For many families, their first “baby” was one with four legs and a wagging tail. Your pup may have been the center of your home as long as it’s been part of your family, and now your family is growing, and you’re getting ready for a newborn. As a Bay Area newborn photographer, I’ve been requested to include dogs in photos with newborns. Here are many tips to make a smooth transition to photographing Bay Area pups and newborns.
Great Ways to Help the Whole Family, Including Your Fur Baby, Acclimate to Having a New Baby
Nikon D850
Many parents put great consideration into the effects that a newborn baby has on big brother or sister; however, we sometimes forget to anticipate those same effects on a family pet. While there is a difference in the number of legs, there isn’t much difference between the two in an emotional sense. Feeling ‘displaced” or even ‘replaced’ can be common when it comes to our furry friends.
Let’s face it, change can be hard, but there are some great ways to help your whole family acclimate to having a bouncing baby in the home. As a Bay Area newborn photographer, I believe proper planning can help to create a smooth outcome. So I’ve assembled some great tips for helping to create some pet-baby harmony in your home.
The ASPCA recommends planning during your pregnancy to help your dog prepare for the changes ahead. If your dog already knows basic commands like sit/stay, come, fetch, stop, or no, leave it (pacifier), then you are ahead of the game according to Chewy. If not, consider registering your dog for obedience school. This is also a great time to begin establishing routines for daily walks, feeding, potty breaks, playtime, and even bedtime if you don’t have those in place. Having some structure in place can not only help you organize your time once your newborn arrives, but it can cut down on the amount of change experienced by your fur-baby.
Speaking of change, no one likes everything in your world to turn upside-down overnight. So about three months ahead of your delivery date, dive right into the fun of setting up the new nursery. Invite your dog into this new space so they can observe and acclimate to the new smells, furniture, and style of the room. You can even play a recording of baby sounds or nursery songs. These are sounds that the puppy will hear once the baby has come home. Be sure to add a safety gate to the entry of the nursery at this stage so that the boundary is already clearly set with your pet of when they can be in that room and when they cannot.
Routine Walks with Your Dog
When you head out into those routine walks, bring your stroller and have your dog walk alongside it. Once you are ready to head outdoors with the baby in tow, this activity and the stroller won’t be new or interesting to your dog. They will be less likely to try to jump up or jump inside to see what’s inside. Instead, it will just feel like the same continuation of their normal going-for-a-walk routine.
Another thing to consider is who will take care of your fur baby when you go into labor. Be sure to connect with a friend or family member who is willing to watch your dog while you’re in the hospital. This may involve making sure that friend has a key to let themselves in. If you have gone into labor in the middle of the night, you won’t be stressed about who will be there to walk your dog in the morning or make sure they are fed.
Nikon D850
More Tips for Introducing Your Dog to Your Baby
Now, this might seem like a silly idea, but the AKC always recommends that when you take a new puppy home, you take a a blanket or an item with the puppy that carries its mother’s scent. Dogs have a great sense of smell, but they also connect beings, human and animal, with those scents. After the baby is born, the AKC suggests that someone take a blanket or outfit with the baby’s smell on it home to the dog. You don’t want to place it in the dog’s kennel or bed because that is your pet’s space, but leave it out on a couch or let them sniff it. This helps “introduce” the baby to your beloved pet before actually bringing the baby home.
Of course, if Mom has been away for a few days, everyone is always excited when she comes back. It could be a good idea to have someone else carry your newborn into the house when you first return from the hospital. The AKC notes that when a new Mom returns home, her fur baby may be excited and jump up on her. Instead, enter the home using a quiet, calming voice, using those commands you learned in obedience school to help your dog be calm while still giving them the loves and pets they are after.
Adding a newborn to any home is always going to come with equal amounts of joy and chaos. No matter how hard you’ve planned and prepared, there will always be unforeseen complications, While you have a baby gate to keep your nursery a secure, pet-free zone when needed, give your dog the same courtesy. Make sure they have an area of their own with a bed and their own toys. Dog toys can be a great distraction when you’re trying to feed a crying baby. It’s also another great way to set boundaries about dog toys vs. baby toys. One cardinal rule that will help set everyone on a path to success is always to supervise your dog around the baby.
Of course, just like any parenting journey, there is a lot of fun to be had. Growing up with a dog can be so beneficial for kids. Be sure to help your fur baby and your baby bond. Once your post-baby body is ready for it in the early months, take them out on those routine walks. When baby learns to sit up, sit with them , helping your baby learn how to touch and pet your dog safely. Teaching your child boundaries around safe animal handling will not only create a healthy relationship between the two of them, it’s something that can be especially helpful in public parks or in the homes of friends and family who have pets.
Family Portraits
When you’re ready, we love creating amazing newborn and family portraits with your pet here in the studio or around the Bay Area. All those commands and having worked on creating a calming atmosphere for your pet when they are around baby can really lend themselves to the success of your portraits.
Not only will the transition of your growing family be easier, but it helps create a relaxed atmosphere for family portraits with your pet. Over the years, we would love to capture their bond with stunning portraits that document their growth together. Contact us and tell us about your babies!
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