If you think making your children coexist with pets in the same household is something beyond your capabilities you are most likely wrong. When you start having children your pets don’t necessarily to start looking for a local shelter. Parents often fear that a pet may not get along with a child and so may cause a bite or a scratch. This does not really have to happen and if you take time to introduce your pets to your children, they may actually get friends and live in harmony.

One of the things new parents fear most is that they don’t know how their pet will react to a baby. The fact is many cats and dogs readily accept a new child into the home and become very loyal and protective over the baby.

Bringing a baby home from the hospital, introduce your pet to your new baby. It goes without saying, the introduction needs to be supervised. Allow your cat or dog time to sniff your child at his own pace. Make the introduction pleasant for your pet. Allow your pet to adjust to the new situation on his own terms. Bringing a baby to the house, implies an adjustment for everybody.

The second thing you should probably pay attention to bringing a baby into the home is make sure that your pet is properly groomed. Start with trimming your pets nails. Your dog, for example, may want to put a paw on your baby.  If the nails are long and sharp, your dog may accidentally scratch your infant. Reducing pet hair in your home is also a good step to take, and while fully eliminating it is hardly achievable, having your cat or dog clipped and brushed will certainly help you have a clean home. Allergies is another issue many new parents are worried about . Truth is, many studies have shown that those who get exposed to pets from young age, actually have less pet allergies than those who does not get such an exposure.

Another thing to consider is restricting your pet’s access to your baby’s room during sleep time. Pets are curious by their nature and while they may not mean harm to your child, a cat, for example, may jump into your infant crib, or if a heavy dog, it could easily a knock a cradle over. It is your responsibility to supervise your pet when it is around your new baby at all times. A new baby can take a lot of your time especially at first but this cannot be an excuse for saving on your quality time with your pet. This is especially true for dogs, as they are used to playing and going for walks.

As your baby grows, teaching it pet etiquette is a must. If your pet has learned to respect your child, then the child needs to learn the same. Your child must understand he or she should never pull or yank a cat or dog’s tail or ears. You can start teaching your child pet etiquette even at a very young age. Respectig your pet’s space is also something your child should know. Your child should never wake a sleeping pet just because he or she wants to. This could cause your pet to become startled and could result in biting or scratching. It is in the children’s nature to be curious, so make sure your child learns to stay out of your pet’s food and water.  It is always best to give your pet some private space away from your child.

There are many things you can do to make sure that your children and pets coexist peacefully. You should invest some of your time and effort to establish mutual respect between your children and pets and do it from the very beginning.  There is no reason to get rid of your beloved pet just because you got a baby. Be patient, do some work and all your family will benefit after all.

Teaching Kids And Pets To Co-Exist Peacefully
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