Pet Safety

Children and pets can be a wonderful combination under the right circumstances. There are some precautions that can prevent an unfortunate incident. Consider waiting until a child is five before getting a pet if you don’t already own one. Never leave a child younger than five alone with any dog or cat. Send something home from the hospital with the baby’s scent on it before arriving home with the baby.
Children need to be taught rules on handling and respecting animals. They should be taught not to pull, tug, hug or sit on pets. General rules such as never disturbing one who is eating, sleeping or playing with a bone or favorite toy. Teach children to never approach a dog that is caring for her puppies or is growling or showing teeth. Both the children and the pets need and deserve lots of praise for good behavior.
Dogs need to be well-socialized and taught submissive behavior such as rolling over and dropping food on demand. Do not rough-play with a dog; having it neutered is a good idea. An animal trainer needs to be consulted if the dog shows any aggressive behavior.
Cats can be resentful of new babies since it may limit their territory. Sit up baby’s room several months in advance and let the cat investigate with boundaries set up. To prevent the cat from getting in the crib, you can apply double stick tape to the edges or use a net on the crib. Cat’s nails need to be trimmed regularly or covers applied such as soft paws.

Reptiles, such as lizards and turtles, can harbor salmonella, a bacteria that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. Remember that children always need to wash their hands after touching or cleaning up after any animal.

by Darlene Coyne CNFP, IBCLC