Expecting a baby?
Tips from a Family Paws licensed educator Laurie Corak
Here are some dog- and baby-related things we couldn’t live without when juggling the needs of our baby, our dog, and ourselves, from the newborn stage through toddlerhood today.
First, outsource whatever and whenever you can.
Grocery shopping, house cleaning, laundry, lawncare, dog walking. Instacart and DoorDash were our best friends during the first month post-partum.
Meal prep ahead of time if you have the freezer space.
We made a lot of freezer meals in the month before our kids were born – quiches, soups and stews, meatballs in sauce, lasagna, casseroles, muffins, pancakes, waffles. Protein-filled, full-fat dishes that would nourish us when we were too tired to cook, and we could throw them in the oven or microwave while half asleep.
Follow Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE for more science-backed information about post-partum nutrition needs, which are surprisingly higher than nutrition needs while pregnant.
Meal prep for your dogs, too!
Stock up on bully sticks, marrow bones, long lasting chews, and fill those kongs to keep in the freezer so you have something to occupy your dog when you’re too tired to play with them.
Manage the environment so that your dog and your baby can coexist peacefully without a ton of effort on your part.
Some management items we couldn’t live without:
1. Playpen – This was used the most when our baby was a newborn up until 12 months. It was less stressful for our dog to have full run of our family room (the main area where we hang out) while our child had a soft enclosed place to play and learn in the same room without either of them getting in the other’s way. We found some good options on Wayfair (50 x 50 inch Baby Playpen Kids Activity Center Safety Gate).
2. Soft mat for within the playpen (such as the Ofie 53″ L Foam Playmat)
3. Gates – we baby-proofed our entire family room in preparation for toddlerhood, and we have no regrets! We installed gates at each entrance to the room, as well as one at the top of our stairs. Gates come in extra tall option for dogs who might jump and ones designed for wider entryways.
4. Extra diaper caddy to keep in main living space. In addition to diapers, wipes, cream, lotion, change of clothes, and whatever else you might need for yourself and the baby, I like to include a container of non-perishable treats to reinforce good behavior like settling on a mat or the couch.
5. Extra sound machine to place by the front door to help muffle exterior noises like delivery drivers or visitors.
6. Window Film to block windows, yet still let in sunlight, and prevent reactions to passersby.
You can also prepare your dog by exposing them to a variety of newborn sounds!
Prepare your dog in advance with training – don’t just hope for the best.
Beyond brushing up on basic manners and desensitizing your dog to baby noises, there are many components to prepping your dog for their new housemate. Sleeping arrangements may need to change, dogs may need help learning how to relax behind a baby gate, or how to acclimate to the various baby items that will soon take over your home.
Once baby arrives
You want to help them bond safely, at a pace where everyone feels comfortable, through active, alert supervision.
1. Work with a trainer with experience integrating dogs and children. Ideally, you would find one who is either licensed through Family Paws, or is a certified behavior consultant. Check out my Family Dynamics training options here.
2. While exposing your dog to baby sounds is a tool suggested in advance, once baby arrives you can continue to manage exposure time to get them comfortable. You can also continue to utilize our baby sounds tool to gauge their curiosity and stress level.
3. Family Paws offers help with a support line, webinars, and connecting you to local training professionals.
4. Have a fearful or an aggressive dog with a bite history? Reach out to a veterinary behaviorist
ASAP. If you need help finding one, let me know.
5. If your dog cannot tolerate being alone or behind a barrier of any kind without panicking, reach out to a certified Separation Anxiety trainer ASAP.
Remember, there is no familiarity bond in the beginning between your dog and your baby – it needs to be nurtured.
Unlike the bond you will feel for your baby right away, many dogs take time to warm up to their new family member.
Happy training!
Laurie Corak, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FPPE
Laurie Corak is the owner and head trainer of Adventure Dogs Academy. She has been professionally training dogs since 2013, and she is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP), and a Family Paws Parent Educator (FPPE). She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her spouse, two children, and pit bull, Pickles.
Her website also offers many other resources and training tips!