringing home a pet, be sure the previous pet owner agrees on a two-week trial. If the pet's temperament and the baby don't mix, keep baby and return the pet.

While it's true that most pets bring more joy than germs to children, keeping your pet well is part of the total family health package. Before selecting a pet (gift or purchase) have your vet check the animal. Periodically, have the vet de-worm and de-flea your pet. A flea-bitten baby and a flea-ridden pet make an uncomfortable combination. Keep your pet's immunizations current. Free or low- cost immunization clinics are available in most communities.

DOG BITE TIPS:

• Seek proof from the owner that the dog has been fully immunized.
• Dog-bite wounds can become easily infected. Clean the wound with an antiseptic soap and cover it with an antibiotic ointment until the wound is healed. If the bite inflicts a severe wound, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.
• If the dog is a stray and immunizations are unknown, call the dog shelter or the local dogcatcher to quarantine the dog for signs of rabies. Check the outcome with these agencies and notify your doctor if rabies is suspected.
• Make note of the circumstances surrounding the bite. Was it provoked or unprovoked? Was the dog acting strange?

• By two years of age your child can understand how to behave around pets. Remember, babies treat animals like toys. They pull ears and tails, jump on dogs, and throw cats. Leave sleeping and feeding pets alone.
• Teach your child not to grab the dog's bone or dish while the pet is eating.
• Put feeding dishes out of reach of the curious toddler. The most common cause for biting is a dog defending his food.
• Teach your child how to approach a strange dog, and be especially vigilant when visiting the home of someone with a pet. Let the animal approach the child. Have your child stand still as the pet circles and sniffs.
• Teach your child not to stare at the animal, provoke the pet with jerky movements, or run from the dog.
• Speak to the dog in a high-pitched, soothing voice like you would talk to a baby. Children tend to provoke dogs, and some dogs are more easily provoked than others.

Pets and babies do mix, but carefully.