Introducing a baby

Cupcase

Cupcase

OK I've come to the conclusion, I'm a control freak.

My daughter, her partner and my new 9 day old grandson are paying a visit. I can't remember Cupar ever being in the same room as a newborn. So I used the dog gate to separate the dogs from the family, allowed us all to get settled. I then had my daughter hold her son and I brought Cupar through on the lead with a bowl of roast chicken and a toy. When he looked at Jack and then me, I fed him chicken. When he decided he wanted to greet everyone, I used his toy as a distraction. This lasted 5 minutes, we then went a walk taking Cupar with us.

I can't believe I did all that, because when I allowed Cassie in to the room I never bothered with the lead, as she's used to all the commotion and had a quick sniff at Jack and promptly forgot about him and looked for the human that would pay attention to her.

So why am I so paranoid about Cupar? I'm not sure if it's because of the incident we had with my 2 year old nephew and him growling at him. I wouldn't let Cupar loose anyway as visitors turn him into an over excited dog, it doesn't help that two of the visitors today have played a big part in making him this way unfortunately.

So what is the best way to introduce babies to dogs? Cupar will never be left unsupervised at any time around my grandson but I want to be able to relax with my dogs both in the same room as my grandson.
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
I don’t think you are being paranoid. I think it’s quite easy when the babies are little as they are generally held or in a crib/pram. It’s when the babies become more mobile there has to be a plan. Sky was just wonderful with all our grandchildren as babies but I never left her alone with them and I always stayed vigilant. She was always so protective and took a far amount of rough stroking as they became toddlers until they learnt to be gentle. Red wants to lick the youngest (he’s now 10 months) which we stop. Both toddler and dog are learning how to be around each other. For several months I used a play pen if I looked after the baby which helped a lot. Also training the dogs ‘go to your mat/bed‘ is handy at times. You know your dog
 
Anne123

Anne123

Location
Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
We put Finn in his crate and let him get used to the sounds of crying baby and the way we speak to them. At a certain point we introduced them to Finn, still in the crate. When they crawled Finn was in his crate, in his own safe heaven....
When they got older they went to Finn, putting their hands through the crate. After some month we decided to let him out of the crate and introduced them properly. After that the crate was open, Finn still able to go back to his safe place, where he himself wanted to be. Then they sat with I’m in the crate, dropped food at him and now he takes food out of their tiny hands (18 month old grandson) and they are best friends forever!
 
Cupcase

Cupcase

Thanks everyone, I'm more reassured now. I really want to set Cupar up to cope with Jack, as I know I will be baby sitting sometimes. If need be he can be put in another room but it would be nice if he was as relaxed as Cassie has always been.
 
JES72

JES72

Location
SW London UK
I don't think you can be too careful when they are tiny. When my brother first brought my baby niece to see us she was in cradled in her carseat but as they came in Homer unexpectedly jumped up to see what was in the carseat, something new he'd never read before and obviously lots of very different smells. Homer knew my brother and his wife well as they had looked after Homer now and then since he was a small puppy but obviously the smell of the baby was new and unfamiliar and he just wanted to see what it was and he was excited as he loved playing with my brother but they way he jumped up to see inside the carseat with was help up out of his way was a scary moment. After a few months he was a lot more comfortable with the new little creature and when she was crawling he taught her how to throw a ball for him.
 
Jen

Jen

We’ve always tried to be very relaxed and nonchalant with Rory to try and make him less interesting to Stanley.

I’ve always let him have a good sniff and a bit of a lick (not his face) and just try and keep it all as calm as possible.

Now he doesn’t really pay much attention unless Rory has a particular interesting toy or is eating.
 
MrChew

MrChew

We are a bit like Jen. We make sure Chewie gets lots of loving when he is close to Rowan and being calm and TBH he pretty much ignores him at the moment. Even with overnight waking, he followed us the first night or two, then decided it was better to stay in bed.

I think it's good to start cautiously and then gradually relax once you're happy with the situation.

I'm sure once we start solids they will be best friends.
 
Granca

Granca

I have a baby/dog gate across the kitchen doorway, rather than keeping the door closed, so that the dogs can be in their own space, but can still greet people as they pass by. Although at the moment they are more restricted in the house than they used to be, they’ve adapted very well and love having more people about. They’re always ready and waiting to go to clean the mat under the high chair!

Until what age did you use the playpen for your grandchildren, @Atemas ? I used one for my own children, but my DiL doesn’t. She has suggested I have one here for when they visit or I look after him, but he’ll be just one year old when that happens, as in the meantime they’re off to Australia for three months.
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
I used the playpen for the youngest grandchild from about 6 months until about 12 months. Once they start walking, it’s a different ball game. By then both dogs had got used to him and he them. It was invaluable though during that time. He is a very big sturdy baby (toddler now) and I needed to be able to put him somewhere safe if I needed to go to the toilet, answer the door etc

9A0AC51A-E10E-449F-BDA1-02D59AC0DF1F.jpeg
 
Granca

Granca

Atemas said:
I needed to be able to put him somewhere safe if I needed to go to the toilet, answer the door etc
Click to expand...
That’s exactly why I need one. I had one similar to the one in your photo for my own children, but it seems to have been the victim of ‘clearing out the garage’!
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
Aah that’s a shame @Granca - they are such good structures. I sold mine recently which I hope I don't regret. I could have sold it many times over - the number of people who wanted it. It was very solid although you needed the space for it and it needed putting together each time - I got it down to a fine art. Will you get another?
 
Granca

Granca

Yes, that’s the plan, even if it’s just to use as a quick safe place. The irony is that it’s youngest son who disposed of the old one when making space in the garage to store all their stuff!

I found this photo of youngest son, when my parents’ Tibetan terrier had jumped into the playpen to play with him!
4D12C13C-36A5-4421-BC2C-1B8C22278E80.jpeg
 
Emily

Emily

Location
Melbourne, Australia
We used baby gates, crate, playpen and "neglectatron" (one of those play things that the baby sits in). I think, in some ways, it was easier as Nathan and Ella were together full time so they got used to each other pretty quickly. We just included Ella in everything (so that she wouldn't feel left out) and it all went pretty well.
 
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