by Team WellJoy
Think about it from your pet’s point of view: for years, they’ve been the main character of the household; the most important person in their Pet Loyalist’s life. Then, suddenly, there’s someone new in the mix.
Bringing home a family member – whether that’s a baby, child or a young person – means a change in routine for everyone. For our pets it’s not just a new person to get to know, it’s new smells, sounds, experiences, schedules…. So you can understand why they need their Pet Loyalist’s help to make that adjustment.
First step: know your pet
It’s helpful to note that dogs and cats might react to a new family member differently – for example cats might be sensitive to environmental changes such as moving litter boxes or resting areas, and dogs might be more affected by different noises and changes in family interactions.
Helping any pet to adjust to a new reality means really understanding their individual personality, and their likes and dislikes.
For example, if you’re one of those lucky Pet Loyalists that has a cat or dog that’s deeply attached to you, you might notice them struggling with less one-on-one attention. If your pet is very aware of noise, the sounds of a baby or a young person might be unsettling.
And any pets that are anxious, or particularly sensitive to new people, could need more time and support to adjust. In this situation, it can help to get advice from a veterinarian or veterinary behavioral professional, and start developing a plan.
Next: make changes early
Making adjustments in advance can help your pet get used to a new routine and environment, and reduce some of the stress and uncertainty of the big arrival day.
1) Get new furniture and baby gates set up in advance
This helps your pet get used to objects over time, rather than a lot of new changes and a different house setup all happening at once. If possible, try and avoid making any other big changes on the same day you bring your new family member home – this can feel like a lot for a pet.
2) Think about introducing a calming supplement
Pets that are especially sensitive to changes might benefit from WellJoy’s Calming+ supplement for Cats and for Dogs. Introduce it early on so the nutrients have time to work in your pet’s system, ready for those upcoming big changes.
3) Make sure everyone in the house understands the rules
Will your pet be allowed into the nursery? Are bedrooms now off limits? What about the furniture? Make sure the whole family knows what the plan is, and get your pet used to it – so they don’t associate any loss of access or freedom with the new arrival.
4) Preserve your pet’s peace
Amongst all the change, it’s essential your pet has an undisturbed place to retreat to. This might be a bed or crate for the dogs, or a selection of elevated places that are reserved for your cat. Cats in particular need to feel that they have the same access to resources and places to hide.
5) Begin a gradual routine adjustment
If you know that walks might be happening at different times, or attention might be given less often, it can help to introduce some of these changes beforehand. The aim is to help your pet understand that they’ll get all the same things they love from their Pet Loyalist, just on a slightly different schedule than they’re used to.
6) Desensitize your pet to baby sights and sounds
Newborns don’t just mean a change in routine, they mean a lot of new and unfamiliar things. You can help your pet get used to these gradually – maybe by playing baby-related sounds at a low volume (and then adding in some tempting treats), or by walking your dog alongside an empty stroller.
7) Practice essential training
Dog Loyalists can start reinforcing helpful behavior in advance. Make sure they have all the usual cues in place – go to your bed, settle, wait, leave it, drop it, recall – so they’re reliable and ready to go, even in busy situations.
Then: it’s time for the big day
You’re exhausted, your pet is curious – or perhaps nervous – and that first day is often a whirlwind.
The best thing to do is to keep it very simple. There’s no need to make introductions straight away; instead aim for a calm, predictable, low-pressure environment.
Dog Loyalists should try and greet the dog without a baby in their arms at first, to allow any excitement to settle. It can help to have someone holding the dog on a loose leash to let them notice or sniff from a calm distance.
Cat Loyalists should let their pet watch from whatever place they feel safest, and make sure there’s plenty of elevated spots for them to choose from.
Some pets might be interested in smelling the baby’s blanket – which should be paired with calm praise, petting and delicious treats.
Importantly: let your pet approach at their own pace and never force them to interact with a baby or young child. Face-to-face contact shouldn’t be encouraged between a dog and a baby or young child, and babies should never be placed on the floor for the dog to investigate. Similarly, cats should never be carried over to babies.
How do I know my pet is adjusting to the change?
You might notice your pet starts showing different behavior as they adapt to the new family setup.
Cats could be more watchful, more likely to hide, or curious about new furniture. It’s normal for them to be quieter or more cautious, or to sleep in different places – this doesn’t mean they dislike a new family member, just that they’re adjusting to the change in household rhythm and pace.
Dogs can sometimes become more excitable or alert, occasionally finding it harder to settle. You might notice them seeking out more attention or barking more often, and again this is part of the adjustment process.
By taking things slowly and carefully, pets will understand that life is still safe. That positive association can then begin to develop over the days and weeks to come.
It can help to include your pet in the new routine, as much as possible, to help them understand that a new family member = good things. For example, throw treats to your cat while the family is sitting calmly together, or give food puzzles to your dog when you’re doing the bedtime routine. This all builds positive associations.
If you’re noticing persistent changes like fussiness around food, repeated accidents in the house, or any territorial or aggressive behavior, then it’s time to chat to a veterinarian and a veterinary behavior professional.
Lastly, keep building that beautiful relationship
As babies and children grow their behavior can change. For some pets, the toddler stage is actually more challenging than the baby stage because they move more quickly and unpredictably. They also become much more curious about fluffy tails and tempting whiskers…
This means every pet and child interaction should always be supervised, particularly as young humans can’t read animal body language, and pets may react if startled. If pets are still unsure, it can help to use baby gates, play pens or closed doors to maintain separation.
In the long-term, find things that can let pets and children be part of the same experience but without direct contact. This could be stroller walks with your dog, teaching your child to calmly watch the cat play, encouraging them to quietly read a book in the same room, or showing them how to feed or train safely and respectfully.
And while you might dream of your new family member becoming best friends with your pet, it can be more helpful to aim for neutrality. A dog lying quietly in a room, or a cat deciding to nap nearby might not seem like a lot, but it’s the sign of a quietly blossoming friendship.
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.
