Dogs and Babies in the bed.

[Princesss04]

As you all I know I have two dogs. They both sleep in the bed with us. That is where we want them (or most of the time) LOL Anyway we are going to start trying to have a baby here pretty soon. What do we do when we have a baby. Do we leave the dogs in the bed or what. I do not want them to feel like they are beinf replaced my the baby because they are not in anyway. But I also do not want them to hurt the baby, (not on purpose) they are GREAT with kids and great with little babies. I know we are talking future stuff here but it is always nice to plan. I mean if you think they will need to be out of the bed than this is something we should start working on now so they do not feel that they are being punished when the baby comes. They nap and sleep in the bed. LOL Thanks for all your help. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...87127%3A188980
That is the bed that we have it will go right up againist our bed. What do you all think.

[Eleni]

my dog isnt allowed in the bedroom, because of the baby.

hes only known this tho since the baby came before he did

however you have 9+months to prepare the dog, maybe try transistioning them to the floor on doggy beds or mats? or even in crates if they will allow that.

if the transistion is made before the baby comes they wont feel as abandoned.

Also your pets will act up when a baby comes because you ahve less attention to lavish on them.

my cats acted snubbed for several weeks and began scratching the sofa for a bit.

a bit of extra tlc and some time solved the problem tho


good luck!

Eleni

[Eleni]

by the way one of those cradles wont last long, the baby would after just a few months need more space, my kids all used a cradle till they hit 3 months then needed more room, then they ended up in bed with us or in the crib.


Eleni

[Sneaky2006]

I wanted to comment on the bassinet idea too... they are great and we used one, but Eleni is right... they do not last long, I would say 3 months is even too long. As soon as the baby starts pulling on things is when they need a deeper crib so they can't pull themselves to the edge and fall out. So we just used one that was passed around the family, only needing it for a couple months has no wear and tear on it!
That's a nice one, BTW!

[happycats]

My cats have always slept in our room, and I knew that when I had a baby, they would drive everyone around the bend if I tried to lock them out of our room after the baby came. So my son has always slept in his own bed, in his own room, since the day he came home form the hospital. We used a baby monitor, turned up high, so we could even hear him breath.
It made the adjustment easier for all

[Princesss04]

We have a crib as well and a playpin that will raise when the baby is little. This is just what we will start the baby in so it will be easier to have he or she there to eat. I did not figure it would last long but it was so cute I had to get it. We will have the room done is all pooh (hubbys choice) I have the swing and the bouncy seat that I am sure he or she will nap in as well as the play pin. We have a lady next door that has a little baby and she lets me bring the dogs over and see it so that they will get use to hearing a baby cry, etc. So we are wanting to start now so it is not as big of a deal when the baby would get here. Becuase I do not want them to feel as if they are left out because I want them to be a big part of our babies life.

[Princesss04]

If we do end up deciding to teach them not to sleep in the bed how do we do this. I mean I do not want them to feel as if they are in trouble. Thank you all so much for all your help.

[100%doglover]

I think you have a good plan. We're expecting our first this summer and our shepherd is allowed up in bed. I wouldn't change the sleeping arrangement on her, she'd be heartbroken because she's been allowed up into bed for her entire life (she's 11 now and even has a little ramp too!). Luckily she doesn't normally spend much time with us in bed during the summer as it's too hot so I don't think she'll be up in bed often. BUT just in case I will NOT co-sleep with the baby at all because it's too risky.

So right now we have a bassinett (similar to the one you have linked) right by our bed in the corner & we have my night stand kind of tucking it in even further so there's just no way the dog could at it. We will be using the playpen/crib though during the day when we're not sleeping as well (or trying to) just in case. I will eventually move the baby to his/her own room, probably by 6-8 weeks, but you never know with these things, it may be much sooner or later!

[Prin]

Try first teaching the command "Floor" and use it more and more frequently. You can do it for good things too, like "Floor for a cookie" or "Floor for a minute" (if you have to make the bed). Try to make it a good thing and not a punishment. Or just make the bed really uncomfortable and not very roomy for the doggies and give them another more comfortable option (like a nice comfy futon with pillows-- that is where our big Boo prefers to sleep...)

Maybe it's because I am not a parent but I don't understand why the doggies can't stay. Everything I have heard was that babies shouldn't sleep in the bed with the parents because no matter how careful you try to be, you can suffocate or crush them with your body. And if your baby will be beside the bed, why can't the doggies sleep on the other side? I'm sorry if I am just clueless...

[Dahlia]

Well, if the baby sleeps in a crib, not in the bed with you, then it shouldn't be a problem for the dogs to stay in your bed. We personally dont' want the dog in our bed, so she sleeps in a crate beside our bed and the baby sleeps in his crib at the foot of our bed. The only time the baby sleeps with us is when he's sick, because he cries whenever we put him down and his stuffy nose causes him to sleep lightly.

[Princesss04]

The baby will not be in the bed with us but in the bassinet with the side pulled down so it is flush with the bed. So as long as the dogs would not sleep on that side do you think it would be okay. The baby will not be on our bed but in his or hers with the side down. I have never been a mommy before that is why I am here trying to get ideas because I am clueless as well.

