Looking back, I almost can’t believe this is something that I was so worried about - because everything has turned out totally fine. But before welcoming Eric into the world, one of the things I was genuinely most concerned about was how Elvis would be affected by this new little human being in the home. Would he suddenly feel left out? Would he suddenly feel second best? Would he resent us for bringing in a ‘new’ baby?
These are just a few of the things that I kept mulling over in my mind and fretting about.
And after having a good old Google, it would appear that I’m not the only one that has had such worries.
So, I thought I’d share my own experience of this ‘issue’ so to speak, and offer my advice on the subject. I want to help any soon-to-be parents to let go of these worries and instead, map out ways to strengthen the bond between their fur baby & their human baby.
So, without any further ado, let’s talk baby & doggy bonding...
1. Cuddle Your Pooch Lots Whilst You're Pregnant
I spent so much time cuddling up to Elvis when I was pregnant, and I really do wholeheartedly believe that this made a huge difference to how he responded when we brought Eric home from hospital.
This will sound so strange, but Marc and I built up that first meeting between Elvis and Eric so much, and when it actually happened, it was as if Elvis already knew he was coming. He came over to Eric, but there was no big shock or burning curiosity. All I can really say on this is that Elvis clearly had a very good awareness that I was carrying another little person. Which actually makes great sense, as he would have been hearing two heartbeats when cuddling me.
2. Give Your Dog One Of Your Baby's Blankets To Snuggle
As I had wric during the pandemic, Marc was unable to stay with me in hospital after I had given birth to him. And whilst this did feel incredibly rubbish at the time, it did mean that Marc could take home one of Eric’s baby blankets and hats for Elvis to smell.
Dogs have a very finely tuned and strong sense of smell - in fact, it’s actually one of the main things they recognise about their people - and so by doing this, dogs are able to get used to a person even though they haven’t actually met them yet. Which is pretty amazing if you ask me.
3. Involve Your Dog In Every Milestone
Every day with Eric is so exciting and we can never be sure what each new day will bring. All I know is that we will involve Elvis in every single milestone. Which is massively important.
When Eric smiled for the first time, we shared our delight with both Eric and Elvis, which Elvis loved. And when Eric laughed for the first time, we shared this excitement and joy with Elvis, too.
By simply cuddling your pooch, talking to them and sharing that moment with them, you are allowing them to enjoy the magic of the moment, too. Elvis loves when we are super happy and excited, because like all other dogs, he feels our energy and that happiness and positivity is instantly catching.
4. Encourage Playtime With Dog & Baby
Now that Eric is a little bit bigger and he is properly used to Elvis, I encourage playtime between the two of them.
To do this, I will sit Eric on my knee whilst throwing Elvis’ toy, and let him watch as we play. To make Eric feel extra involved, I allow him to touch the toy and sometimes I will put the toy in his hand, wrap my hand around his, and throw the ball with him. Elvis loves it, and so does Eric, which is really lovely.
5. When Baby Is Sleeping, Spend Quality Time With Your Pooch
When Eric naps, I always make a conscious effort to catch up on all the little bits and bobs I need to do around the house - but as well, I do my best to spend some quality one-on-one time with Elvis, too. Whether it’s just snuggling up with him on the sofa or having an extra game of ball, I like to ensure that he has my undivided attention when possible. This way, he understands that he is still very much loved & adored and there is no need to be jealous of Eric.
6. When Baby Is Big Enough, Let He/She Pet Their Dog
And finally, when you feel your baby is big enough, allow them to pet your dog. Needless to say, it’s incredibly important that any contact is supervised, no matter how trustworthy the dog may be - but be sure to encourage this.
Similarly to the way in which I play with Elvis and Eric, I put my hand over Eric’s hand and show him how to carefully stroke Elvis. I think it’s so important to teach children how to love and nurture their pets. Younger kids have the tendency to be unintentionally heavy-handed, and so it’s worthwhile showing them how to be gentle with their pets.
To reiterate the points made here, I’d just like to hammer home the importance of parental supervision when dog and baby are in the same space. Dogs are family members, but they are also animals, and no matter how loving they are, we can never be 100% sure of how they will react in certain situations. I trust Elvis wholeheartedly, but I would never take that risk - it just isn’t worth it.
I really hope that you all enjoyed this blog post. If you are reading this and you have any other tips, please do comment in the box below and let me know! I would love to continue adding to this list to make it as useful as possible.
Until next time, lovely people!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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