https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:59:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-110188 Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:34:40 +0000 LivsMama 110188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: We too have a very VERY spoiled dog (lab/pit bull mix who also sleeps with us every night) and we did just about everything you did to acclimate him. A few other things Id do - start laying some baby toys around and some stuffed animals. If you plan on using Dreft or some other baby detergent, wash the stuffed animals in that so if the dog appraches them thinking they are his toys, he learns that whatever smells like that is off limits. Put up the bouncy chair or swing and playmat or whatever else you plan to have set up so the dog is used to it and not going over the first second its setup. When we first assembled everything, Brutus was all "whats this? ooh, whats this? Whats THAT?! oooh fun!" and it was super invasive. Then two days later he got bored, but I wouldnt have wanted to deal with that while holding a baby.</p> <p>Also to note-our hospital had no problem with letting us take blankets/caps/shirts etc home.We told them we had a dog and needed them for the scent and they let us take whatever we wanted. That being said, I had a c-sec, so I didnt get the bloody stuff, but I did get the first cap and several blankets and kimono tops.</p> <p>We didnt put up any gates, but we were told that if you are going to do that, make sure you do it several weeks in advance if you can because you want to avoid the dog realizing that all these new limitations are because of the baby, which can cause resentment. I know it sounds too personified, but our dog is our baby too, and he totally got jealous.</p> <p>It is an adjustmnet, but when LO gets a bit older and shrieks with laughter whenever the dog walks in is totally worth it,. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-109705 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:43:58 +0000 regberadaisy 109705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone!</p> <p>We won't be at the new house for at least a month after LO arrives. But I don't think I would be doing the screen or gate at the nursery door. We like the idea of her being able to go in there and check things out. If it becomes a nuisance we can always add on afterwards.<br /> We also have a diaper genie so I hope that should keep her out. And she's also really good about not getting into things so I'm not overly concerned about that part. </p> <p>I know the weeks and months after LO arrives will be a big adjustment for everyone including the dog! New baby, new house! So we're going to try our best not to neglect attention to her. I tell her everyday she will always be my first baby! hehe</p> <p>@anbanan15:<br /> Interesting tidbit about hospital policy! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108548 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:17:00 +0000 anbanan15 108548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: lol Classic! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108434 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:59:44 +0000 heffalump 108434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anbanan15: Lol! Dogs can be so gross! Once LO had dairrhea and a couple of drops came out of her diaper and onto our floor. The dog got to it before I could. So sick! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108425 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:46:07 +0000 mrs. wagon 108425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two small (also spoiled despite our being super strict with them) dogs that used to sleep in the bed with us almost every night. We actually continued that until we realized how much dust their fur was causing upstairs, so now they're downstairs almost 100% of the time. Every now and then we'll let them sleep in the bed with us. </p> <p>They have an area in the kitchen that's fenced off and we keep them in there most of the day until RJ goes to bed, unless we're both home. Then we let them roam free. </p> <p>We got a second dog so they can keep each other company, and that's been great for when the baby came. I suspect when the second baby comes they'll be relegated to the kitchen for most of the day again. But they've been pretty good about it. We do have to be careful because one of them loves to eat crayons and the other is a little snippy, but so far it's nothing we haven't been able to handle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108411 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:14:42 +0000 anbanan15 108411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Ew gross! For some reason our dogs do not go after the CD's but they will steal his BM's from his potty if your not fast enough! Totally nasty. </p> <p> We have to lock all the doors too because of seperation issues. They actually go to grandma's with baby. They even take his toys so having the baby gate in his room has been more than helpful :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108297 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:42:54 +0000 lemondrop 108297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a similar situation, and other than playing baby noises from itunes, what you have done is about all we did. Our dog sleeps just fine on the bed on the occasional nights that we co-sleep with the baby. </p> <p>We have a dog gate that I put up