Is Your Newborn Safe With Your Pets?
By Alan Gardner

With a big percentage of households having a pet there is a legitimate cause for concern with the addition of a new baby to the family. There are several common issues that arise in these situations and you need to take steps to make sure they don't threaten the safety or health of your child.

Jealous Dogs

As the "master", your dog derives a great deal of its security through it relationship with you. Many, if not most, of the behavioral problems found in dogs can be traced to owners who are inconsistent in their treatment of the dogs or who do not assert their proper place as the "head of the pack". Knowing this, image the impact on your dog when you suddenly become aloof and often unavailable because of your obligations to the baby.

During these times you should make sure that you make it a priority to spend at least some time with the dog each day. If possible, arrange for someone to watch the baby at a predetermined time and take a walk with the dog. This will not only be a special time for your pet, but it can serve as a stress reliever for you also.

Jealous Cats

Cats are notoriously territorial. This may not be apparent if you only have one cat but, if you have more than one, you can bet they have each staked out areas of the house that are "theirs". A cat that violates these invisible boundaries hears about it right away in the form of hissing and yowling.

Probably the most desirable spot in the house for cats is to be on your bed or in the bedroom at night. If you have multiple cats you can bet that one has claimed this as their exclusive territory. It depends on the personality of your feline, but adding a baby to the household can cause the cat a great deal of stress. You should make sure that you spend a few minutes with the cat each day giving them special attention in the form of petting, carrying or allowing them on your lap, depending on what your cat likes.

Snuggly Cats

Cats also can have a tendency to 'snuggle' up to persons and it is not uncommon for them to want to sleep beside an infant. This creates the potential of the cat actually smothering the child and possibly stopping it from breathing. As cats have the ability to jump and climb onto and into almost anything even a crib a infant isn't secure from a cat that wants to sleep with your child.

Constant Monitoring Is Necessary

You will need to monitor the behavior of whatever pets inside house when there is a new child present and if you'll find problems then steps are going to be required to be taken to make sure the toddler remains safe and sound at all times. In some circumstances it can be necessary to find another home for the pet temporarily until the infant is old enough to be secure within its presence.

The more pets you have inside house the more cause you are going to have for concern. You can never be too cautious when it comes towards the safety of your baby. When you are visiting friends or households who have pets take all the precautions necessary and maintain your child in sight whatsoever times and well away from any potential harm.

Alan Gardner has been writing articles on many diverse subjects for over a year now. Although he specializes in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out his latest website at http://www.paulmitchellflatiron.com which reviews and lists the best Paul Mitchell Flat Iron.

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