It ain't that RUFF! Introducing Your Newborn to Your Dogs

If you’re anything like me, before babies you had pets. In my case, it was a lot of pets. I blame the nurturer in me, I just can’t resist an animal! So when I became pregnant with my daughter she was already coming in to a family of five - two parents, two large dogs and one turtle. They were our first children and we treated them as such; so a lot of planning went into the first introduction and although our oldest children took a little while to warm up to their human sister, they are now best friends! Here are my 4 tips for introducing your four legged babies to the newest additions. Before you even go in to labor let the dogs explore all the new stuff. Our house had transformed a lot before our daughter even made her debut. A whole room of stuff the dogs had never seen, a bassinet in ‘their’ (our) bedroom, a swing in the living room, a stroller in the hall. It was A LOT of stuff. So we let them interact with it all as much as they wanted in hopes they wouldn’t get jealous of the baby getting to have stuff we won’t even let them near and trust me, these dogs feel jealousy! Take an extra blanket with you to the hospital (one you won’t be upset with losing), wrap up your bundle of joy in it for a little while then let your significant other or another family member give it to the pups before you even go home. This will get them used to the smell of the baby so it won’t be a completely foreign smell when they meet. In our case the dogs sniffed it and then played tug-of-war with it until it was nothing more than shredded fabric, but hey, it still did its job! Go slowly! We were lucky enough to have family members babysitting our pups while we were in the hospital so we actually brought our daughter back to an empty house and we left it that way for a few days. Routines are hard enough to start with just a newborn! However, when the dogs returned we made sure they got love from both their parents before even entering the house (plus we had missed them!) then on leashes we let them inside where they (almost) immediately discovered the new addition quietly swinging away. We chose the swing because it was elevated and we were told from a lot of people that dogs get upset if their parents are the ones holding the new baby. Remember, you were their parents first! Let them sniff. It was so hard to not have a heart attack and pull him away the moment our nearly 80-pound dog stuck his nose in the swing to get a whiff of the tiny (barely 6-pound) human invading their space but I watched carefully and let it happen (with a terrified look on my face I’m sure!) and just as he would with another dog, he gave her a once over and went about his business.

Cesar Millan-- The famed " dog Whisperer" Adds, Our dogs are very in tune with us, so with an event as monumental as a pregnancy, your dog has already sensed that something is up. But just because she has picked up on the new feelings hanging in the air, doesn't mean that she understands what they mean. Here are a few tips for preparing your dog for the new arrival. Focus on leadership. Nine months is more than enough time for you and your pet to work through most issues and smooth out any unwanted habits, and for you to establish yourself as the unwavering pack leader. If necessary, hire a professional to work with you. You will appreciate the work you put in now when you bring your newborn home to a calm, well-behaved dog. Be aware of your energy. A pregnancy affects the entire household. You may feel excited, anxious, or worried. Remember, your dog will mirror your emotions. Claim your baby's scent. Bring an item that contains your baby's scent, such as a burp cloth, from the hospital before bringing home the baby. During this exercise, it is crucial that you set clear boundaries. Challenge the dog to sniff from a distance, while you are holding the item. By doing so, you are communicating to your dog that the item is yours and then giving permission for the dog to sniff. "This new item belongs to me, and you will need to follow my rules when around it." This helps start the process of creating respect for the baby. Establish boundaries around the nursery. I recommend starting with the nursery off-limits. Condition your dog to understand that there is an invisible barrier that she may not cross without your permission. Eventually, you can allow your dog to explore and sniff certain things in the room with your supervision. Then you decide when she needs to leave. Repeat this activity a few times before the baby arrives. This will let your dog know that this room belongs to its pack leader and must be respected at all times. Control the introduction. Start by taking your dog on a long walk. Be sure to drain all of your dog's energy. Before returning, wait at the door step; make sure your dog is in a calm-submissive state before inviting her in. Upon entering, your dog will instantly know there is a new scent in the house. If you have already introduced the scent, it will be somewhat familiar. The mother or father holding the baby must be in a completely calm state. The dog should be allowed to sniff the baby, but at a respectful distance. During this first meeting, do not bring the baby too close. Eventually, the dog can be allowed to get closer and closer to the baby. By doing this, you are teaching the dog to respect the baby as another pack leader. Teach your baby. Once your child is in the exploratory state, it is important to supervise all interactions between him or her and the dog. This is a great opportunity to teach your child not to bother the dog, yank her tail, etc. These lessons on mutual respect cannot begin early enough. Too many children have inadvertently provoked an otherwise peaceful dog, simply because they were unsupervised or their parents had not given them proper instruction. Don't forget the dog. A dog does not need toys or special attention to feel important; you simply need to maintain the routine, providing daily walks and consistent leadership. This will help your dog feel secure and allow her to relax about the new addition to the family. Forget breed. Don't assume your dog will (or will not) pose a problem based on breed alone. Sure, babies have been bitten by Rottweilers and pit bulls, but they have also been injured by labs, chows, and mixed breeds. A baby in Rhode Island was killed by a cute little Pomeranian. What is the key? Leadership. Be honest with yourself. Can you control your dog at all times in all situations? Your child's safety comes first. If, after working with a professional and on your own, you are still not 100% confident about the safety of your baby with your dog, then finding your dog another home to protect the well-being of your child and pet is a step you may have to take. Remember to always keep an eye on your baby while a dog (or any animal) is around, even the most gentle dog can slip up! Good luck with ALL your babies! Written by: BPG Staff Blogger: B Bradley, Super-mom

