Baby Safety & the Family Dog - Answering Service Resources

Home
>
Babies & Toddler
>
Baby Safety & the Family Dog

Baby Safety & the Family Dog

I recall how wonderful the baby swing in particular, was for moments of peace and quiet as well as much needed arm rest. A recent article (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/parenting/02/23/baby.swings.dogs.ap/index.html) addresses valid concerns about dogs and mechanical swings. It is important to keep in mind that all dogs react differently and supervision is a must all the time!

I have seen first hand a variety of reactions to baby equipment by different dogs. Some dogs become desperate to chase and catch the moving swing while others seem to find it soothing. A human moving in the air is not normal to dogs and can be quite confusing even though the swing is grounded. It is important to know your dog's reaction to different situations and stimuli. Here are some things to take into consideration:

1. Does your dog love to chase ANYTHING and everything?

2. Is your dog reactive to sudden motion?

3. Does he startle easily?

4. Is your dog sensitive to noise? If so, loud, soft or sudden? High or low pitch?

Adults in charge of supervising a baby must never allow the dog to remain in the room alone with a baby for even a second! This is a consistent key factor in most reports of attacks with newborns and dogs. This point must not be taken lightly. If the adult is not there for the dog to defer to and the baby makes noises the dog may be the first to respond and possibly tend to the baby. This is very dangerous as dogs communicate and relate very differently then we do as humans. What can caretakers and parents do to prevent such incidents?

It is best to introduce baby swings and all baby equipment to the family dog prior to the arrival of the baby. Baby swings have all sorts of gadgets these days! They vibrate, make music and even rotate. It is important to know your dog's individual sensitivities and prepare him well ahead of time. Some points to consider with baby swings:

1. Once in motion some dogs find the natural desire to chase hard to control around baby swings.

2. The noise of a vibration device in the swing can have an irritating humming noise for some dogs.

3. Spinning objects that are meant to be visually stimulating to an infant may be enticing to a dog to catch.

4. Noises of the music may be irritating to some dogs' sensitive ears.

It is important that family dogs learn how to behave calmly around all baby equipment prior to its use with an infant. Practice before your baby is home with a doll in the swing. Some dolls make noises and blink eyes etc. It sounds silly but it does help you role play and visualize the real situation. This allows a time for your dog to safely explore as you teach him how you want him to behave. Reward positive and appropriate behavior. Make this a positive experience. Ignore unwanted behavior and teach desired behavior. You do not want the first time your dog sees this new equipment to be when you REALLY are hoping the baby will go to sleep! Many dogs learn that the swing is just part of the new furniture and ignore it. This is ideal but still does not mean that it is safe to leave the room when a real infant is resting in the swing. Refreshing and practicing obedience now goes a long way towards a smoother transition once baby arrives.

Have a plan for the situations such as the phone ringing. Here are some ideas.

1. Close the door to where the baby is.

2. Take dog with you.

3. Put a leash on your dog in the house to keep him near by or to use as a tether to furniture to safely secure him.

4. Use a baby gate that you must physically lock in place to gate off area when the baby is. (Not for those that like the high jump!)

5. Offer your dog some great outdoor activity in a secured area. As always it is NEVER safe to leave a baby and dog unsupervised for any reason at any time.

Most of all ENJOY YOUR BABY!

Jennifer Shryock B.A. MPH, CDBC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant 919.961.1608 Creator of Dogs & Storks programs U.S. Rep for http://www.doggonesafe.com For more information visit http://www.familypaws.com and

In The News:

BBC News
DNA tests provide first confirmation of stolen baby in troubled ...
International Herald Tribune, France - 11 hours ago
She looked up and saw a toddler who looked like her baby. The image of the child being carried by an official haunted her, and she asked officials to see ...
Evidence of Guatemalan baby trade BBC News
Stolen child 'adopted for profit' Irish Times
all 132 news articles

Wall Street Journal Blogs
Doggie Dilemma: When the Baby Edges Out a Beloved Pet
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - 20 hours ago
I was nervous about how he would react to the new baby, but he did okay. He would NOT have done well with a toddler grabbing ears, etc., though, ...

'Baby Borrowers' borrows student
The Auburn Plainsman, USA - 9 hours ago
Each couple was given a baby for several days, then a toddler, pre-teens, teenagers and to top it all off, senior citizens. The show gave the couples an ...

PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
Perfect for new and expectant parents, babies, toddlers, and ...
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Jul 18, 2008
... sunscreen, after sun pain relief gel, calming bubble bath, shampoo & body wash and baby lotion. • Help make your toddlers next trip safe, easy and fun. ...

Low-Fat Milk OK for Some Toddlers
Washington Post, United States - Jul 17, 2008
By Serena Gordon THURSDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- For babies ready to graduate from breast milk or formula to cow's milk, the longstanding ...

Relatives grieve for mom killed in accident
El Paso Times, TX - 4 hours ago
Her toddler children, who were in the SUV with her, were injured. Sheriff's deputies said Morales was at a stop sign in her 1996 Toyota 4Runner on Herring ...
Family grieves death of relative killed in Socorro racing accident El Paso Times
all 7 news articles

Rocky's heart goes out to a brave little toddler
Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, Australia - Jul 20, 2008
"There are a lot more premmie babies out there than people realise," she said. "There were five women with premature babies when I was in Rockhampton ...

Stuff for parents and kids
Old Colony Memorial and Plymouth Bulletin, MA - 20 hours ago
·Breastfeeding support program: Mondays (except holidays) from noon to 2 pm; take your lunch and babies; registration is not required and there is no fee. ...

'Baby Borrowers': Sasha screams and swears like a teenage toddler
Portsmouth Herald News, NH - Jul 11, 2008
Sasha has said several times throughout the show that because her mother is a foster mother she has been around babies and toddlers her whole life, ...

Boston Globe
A Case Of Stolen Formula
Washington Post, United States - Jun 25, 2008
By the time the fifth episode rolls around, the babies and toddlers and preteens have been replaced by -- sheesh -- teenagers, and whatever credibility the ...
Reality merges with boring on new TV show 'The Baby Borrowers' Dallas Morning News
Putting teens in the parenting playpen Minneapolis Star Tribune
‘Baby Borrowers’ and ‘Hopkins’: Summer Reality TV Primer, Part 2 Wall Street Journal Blogs
RedOrbit - The Gazette (Montreal)all 135 news articles

babies toddler - Google News

Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource