For this reason it's best that they aren't in the same room as your sleeping child at all. It's really important to train your pets from an early age to sleep away from the family.
The best and safest option of all is to move dog out of bed room into its own safe place: for dogs that do well with separation, I recommend moving them far away from your room so they can get a good night sleep when you have a newborn.
If your dog is used to sleeping in bed with you and you want that to change with the baby's arrival, provide a comfortable dog bed that she can use instead. If necessary, you can place the new bed in an exercise pen or a crate to prevent her from jumping up onto your bed during the night.
There are precautions you can take to keep your baby safe, especially once they are crawling and walking. While your baby is tiny, you will generally be able to keep them and your pets apart for most of the time. Keep pets out of the room they sleep in, and never let a pet share a bed with your baby.
Introducing your dog to your new baby will be a gradual process requiring patience and consistency but it will be well worth it. Remember, NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY AND DOG TOGETHER UNSUPERVISED, even if you trust your dog.
So, even though it may look cute, a dog licking a baby's face should not be allowed. In fact, I don't recommend it even for healthy adults. If your dog likes to give the adults in the family “kisses,” let them lick your hand and then immediately wash your hand thoroughly afterward.
Never force an interaction between the dog and the baby; this new wriggling creature may take some getting used to! Keep treats within easy reach the first few days after the baby comes home and remember to give praise and a reward anytime your pup is staying calm when the baby is nearby.
On a scientific level, Hartstein says that “dogs are neophiles and love new things and beings. They experience the world predominantly through their olfactory glands, so a new baby in the house smells and is incredibly interesting to a dog.”
Animals may want to jump in.
Bassinets, cribs, bouncers and swings are for babies and babies only! The risk of suffocation or injury is too great. Please don't let your fur babies use these items and make any sleeping space your baby will be in a “no pet” zone while your baby is sleeping.
If you can, introduce them in a room where your dog doesn't feel very territorial – i.e. somewhere well away from their food and toys. Stay calm, and praise your dog's calm behaviour too. Keep them feeling included rather than pushing them away. Never leave your dog and your baby unsupervised.
Most "normal" (non-rescue, non-abused) gently introduced dogs can and do sense that babies are harmless. They may be jealous, so introduce them gently, preferably on neither the dog nor the baby's home territory. That does not mean that the dog will leave the baby alone.
But as well as being a steep learning curve for both mum and dad, it can also be a massive upheaval for the dog. Not only will they have the new arrival to get used to, they'll also have to adapt to sharing your attention with the baby. There's a chance that some dogs could feel left out.
Never leave the baby alone with the dog even for a second. Dogs can become agitated by the sounds and movements of a baby.
There is no real right or wrong answer.
Just like humans, dogs are different. Some may feel more comfortable in a crate next to your bed, while others prefer to sleep on a blanket in the living room. The best sleeping place for your dog depends on their age, personality, health condition, and your preferences.
As Rodriguez notes, dogs have about a hundred times the number of olfactory receptors than we do, so they don't need to directly sniff a baby to know they're there. “Even with the child not in the room the dog will smell the child on the adult who was holding them previously,” he says.
The dog's cries may be his or her way of showing anxiety about the new loud noise in the house. Other dogs cry around babies because they feel jealous. Your dog may have been the center of attention before the baby came home, and now he or she has to compete for your attention.
A small study from the Mayo Clinic finds that sleeping in the same room with your pet does not appear to affect quality of sleep. In fact, it may actually lead to a more restful night.
Generally, dogs will want to sniff the baby and may nudge the baby with their nose or even lick the baby. For the most part, unless the baby was born with a particularly weak immune system or other health concern, these actions are perfectly fine and are a normal investigation process for your dog.
Research has shown that dogs perceive and respond to newborns in a different way than they do to adults. They have an innate ability to sense when a newborn is vulnerable, which triggers their protective instincts.
They Play Together. Over time, and as your pet realizes the baby isn't going anywhere, you might notice them sharing toys or playing together. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.
While our pets usually become very loving and protective siblings, initially the baby is a subject of great curiosity and mystery to the pet," says Devanshi Shah, Founder & CEO – PetKonnect. Most paediatricians will advise that pets be kept away from babies for at least a period of 2-3 months.
Again, food rewards are not necessary every time the owner asks the dog to sit or stay but occasional food rewards will help keep its interest and obedience levels high. No one knows when a dog understands that an infant is a person. Most dogs adjust to the infant within a few days, while others may take several weeks.
Let him sit nearby when you're changing a diaper, and talk to both of your "babies" while you're at it. You'll give Bowzer attention and build Baby's language skills too. Eventually, your infant will go from being the stranger your dog is uncertain about to his favorite playmate and lifelong pal.