Every parents knows the sleepless nights that your children bring. Sometimes it’s the midnight cries that you keep you up when your little one is a newborn or the anxious thoughts that run through your head when your child is all grown up and out late at night. The constant fears that your angel is safe never go away – regardless of age!
These first-time parents bring home their newborn for the very first time, countless thoughts running through their minds. Will the house be as safe as they planned for?! There was one hesitation – the family dog, Liev. The parents wanted to make sure the Labrador would be gentle with the new addition to the family.
The sweet video below shows the first time their pup meets the baby (and they give you a few tips for your first time bringing home the baby!)Sure the dog will be excited, tail wagging and all, but eventually they learn to treat the baby with care!
Experts recommend that you prepare the family dog before the baby arrives. It is a very hectic time and a time of many changes when a baby arrives. In order to minimize stress for the dog and reduce the chance of an accident you can make many changes and preparations ahead of time so that the transition is easier for you and the dog.
Tips for Preparing Your K9 Family Member Before the Baby Arrives
Review and firm up obedience.
Parents should practice giving cues comfortably in any position. Ex: sitting back on a couch, lying in bed, sitting on the floor. If your dog does not respond to familiar cues such as "sit" and "down" when you are resting in various positions, then you will need to teach him so that he understands no matter what. Sometimes it is not the word "sit" that the dog is responding to, sometimes it is a hand or body signal that you are giving that you don't even know about!
Be consistent with cues.
Socialize your dog around children in a positive and controlled environment.
Observe and become aware of how the dog seeks your attention.
Know your dog’s sensitivities. Research the breed or mixes. Does he startle with fast motion, noises etc.
Begin a baby schedule
Allow your dog to become familiar with the baby equipment.
Teach your dog the behaviors you want around the equipment vs. what you do not want. Doing this ahead makes a world of difference!
Parents can use the baby carrier they plan to use with their baby and put a teddy bear in it to get the feeling of what it will be like moving with this.
Work with your dog while you wear this.
Walk your dog with an empty stroller or one with some weight to it to get a feel for this and what needs to be worked on NOW.
Use a CD of baby noises to introduce and create a positive experience prior to the baby’s arrival.
Get the baby lotion and put it on the baby carrier, car seat etc. and the teddy you carry in the sling. Bring the same lotion with you to put the same familiar scent on the baby’s clothing for the dog to be familiar with.
Have Dad bring home a blanket with the baby’s scent on it. Although Dad will have the scent all over him. The blanket can go in the car seat, swing etc.
Schedule your vet visit well ahead of time to be sure to have all meds available.
Familiarize your dog with the person that may care for them.
Plan a good and safe spot for your diapers!
Tips for Safety After the Baby Arrives
Never leave the baby alone with the dog even for a second. Dogs can become agitated by the sounds and movements of a baby. Dogs have been know to try to move a baby by carrying the baby in their mouths the way a mother dog might do with her puppies. Other dogs have hurt babies because the baby moves and sounds like prey.
If you have to go to answer the phone or the door or just get the baby bottle from the other room, take the baby with you or take the dog with you or close a door or a gate to keep them apart. Even 1 second is too long to leave a dog alone with a baby.
Keep your baby off the floor when the dog is around.
Avoid face to face contact between dog and baby.
Keep the dog well exercised. Hire someone to watch the baby or exercise the dog if you can't manage.
Be sure the dog has at least 10-15 minutes of one-on-one training time with someone each day.
Be sure that the dog has a crate or other safe place where he can be content to be away from the baby. He should have a special bone and chews toys to enjoy in this space.
Feeling down? Just watch these devastatingly cute twin baby girls dissolve into happy dancing as their mother sings the theme song to the BBC soap "EastEnders."
Amira and Amel gleefully flap their arms. They laugh. They shimmy and shake. It's so adorable we can't stop smiling.The video, which has 1.6 million views on YouTube, was posted by the twins' mother Lola Adebayo, a digital designer who lives in London. She told The Huffington Post she performs for the girls every night.They're particularly partial to the EastEnders' theme song.
"For some reason they love it so much," she said. "Whenever I sing it they stop whatever it is they're doing, which includes crying, just to dance along."
Adebayo said her twins already have distinct personalities. Amira "loves being loud," while Amel is "more laid back." They both know how to have fun.
"As a pair they are adorably funny and amazing to watch, especially when they interact with each other and make each other laugh," she said.
Watch the video and you'll see what she means. And check out Adebayo's YouTube channel for more videos of the perfect pair posing for the camera and burbling joyously at each other.
Siberian Huskies are actually wonderful family dogs, and their affable natures tend to make them good dogs to pair with small children. They also have a wonderfully level temperament, so you will not have to worry about them suddenly becoming aggressive towards your children. Yet like all other animals, they are, well…animals. You must always watch them when around your children. The younger the child, the more you will need to watch them and the dog when they interact. Please read over the following safety tips regarding huskies (or any dogs) and children.
Never leave a child to play unsupervised with your Husky or any other dog.
Do not allow your child to go up to a strange Husky (i.e. a stranger’s dog or one they have never seen before) without first asking the owner if it is:
alright for your child to pet the dog, and…
does the dog bite.
Remember that Huskies tend to do a lot with their mouths, and they may unintentionally harm your or your child if allowed to roughhouse. When we say they do a lot with their mouths, we mean that they nip when playing, and use their mouths to explore their world. So that this does not become a problem, rough-housing behavior that involves biting (which is a way for pups and adult dogs alike to play together) should be stopped during puppy-hood.
Do not allow your child to tug, pinch, poke, pull on, or otherwise play roughly/act aggressively towards your Husky, as even the best tempered, most loving dog can snap when feeling pain. Humans do the exact same thing, though we do ours verbally. Your dog can not speak to you, so snapping is their way of letting you know they are hurt or uncomfortable.
Infants should never be left on the ground in an area where your dog is. Restrict tummy time to when your dog is either outside or crated, because although Huskies are very friendly, they may unintentionally hurt the infant by trying to play with it.
Although you should always be cautious when your children are around Huskies or any other breed of dogs, there are a few reasons why Huskies actually make fantastic pets for families with small children. Those reasons are listed below so that you can best understand the risks and rewards of having a Husky in a home with small children.
Huskies have even temperaments so you don’t need to worry about them switching moods in the blink of an eye like more volatile breeds.
This breed tends not to be aggressive. Since they were raised to be pack dogs, every person a Husky meets is a friend.
They have a high energy level paired with an innate desire to have fun, making them perfect for hyper children of all ages.
They are not territorial, which means they will not be aggressive towards guests, including your children’s friends.
Since Huskies are extremely intelligent, they are easy to train, adjusting well to obedience, crate, and house training.
In that instant, all the work (sleepless nights, endless diaper changes) over the past several weeks seems well rewarded because your little angel finally flashes you that pink, gummy grin. And then for the next several days, we parents try our best to re-create that smile, for family, friends, the garbage man—basically anyone who will pay attention. So when can you expect this first real smile—and how can you tell it from a reflex smile?
Reflex Smiles
Babies give fleeting smiles as early as birth and even smile in their sleep. But, according to experts, this is a reflex action or survival instinct similar to other newborn reflexes like rooting and sucking. These first reflex smiles are innate and are believed to make newborns more appealing to keep them safer.
“I can’t say that I remember the very first smile, because in the beginning so many of the little smirks were questionable,” says Christine Schmid, an Arizona mother of 5-month-old Sydney. “We couldn’t tell if she was smiling, if she had gas or if she was just uncomfortable. I was one of those moms that read too much and learned that in the early weeks of life a child smiles for survival reasons. If they can win the love of everyone in the room, they’re likely to be fed and cared for. However, even knowing this, the first smiles were the greatest.”