the first day on the nursery door (I would recommend doing this sooner, so you can get your dog used to it!) but we only used it the first day, and haven't needed it since. </p> <p>Our dog loves the baby, and other than being super excited the first day, everything has fallen into place. Fortunately it takes babies time to become mobile, so I'm not worried about pulling tails and stuff yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108226 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:02:14 +0000 heffalump 108226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you're doing a good job of preparing! No matter what we did, my dog was still clueless. He had no idea my belly was bigger and he didn't care when my MIL brought him LO's blanket to smell. He sniffed it and walked away. We already knew he'd be good with kids though from experience, and it sounds like your dog is too. </p> <p>@anbanan15: We have a diaper pail that we put our cloth diapers in. It has a lid that closes and it's on there tight. Our dog has separation anxiety and always gets into things when we're out, and sure enough one day we came home to LO's door open (we shut all doors when we leave) and the diaper pail was knocked down and open. And her poopy diapers were licked clean for us. Gross! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108178 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:09:53 +0000 anbanan15 108178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two slightly (read: very) spoiled dogs 9.5 lbs and 22 lbs (same litter and age so they are literally brother and sister, which makes training them so difficult because they only want to listen to eachother and not us!). When I was pregnant they would lay near my belly. You could tell they knew something was up and a year later they are pretty good with DS, even when he tries to pull their hair!</p> <p>We did all of the above that you meantioned. You may need to sneak out some clothing/blankets/baby cap from the hospital. I forgot to ask for the baby blanket as our midwife suggested and when I did the nurse said we are not allowed to take those things due to bodily fluids issues. She said I could have his first cap, but the nurse who bathed him wouldn't let me have that either. I ended up digging it out of the trash (I wan'ted it as a keepsake anyway!) and we also barrowed (stole..oops) one of the wrap around baby shirts for the dogs.</p> <p>My vet also recommend installing a screen door for the entrance into the nursery so the dogs could always see you and/or the baby and not feel left out. We didn't install a screen door, but we did install an infant gate that swings open easily (make sure your dog can't jump it). We never have DS's door shut and I believe it really has helped with the dogs (they are very attached to us if we leave a room etc so this way they always feel apart of the room).</p> <p>Our dogs never went after the diapers because we use cloth and we also use a step on trash can (simplehuman) that's self closing, but my friends dog distroys their diapers (Our dogs would have because they did when we tried to use pee pads with them). I would at least consider getting a trash can or diaper pail the dog cannot get into, even knocked over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108173 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:03:27 +0000 chopsuey 108173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe find a recording of a baby crying and just play it non stop? Haha. Didn't have my dog here when my LO was born so no real advice.. sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-amp-dogs#post-108163 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:53:14 +0000 regberadaisy 108163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, we have a almost 6 year old pup who thinks she is still a puppy and weighs about 20lbs. When she weighs 65 lbs! She's an absolute sweetheart and snuggler.<br /> Through the pregnancy we have been working really hard on the jumping (it was so cute when she was a 10 week old puppy but not so much as a full grown dog! Big mistake. :D) and she has gotten a lot better.</p> <p>She sleeps in bed with us every night. Making her sleep off the bed is not a option because<br /> a) we don't want to<br /> b) in times past when we've "punished" her by relinquishing her bed privileges she just hops back on in the middle of the night :P<br /> c) locking her out of the bedroom will mean restless night for us bc she'll whine all night. </p> <p>Yes, she's incredibly spoiled! :)</p> <p>We will be using a Summer Infant by your side sleeper so our plan now is to set that up soon and sleep with it in between us so that she gets used to that being there. And knows to stay away from that at night. I still have 4 more weeks till my EDD so I think that should be enough to get her acclimated.</p> <p>We are also planning to start putting baby wipes, diapers around. Also plan on having someone bring home an article of baby's clothing from the hospital so that she can smell the scent.</p> <p>We've been talking a lot about baby to her so she "knows".</p> <p>She's never been around an infant but she has been around 1 year olds and other children (3, 4, 8 yr olds). When our nieces and nephews visit she has done really good. She amazed us at how patient she was with them. Remember the post about my husband's niece who hit her twice and our dog did nothing? We were SO proud of her!</p> <p>Any other tips to prepare our "pup" for baby? </p>