[Writing4Fun]

Hi there Princess. Here's my 2-cents...

I wouldn't keep the side down on the bassinette all the time, only pull it down for feeding. Personally, I'd be terrified that the baby (as he/she gets bigger) would wedge himself between the bassinette and my bed and get hurt while I'm asleep. Then again, my kids were already too big and active for a bassinette from the day they were born (I apparently gave birth to mutants)!

IMHO, you should probably get the pups into their own beds starting now. The only reason I say this is because I'm a paranoid Mom and always had images of changing baby's diaper on the bed, and puppy comes bounding in - totally innocently - jumps up on the bed, and lands right on baby's head (imagining the most horrific outcome of any situation is all part of being a Mom - or maybe I'm just wierd - I dunno).

Get them each their own beds. I got Phoebe's at Costco for $35, and it is waaayyyy to big for her, but she loves it (although at night, she prefers to sleep on the pile of dirty laundry on my side of the bed ). Start slowly, making their beds a wonderful place to be. For example, teach them the "on your mat" command (or "bed" or whatever you want to use), and give them their absolute favourite treat ONLY when they obey. Do it only for a few minutes a day, gradually increasing the time until you can put them there at night and they at least stay there until you're asleep .

Good luck!

[coppperbelle]

I too was a paranoid mom. I remember my doctor telling me to never sleep with the baby in my bed. He told me a story of a mom who fell asleep, rolled over on her baby and suffocated it. I realize you said you didn't plan on the baby sleeping with you but I just wanted to offer my two cents.

That said you will want to keep the baby's area as clean as possible especially in the first few months. While I know we all love our dogs they do sometimes do some nasty things. If they are up on the beds and you put the baby there to change him/her....

I would suggest getting them use to their own beds now. It will be easier when the baby is born.

Good luck

[Dahlia]

Princess04, is it a bassinet or a cosleeper that hooks on to the side of the bed? I've never seen a bassinet with a side that goes down, only cribs. Unless it's a cosleeper, I wouldn't leave baby in there with the side down, as someone else said there's a risk of baby getting wedged between the bed and the bassinet. Not trying to tell ya what to do, just offering my 2 cents, as well. Here's a great website where you can get great answers from parents.

http://www.parents.com/community/boards/index.jspa

[raingirl]

OK..I have to ask...

for all those who let their animals in bed...how do you find time (or space) to make babies??

[Lizzie]

hahah! I was wondering that myself...It all seems a bit crowded...however I saw a family on Dr. Phil once who actually slept with their kids AND as soon as the kiddes went to sleep the parents would *do it* with the kids right there! It was SOOO wrong! hehehe

[Sneaky2006]

Good question raingirl, thanks for asking!
If Yukon would be in our bed... I would not be in the mood for ANY kind of baby making! Even if we'd kick him out, the hair, dirt... I couldn't 'do' anything in those conditions.

[Prin]

My doggies like to be on the floor for those times. But sleeping is sleeping... I mean if the dogs were on the bed all day, there could be trouble...

[Princesss04]

Meater and Chino are out of the room or on the floor they are not in the bed at those moments. I change the sheets so often that we do not see alot of dog hair in the bed. I guess you get use to it. We did leave the door open one day and lets say "in the middle of everything going on " here come Meater on the bed. Talk about mood killer. LOL So we always remeber shut the door or whatever room we are in. LOL All Meater can say is Newlyweds. LOL

[Sneaky2006]

Princess... have you seen the Little Suzy Zoo line of products for the nursery??
If we ever have another baby, that is what our nursery is going to be... it's so different, we had Disney Babies the first time around, everyone had that!
Here is a pic of the characters... I LOVE that duck!

[happycats]

My answer to hair in bed is; I make the bed as soon as I get out of it, so no hair on the sheets or pillows. And duvet covers are a pet lovers dream, I even have them on regular comforters, I just take them off and wash them every time I wash the sheets, and you can always change colours (to match your pets, so hair won't be as noticeable ) And they are soooo easy to make if you don't have the money to buy them. I love Duvet covers, you never see fur on our bed as I wash sheets and duvet covers once a week, so fur never has a chance to build up!!
As for "doing it" . Well the cats are only on the bed when they want to sleep, so they have no desire to sleep with any kind of commotion going on on the bed !

[Princesss04]

Originally Posted by Sneaky2006

Princess... have you seen the Little Suzy Zoo line of products for the nursery??
If we ever have another baby, that is what our nursery is going to be... it's so different, we had Disney Babies the first time around, everyone had that!
Here is a pic of the characters... I LOVE that duck!

They are sweet. I like the duck as well. I love the bedding that the company makes. Justin wanted to go with the Winnie the Pooh stuff so I was like okay. I like it as well. I can not wait I am so exicited. When I do get pregnant we will need a prego topic place becuase I will have alot of questions. LOL

[Princesss04]

That is how we are... we wash the sheets every weekend. I wash them all on Saturday. If not it would not be very romantic with Meater and Chino up there or watching. LOL