Is it safe to have dogs around a newborn baby?

by Sara
(Cedar Rapids, IA)

I'm a few months away from having my first baby, and want to know if you think it's safe to have my two dogs in the house with the baby.

They tend to be a bit hyper around others, and I might even say that they tend to be a little jealous of me. I don't know how they will react when the baby comes home. Does anyone have experience with this?

Laurie - The MNBC Mommy's reply:
The best advice that I can give you is to start preparing your dogs now for your baby's arrival. It sounds like your dogs may have a hard time sharing you with a strange, small, furless creature.

It would be heartbreaking to have to give up your dogs, but that may be the path you are on if you don't start preparing them.

I personally was attacked and bit in the face as a toddler by a friend's "family" dog. I'm not suggesting that your dogs would necessarily do this, but if you have the slightest question as to how they will react, you need to begin training them for what is coming.

I asked a friend who is "Mom" to 6 kids and many dogs to share her thoughts about preparing a dog for the addition of a newborn baby to the family. The tips she shares in Your Dog and New Baby will help you be confident that your baby will come into a safe and welcoming environment.