Expect these reflex smiles to start sometime around birth to 3 days and to last until approximately 2 months.
Baby’s First Real Smile
Sometime around your baby’s 6th to 8th week (although some parents say as early as 4 weeks), the smiles become a reaction to stimuli or a “learned” smile. The grin lasts a bit longer and you can even see expression in her eyes. Babies learn to smile because they see your reaction. The joy in your face and the smiles and laughter she gets from you makes her want to repeat it, again and again.
It’s hard to distinguish between what is a real smile and a reflex smile, but generally, your baby will use her whole face, including her eyes, when she is smiling to please you or in response to your overjoyed reaction. But don’t worry if you haven’t seen that real smile by week 8. Babies develop at different stages, and some very happy babies will wait up to 12 weeks before flashing the first real smile.
According to Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper and Dr. William Joseph Pieper, authors of Smart Love, the first social smile could appear around 6 weeks, but is not likely to stick around on a regular basis until 12 weeks. And by 6 months, most babies smile happily and readily at the people they know best.
“Ashley smiled from the day she was born, and she was always smiling in her sleep,” says Amanda Tabscott, an Indiana mother of two. “It wasn’t until she was about 5 months old, when she would wake up and really smile especially for me, happy to see me in the morning.”
“In the beginning, I felt like everything I was doing must be wrong,” Schmid says. “Sydney wasn’t sleeping and she seemed to always be crying for food. Although this is completely normal, I guess being a new mom, I didn’t know it at the time. So after weeks of giving this little girl all my love, attention, and energy, she gave me smiles that told me ‘Life is good, Mom! You’re doing a good job, and it’s going to be all right.'”
Games to Make Baby Smile
Peek-a-boo: One of the all-time favorite games for babies, peek-a-boo can simply be played with a blanket, burp cloth, or even a napkin. Cover your face to hide from Baby and then remove the napkin and say “peek-a-boo!”
Upsy Daisy: While your baby is on her back, let her grasp her hands around your thumbs. Slowly pull her up to sitting position and say, “upsy daisy!”
Bubbles: Use liquid bubbles and blow them toward your baby’s face or on her neck or belly. She will get a kick out of the mysterious bubbles, especially when they pop.
Kisses: Tickle your baby by kissing her on the neck or blowing on her face or belly to make her show that toothless grin.
This Little Piggy: Babies are infatuated with their toes, and even love to put them in their mouths! Recite the popular rhyme as you play with their toes: “This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had pizza, this little piggy had none. This little piggy went WEE WEE WEE all the way home!”
"Six-Week-Old Girl Dies After Mauled By Family Dog," the headlines blared. The LA County Sheriff's Department reported the familiar scenario. A family member had left the baby unattended on a bed for a few minutes and returned to find her head encased in the dog's mouth.
Sounds shocking, but this isn't the first time an infant has fallen prey to the family pet. According to the Center for Disease Control (1997), of the 279 dog bite-related fatalities in the US that occurred between 1979 and 1994, most involved children younger than ten years of age, with infants making up a disproportionately high percentage. The most common bites occurred when infants were left alone with the family pet.
What type of dog would perform such a deed? While many would immediately conclude that it must have been the much-maligned Pit Bull mix or a rogue Rottweiler, not so here. In the case above, it was a Pomeranian-a pocket-sized dog known more for being babied than biting babies. And although due to their size, large dogs are usually to blame for fatalities from dog bites, other little dogs-Dachshunds, Westies, and Cocker Spaniels-have all committed the same crime. Even Labrador and Golden Retrievers are on this ill-fated list. So the word is out-all dogs can bite, and a few will even kill.
Why would a pet attack an infant or child?
But why would a pet attack a family member, especially an innocent child? The whole situation seems senseless, but once you take a moment to think like a dog, the pieces come together. One day life for Jake the Jack Russell Terrier is just ho-hum, and then, suddenly, a surprise. A five-pound squeaky thing moves in, triggering his predatory instincts, the same ones that cause him to kill fluffy toys, squeaky balls, and to chase relentlessly after squirrels.
