Preparing Your Pet for Baby’s Arrival

For most families, our pets are our first babies. They've had all of our attention, all of our love, and probably the best spot on the couch, too! So when you bring home a new family member, it's a huge adjustment for them as well.

The good news? A little preparation can go a long way. The best thing new parents can do is to prepare before the baby arrives and help your pet learn the skills they’ll need to be successful in this new season.

Before Baby Arrives

Bringing home a baby changes your entire household routine—and your pets will notice those changes too! Taking some time before your baby arrives to help your pet adjust can make the transition feel much smoother for everyone.

Practice the new routine: Start slowly shifting your pet’s feeding, walking, and play schedules so they are closer to what life may look like once the baby arrives. Small changes ahead of time can help prevent your pet from feeling overwhelmed when everything changes at once.

Introduce new smells: Babies come with a lot of new scents! Let your pet get familiar with things like baby lotion, creams, soaps, and laundry products ahead of time so these smells become part of their everyday environment.

Get comfortable with the stroller: If you have a dog, practice walking with an empty stroller before the baby arrives. This gives your dog a chance to learn how to walk calmly beside the stroller without the added excitement of a baby being along for the walk.

Set up baby gear early: Try to put up items like the crib, swing, and changing table with ample time before the baby arrives. This gives your pets time to safely investigate these new items and get used to them being part of the home.

Avoid turning baby gear into toys: It’s completely normal for pets to be curious about all the new things coming into the house! However, try not to let your dog or cat play with baby items or explore them while your baby is using them. We want our pets to learn that these items are part of the baby’s space—not toys or places to climb, chew, or nap. Setting those boundaries early can help prevent safety concerns down the road.

The Big Introduction

The moment you bring your baby home is exciting for the whole family—including your pets! While it’s tempting to rush in and make a big introduction, keeping things calm and low-pressure will help your pet adjust and set everyone up for a positive first meeting.

Some common places families introduce their baby to their pet are the car seat, the crib, or while holding the baby. If you choose the car seat, keep your baby buckled in and place the car seat on the floor rather than on a raised or unstable surface. This allows you to quickly move the seat if needed and prevents an excited pet from accidentally knocking it over.

No matter where you introduce your pet and baby, avoid small, tight spaces where your pet may feel trapped or overwhelmed. The goal is to create a calm environment where you can stay in control of the situation and allow your pet to approach at their own pace.

Share baby’s scent ahead of time: While you’re still at the hospital or away from home, send a blanket, hat, or piece of clothing that smells like your baby home with another family member. This gives your pet a chance to safely investigate this new scent before meeting the newest member of the family.

Start with a calm greeting: When you arrive home, let the parent who is not holding the baby greet the pet first. This gives your pet a chance to get those excited wiggles out and reconnect after the separation. Once everyone is calm, the baby can be brought inside for the introduction.

Keep the first meeting relaxed: Find a quiet space where everyone can settle in. Sit on the couch, keep your energy calm, and allow your pet to approach the baby when they’re ready. If you have a dog, keeping them on a loose leash during the first introduction can help prevent jumping or overly excited greetings.

Choose the right moment: A calm or sleeping baby often makes for an easier first introduction. A lot of movement, crying, or fussiness can feel overwhelming for pets who are already adjusting to a big change.

Reward calm behavior: Just like we teach our children, our pets learn through positive experiences! Offer treats, gentle praise, and affection when your pet is calm, gentle, and relaxed around the baby.

Never force interaction: Every pet will adjust at their own pace. Let your cat or dog sniff the baby’s blanket, feet, or clothing if they are interested, but allow them the option to walk away. A positive relationship is built through trust—not forced interactions.

Long-Term Safety

Bringing your baby home is just the beginning of the adjustment period. As your baby grows and becomes more mobile, your relationship with your pet will continue to change. Creating safe habits from the start helps your baby and your pet learn how to live happily together.

Always supervise interactions: Even the sweetest, most gentle pets can become overwhelmed, startled, or uncomfortable. Babies and young children are still learning how to interact with animals, so it’s important to always be nearby and actively supervising when they are together.

Create safe spaces for everyone: Your pet should always have a place where they can go to relax, sleep, eat, or take a break from the baby. Baby gates can help create boundaries for dogs, while cats may benefit from vertical spaces like cat trees or shelves where they can safely observe what’s happening from above.

Protect your pet’s routines: It’s easy for life to become all about the baby, but your pet still needs love and attention too! Continue making time for walks, play, cuddles, and one-on-one attention so your pet doesn’t begin to associate the baby with losing their place in the family.

Make changes before they’re needed: Before your baby becomes mobile, consider moving food bowls, water dishes, and litter boxes to quiet areas that are out of reach. Making these changes ahead of time helps your pet adjust before crawling hands and curious fingers become part of the equation.

Teach respectful boundaries: As your baby grows, they’ll need to learn how to safely interact with your pet. Avoid letting babies put their faces directly into a dog’s face, hug tightly around their neck, or climb on them. These moments may seem sweet, but they can make pets feel uncomfortable or trapped.

Teach your dog a “follow” cue: A helpful skill for dogs is learning to follow you when you step away from the baby. This allows you to calmly move your dog with you rather than leaving them behind and helps create a habit of staying connected as your family changes.

With patience, consistency, and plenty of positive experiences, your pet and your child can build a wonderful bond that lasts for years to come.

Preparing for Life With Baby and Pet

Bringing home a baby is a big transition for the entire family, and it’s completely normal for pets to need some time to adjust. Your dog may whine or bark when the baby cries, jump up to sniff this new little person, or have a hard time settling with all the new sights and sounds. These behaviors don’t mean your pet won’t love your baby—they just mean they are learning how to navigate a big change.

The second trimester is a great time to start preparing. Begin practicing behaviors that will make everyday life easier once the baby arrives, such as “leave it,” “stay,” and “place.” If your pet has any existing behavior concerns, this is also the perfect time to work on those skills or seek support from a trainer.

The third trimester is the time to put your plan into action. Practice stroller walks, create pet and baby zones in your home, install baby gates, think through car safety, decide where everyone will sleep, and create your plan for the first introduction.

Baby arriving soon? It’s not too late! Even if you only have a few days or weeks left, there are still simple steps you can take. Introduce baby sounds and equipment, make decisions about sleeping arrangements, create a car safety plan, and think through how you want that first meeting to go.

We love our pets, and we want our pets and babies to grow up loving each other. Many families have beautiful relationships between their children and their animals, but it’s important to remember that pets are still animals and their behavior can be unpredictable. By preparing ahead of time, setting boundaries, and staying aware of safety, you can help create a loving and safe relationship between your baby and your furry family member.