Pets and Babies

I have had cats and dogs around all of my girls since the day they were brought home from the hospital. As for snuggling with a dog, I would not reccommend it but I don't know that it is wrong.

I read your other posts about the trouble with your baby eating. I would suggest that you postpone adopting any more animals until you have settled into life with a baby and solved all the problems you are encountering with your little one.

Personally I would NEVER EVER EVER leave my infant or toddler "cuddling" with a dog of any size or any breed. EVER. Period.
Not only do dogs carry germs that can make infants sick, but even a tiny teacup dog can cause some serious injury or worse if your baby inadvertently hurts or provokes the dog. At three months your baby is starting to randomly grab things and even the most gentle dog will get upset and may nip if your baby pulls too hard on a tail or ear or pokes an eye.
I know there are many dog owners who think their dog would never do such a thing, BUT why take a chance? I would not.

I wouldn't do it. It's a sign of dominance for some dogs and it may or may not turn into a dangerous thing, but it's best for dog to think baby is off limits so the dog doesn't get an alpha complex over the child. This is according to some very experienced dog obedience trainers. Dogs, even adorable, little sweet ones, can bite or smother without any provocation. One of the leading causes of injury to young children and deaths are attributed to dogs.

"The first time that the baby is brought home from the hospital, make sure the dog is not allowed to sniff or lick the baby. Start training your dog immediately to keep away from the baby from day one. The trick is to teach your dog that the baby is your own, and that the dog should have no association with the baby. The dog should not be allowed to touch the baby or smell or sniff it. The dog needs to know that the baby is a member of the family and needs to be treated like high-ranking member."

http://dog-training-review.upickreviews.com/preventing-do...
http://www.doggonesafe.com/baby_safety_around_dogs

Also, kittens or any new pets can be high maintenance and stressful. I would not get any more animals right now with your baby's eating and constant screaming issues.

No.

I am a dog lover and have the best dog in the world who has never shown not one bit of aggression or dominance and it was still a NO when I brought my youngest home.

You just never know what could happen. Why take the chance when the risk is too high?

As far as the cats are concerned....my only advice is to say NO, don't get any...at least not for a very long time! They pee on everything and have a nasty habit of wanting to lie on EVERYTHING baby related, including the baby 's head! Hair everywhere...they get up on your kitchen counters...just NO! I know they are 'so cute' when they are kittens but it doesn't last long...just NO!

My daughter was born into a home with three dogs and four cats in it, cuddled and kissed them all on the mouth, and came to no harm.

I had (and still have!) five pets when my first child was born - three dogs and two cats. Now I have two kids, and still have all of my beloved five furbabies. The rules of thumb are:

1. Your children and your animals SHOULD NEVER be unsupervised together! EVER. Even if you think your animal is trustworthy.

2. See #1.

As for whether it is okay to adopt the kittens, it is okay if you have already found and maintained a rhythm with your baby for a while. But kittens are also babies, and it is unkind to them to adopt them and then ignore them for your other baby. Kittens do scratch and make messes, and you need to be organized enough to be able to give both your babies and your pets the attention they deserve.

Good luck.

I wouldn't be worried about the dirtniess...the dandruff, dog hair, etc actually helps build the child's immunity and kids are less likely to develop allergies when growing up in a house with pets.
The danger is in the pet suffocating the baby. Our dogs are not left alone with our son (he is 3) because you just never know. It's not that we think something would happen, as our dogs absolutely love our son and put up with him pulling on their ears and tails, using them as a step, hugging them, and so on. It's just not a good idea to leave them alone together. With infants, suffocation is a risk because they can't push the animal off of them. Cats are more known for this than dogs.
It's fine to have the pets. Just be cautious :)

Well, personally, I am not a pet person and would not let a "dirty" dog snuggle on my baby but we had a cat around when our kids were born and never had an issue. The dog stays outside so she was only around her when she chose to be.
Not sure it's not ok unless your child shows signs of an allergy.

We got our dog when my daughter was 2months old and let him around her from day one. She is 17months old now and they are best buds. Use your instinct. If it makes the dog even slightly uncomfortable avoid it.

But I would think making the dog think the baby is completely off limits would make the dog resent the baby.

As long as you monitor the pets and kids closely, it should be fine. Which means, don't leave your kid alone.

My DD was more of a menace to our cats than they were to her. We have a picture of her at 6 mo where she has this evil 2 toothed grin and is trying to eat the cat. She was sitting nicely just a second before the picture! The cat has a "really? some help here!" look. We taught her very early to "be nice" and let the cats go if they disliked her. Always give an animal an out.

Personally, I would not add new kittens to the mix at this time. You just upended the dog's world with a newborn and kittens are crazy. All pointy and destructive. I'd wait on the kittens.