The mystery object enters hidden in a bundle of cloth. It smells like a mammal and squeals like live food, yet Fido never really learns what it is. It also jerks and gurgles like wounded prey. This secret toy is it's off-limits but always tempting with its presence. The longer it hides from Rover, the higher his frustration and drive. Older toddlers and young kids incite this instinct too. They run around yelling and flinging their arms like the ultimate interactive squeaky toy. Then when the dog gets loose he chases just to play, but when the kids get scared and scream and flail more, Rover's arousal gets out of control sometimes leading to a bite.
How to Prevent Problems
Knowing the causes of infant and child attacks can help us avoid a serious disaster. Dog bites to infants and kids can be prevented and the steps begun before baby comes home.
The first step is to make sure your dog knows his manners and has self control. Does he come when called, sit when asked, and wait patiently for your next cue, even when he'd rather grab the toy you just tossed or snatch that piece of food that just fell on the floor? If not, put him through the learn to earn program where he learns to say please by sitting for everything he wants. Also make sure he has a good come when called so that you can call him out of danger and that he walks well on leash already since walks will be more complicated when you're pushing a baby stroller. A second reason to work on the say please by sitting exercises is that they provide structured fun-time for Fido which you'll be able to continue once the baby arrives.
Next make sure Fido has safe place where he can rest and be away from the baby and kids. A crate, exercise pen, babygated area, or his own room are good. It's best if the place can be an area he can choose to go on his own and which the baby will be taught to avoid.
Train Fido to enjoy all of the bad things that might accidentally happen just in case they do. For instance, train him that when people approach his food bowl good things happened to him, and that it's fun giving people his toys because he gets treats and the toy back. Train him to love being touched and handled all over, including his paws, ears, and tail. Although you'll ultimately spend every day teaching your toddler to stay away from Fido while he's eating or sleeping and to only touch him gently, invariably, the child will make a mistake and that's what we want to train Fido to tolerate now.
Get Fido used to baby sounds by playing recordings of babies. Ask him to play some games such as targeting or say "please" by sitting, if the sound seems to bug him. Make sure he gets lots of treats. Also, if he reacts strongly to the sounds at regular level, start with the recording at low volume and gradually increase it.
Then, to prevent cross-species sibling rivalry, do the unthinkable: Start paying less attention to Fido a week before the expected day. Continue his exercise, fun training games and overall say please by sitting exercises throughout the day, but otherwise treat him like a ghost at home. That is, don't lavish extra attention or have long period of petting. We don't want him to associate a big decline in attention with your bringing baby home.
When the baby does arrive, bring a blanket or something else with the baby's scent if possible, and let Fido get used to the smell. If he ignores it, that's fine, because it shows the smell doesn't bug him. Then when you bring the baby home, let Fido get used to him or her. While holding the baby safely out of his reach, have him sit quietly and reward him with treats for being calm. That means no whining and no straining or jumping up to reach you. The ideal behavior is for Fido to act relaxed, like a baby is not a big deal. In other words, you're training him to perform his sit games and practice self-control while the baby's around.
As a matter of habit, ignore Fido when the baby is away and reward him for good behavior, such as sitting, when baby is nearby. Soon he'll learn there's nothing to fear when the little infant is near. He'll just know that good things happen to him when baby is around. As a bonus, he'll also know that he should remain calm and controlled around the baby and that the baby does not mean removal of attention for him. Instead the presence of the baby means that he's going to get rewards.
Lastly, no matter how petite or perfect your dog is, never leave him alone with an infant or small child. In fact things can go terribly wrong even when you're in the same room. It's up to you to recognize the signs and know when Fido needs a rest and your toddler needs more rules. It sounds labor intensive but by failing to take these precautions, one bad day and a lapse in your attention, and tragedy could occur.