Homemade Baby Food is a Breeze

Homemade Baby Food is a Breeze

I am sure most moms (including me) can list a thousand and one excuses as to why they do not make their own baby food but if any of them are how hard it is or how much time it takes then you don’t have an excuse anymore! Making your own baby food is extremely easy! Even if you have to use the blender or food processor you already own and need to steam your fruits and veggies in an old-fashion pot - the process is still surprisingly easy. However, if you invest in a Baby Brezza (or one of the other baby food processors - Baby Posh Garage usually has them available) your steps are cut in half. Just cut up the the fruits or vegetables you want to make, throw it in the Brezza’s container and the Baby Brezza steams and blends it for you! It’s actually pretty amazing and made me feel completely obsolete but until they come up with a machine that feeds and changes my baby too I guess I’m not out of a job!  

You can mix whatever ingredients you want. Pre-packaged baby foods come in wacky combinations (I even came across a bizarre mix of green beans, raisins and pears!) and our children gobble it up like it’s their first piece of cake so this is the time to be creative! However, if your looking for a few recipes to get you started I have included a couple of known winners below!

Bonus tip: If you have extra, just scoop it into ice cube trays, pop the tray into the freezer and as soon as the cubes are frozen (usually about an hour or two) pile them into a ziploc bag or container and just put it back in the freezer. When you are ready to use a cube or two just leave it out for an hour or microwave for 15-30 seconds (depending on the strength of your microwave).

** ALWAYS check with your pediatrician before starting new foods **

Carrot and Pear Puree (Great for babies just starting solids!)

1. Peel and dice 3 medium carrots

2. Peel and dice 1 small pear

3. Steam until tender and blend until desired consistency (if using a Baby Brezza set for 15 minutes and walk away!)

** You can always stir in some water, breast milk or formula to make a thinner puree!

Sweet Potato, Parsnip, Apple and Cinnamon Puree

Ingredients

1/2 parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 small apple (or half a large apple), peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 teaspoon cinnamon (can always add a little more to taste!)
Instructions

Steam all ingredients (minus the cinnamon) until they are tender

Blend all ingredients (add the cinnamon) until smooth
(if using a Baby Brezza combine steps 1 & 2 and put all in the container together and set for 20 minutes and walk away!)

Serve to your hungry baby :)

Written by: BPG Staff Blogger: B Bradley, Super-mom