Having a baby is one of the most fulfilling and exciting experiences in life! Preparing your house to be the safest and most nurturing environment possible is an important part of the process. But does it have to include getting rid of the family pets? Not necessarily. Certainly there are precautions you should take both during pregnancy and in preparing your pets for the arrival of your baby. Some of these include:

• Educate yourself about the risk of Toxoplasmosis from cats by talking with your doctor and veterinarian. The risks may be less than you think.

• Think about the amount of time you spend with your pets now and prepare your pet by gradually reducing that time. Don’t wait until the day you bring your baby home and find yourself ignoring your pet as this will increase his/her stress level.

• If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, gradually have another family member become closer to your pet.

• If the animal has behavior issues, consider training classes and begin, if possible, months in advance of your due date. Use knowledge gained from these classes to train your dog to sit quietly while you hold a baby doll. Reward good behavior.

• Introduce your pet to the sounds and smells of a newborn by using baby powder/oil on your hands and playing recordings of babies crying and turn on mechanical rockers etc. Give treats to your pet to make this a positive experience.

• Never leave your pet unsupervised around your baby. Even the best pets can have a bad day.

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