Kids And Pets
Teaching Your Kids
And Pets To Co-Exist Peacefully
It is possible for children and pets to coexist in
the same household, peacefully. Many people mistakenly
think that as soon as they start having children that
their pet needs to head to the local shelter. They
fear that the cat
or dog
will not get along with the new child and it will
result in biting or scratching. This is not always
the case and if you take the time to introduce your
pets to your children properly, your kids and pets
can live in harmony.
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One of the biggest concerns that new parents have when
it comes to pets in the home is how it will react to a baby.
Many of the old wives tales such as cats sucking the breath
out of babies simply are not true. In fact, many cats and
dogs readily accept a new child into the home and become
fiercely loyal and protective over the baby.
When you bring your baby home from the hospital, you should
introduce your pet to your new baby. Of course, these introductions
need supervision. Allow your cat or dog time to sniff your
child at his or her own pace. Make the introduction pleasant
for your cat or dog. In most cases, your cat or dog will
not give your baby a second thought. Allow your pet to adjust
to the new situation on his or her own terms. When a baby
comes to the house, it is an adjustment for everybody.
The other thing that you might want to consider doing when
you bring a baby into the home is to make sure that your
cat or dog is properly groomed. This includes trimming your
dog or cat nails. Your dog may want to put a paw on your
baby. If his or hers nails are long and sharp, your dog
may accidentally scratch your infant. While you can never
eliminate pet hair from your home, if your dog or cat clipped
and brushed it will certainly help your home stay a little
cleaner. Many new parents also worry about allergies. The
fact is, many studies have shown that children who are exposed
to pets from a very young age, actually have less pet allergies
than children who are not exposed to pets.
Another good idea is to make sure that your pets do not
have access to your baby’s room during naptime or at
night without supervision. While your pet probably means
no harm to your child, pets are naturally curious. A cat
may jump into your infant crib, or in large dogs could easily
a knock bassinet or cradle over. You should always supervise
your pet when it is around your new baby at all times. Most
of all, you should try to make sure that you are still spending
quality time with your pet when possible. This especially
pertains to dogs, which are used to playing in the backyard
and going for walks.
As your child grows, you need to begin teaching your child
proper pet etiquette. If your dog or cat has learned to
respect your child, then your child also needs to learn
to respect your pet. Teach your child from a young age that
they should never pull or yank a cat or dog's tail or ears.
Your child can learn proper pet etiquette even at a very
young age. You will also want to teach your child to respect
your pet’s space. This includes making sure that your
child understands that he or she should never wake a sleeping
pet. This could cause your pet to become startled and could
result in biting or scratching.
In addition, you will want to make sure that your child
understands to stay out of your pet’s food, water and
litter box. Your child will be naturally curious, so it
is always best to give your pet some private space away
from your child.
There are many things you can do to make sure that children
and pets coexist peacefully. Your children and pets need
to learn to respect each other from the very beginning.
There is no reason to get rid of your cat
or dog
just because you have a child in the home.
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Pet Health 
