5 of your questions about pets, pregnancy + kids, answered

At CPR Kids, we adore our furry family members — and we know many parents feel the same. So when we asked our community for your biggest questions about pets, pregnancy, newborns and little kids, you delivered! To make sure you get trusted, evidence-based answers, we teamed up with Lesley from We Are Family, specialists in helping families build safe, positive relationships with pets. From dog-licking myths to preparing pets for a newborn, safe introductions, toddler behaviour, and sleeping concerns, here’s what every family needs to know.

We love our furry family members at CPR Kids 🐾💛 (we literally have doggos in our team!)

So when we asked our community for your biggest questions about pets, pregnancy, newborns and little kids – you delivered!

To make sure you get the right, evidence-based answers, we teamed up with Lesley from We Are Family (https://www.wearefamily.vic.gov.au/), experts in helping families build safe, positive relationships with pets.

Is it bad for a dog to lick a child? I’m worried about illnesses or parasites.

“Although medical views are split of dogs spreading bacterial virus via licking, a leg or arm can always be washed. However we would never recommend letting your dog lick your child’s face at any age, most children that are bitten are bitten on the head and shoulder area due to the size of child and dog, so one of our key messages is to always keep a child’s face away from a dogs mouth.”

We’re expecting our first baby. What should we do now to prepare our pets for the arrival of a newborn at home?

“Dogs love routine and as the expectant parents life is about to completely change, so will your pets, think of anything that will/could be different after babies arrival and start to put the new routine in practice as soon as possible before baby arrives ie down load a newborn crying, different pitch to a baby, play every other day until your pet doesn’t really react, many animals dislike this pitch and if played at home previously, will not associate with the baby. Think about where your dog sleeps, put child gates up or a screen door to give you options for keeping your pets separate from your baby when necessary.”

How can we safely introduce our dog/cat to our baby for the very first time?

“When bringing baby home, someone else holds the baby when you enter your home so the new mum can greet her pet without saying be careful, stay away etc that could build resentment immediately plus the why what can I not see notion. Once mum has greeted her pet, she should sit down and allow the pet to sniff baby, legs are better than hands as hands grab , feet don’t. Keep the house as calm as possible for the meeting, if your dog gets too excited redirect with a walk, toy or food, don’t just pull away as that will make him more interested.”

Our toddler is very rough with our dog. We always remind him about gentle hands, and our dog is very patient, but we are worried she will lash out one day. What can we do?

“Our key message is Active Supervision or Securely Separate, if you know your kid is too rough with your dog please always supervise any interaction. Dogs are very patient but there will come a day that he is sore, startled or just not able to take anymore and that unfortunately can end in a bite. Protect your dog as well as your child.”

We are expecting, and have two cats. Our family keep telling us to watch out for the cats when the baby is sleeping – they believe it is a risk because the cats will curl up on the baby (attracted to the smell of milk) and suffocate the baby. How can we prevent this? Is it truly a concern?

“It is an Old Wives’ tale that cats smoother babies, but there are two reasons you do not want your cat in your baby’s bed. The first is that most cats use a litter tray and can carry things on their feet or coat, the second is that cats love warm, cosy places and a newborn baby is exactly that. A newborn may not have a fully developed immune system and its lungs are not mature at birth hence never leave your cat alone with a newborn baby as they can not roll a cat off if too heavy or fight against any possible infections. The only way to prevent a cat going into babies bed for at least the first 4 months is to either close the door or some people put up a temporary screen door for that first period so your cat can still see but can not enter.”

For more information and expert guidance on keeping everyone – big and small, fluffy and not-so-fluffy – safe and happy at home, visit the We Are Family site.