Pets and a new baby: preparing your dog or cat and staying safe

You can bring a baby home to a house with a dog or cat, and plenty of families do. What makes it go smoothly is preparing your pet during pregnancy, so new routines, out-of-bounds rooms and baby noises aren't all sprung on them at once. Once your baby arrives, two rules matter most: never leave your baby alone with a pet, and keep pets out of the room where your baby sleeps.

If you're pregnant, the main hygiene point is avoiding cat poo, because of an infection called toxoplasmosis; you don't need to give up your cat. And if you keep reptiles, the CDC says children under 5 shouldn't touch them.

When should I start preparing my pet for a baby?

As early as you can. Victoria's We Are Family program, run by the state government in Australia, says to start as soon as you know a baby is coming and to begin new routines early, so your pets are used to them well before the birth. Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests a vet check during pregnancy, and making sure vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are up to date.

Getting a dog ready

1. Brush up on training. We Are Family says your dog should reliably obey "sit", "stay" and "drop", and RSPCA Australia's Knowledgebase adds lying down and coming when called.
2. Practise with the pram. Walk your dog on a lead beside the pram until they keep pace. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says never to tie the lead to the pram.
3. Play baby sounds and share baby smells. Play recordings of a baby crying, turning the volume up over time and reassuring your dog if they seem anxious, and let them sniff baby lotion on your hands.
4. Set boundaries now. Put up baby gates, and teach your dog to settle quietly on a mat or in a crate.
5. Build in some alone time. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests more time alone during pregnancy, and We Are Family says pets shouldn't come to link the baby with being shut out.

Getting a cat ready

UK charity Cats Protection says to teach your cat early that the nursery is off limits, and to discourage them from sleeping in the cot even before the baby arrives. We Are Family's cat guide suggests wearing baby lotion for a few weeks beforehand, playing baby sounds quietly at first, fitting a screen door to the nursery, and giving your cat a safe place to escape to.

How do I introduce my dog or cat to the baby?

Take it slowly and don't force it. RSPCA Australia's steps for dogs:

1. Scent first. Before they meet, let your dog sniff something your baby has worn, such as a piece of clothing or a wrap, and reward calm interest.
2. Meet on a lead, somewhere quiet. Hold your baby, stay relaxed and let your dog choose whether to come closer. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby suggests having another adult there who can take the dog away if needed.
3. Watch for stress. If your dog shows signs of stress or over-excitement, end the meeting and try another day.
4. Off lead only when relaxed. Move on to carefully supervised time off the lead only once your dog is very calm around the baby.

For cats, We Are Family suggests letting your cat sniff your baby's foot if they're interested, and Cats Protection says to make the introduction in a neutral space and let your cat leave or hide if they want to.

Keep some one-on-one time for your pet each day; Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says they're likely to feel left out.

Why should a baby never be left alone with a pet?

Any dog can bite, and babies can't move away or protect themselves. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says children aged 0 to 4 are at the greatest risk of being hospitalised with dog-attack injuries, and that pets and babies should never be left alone, "no matter how well trained or well behaved the animal may be". We Are Family's dog-attack facts say 7 in 10 of these injuries happen in the child's own home or at a family member's or friend's house, which suggests most children are bitten by a dog they know. Young children are usually bitten on the face, neck and head.

We Are Family's rule is actively supervise or securely separate:

• Active supervision means your attention is on the dog and baby, and you're close enough to step in straight away. Glancing over from another room doesn't count.
• Secure separation means they can't reach each other. Two barriers are ideal, such as a closed door with a baby gate as back-up, and the dog must be securely separated while your child is asleep.
• Give your pet a child-free zone where they can rest undisturbed, as well as a pet-free zone for your baby.

The same applies to cats. The CDC's advice on cats is to always supervise children around cats to prevent bites and scratches. We Are Family's page for parents of young children notes that once your baby crawls, you'll also need to stop them reaching the pet, its bed and its food.

How do I keep pets out of my baby's sleep space?

Your baby's safest place to sleep is on their back in their own cot or bassinet, in your room for at least the first 6 months, day and night, with nothing soft or loose in it. Red Nose's six safe sleep recommendations in Australia also say to keep your baby's head and face uncovered and keep them smoke-free. See safe sleep for the full guidance.

Pets don't belong in that space:

• Keep pets out of the room where your baby sleeps. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says not to let pets into the baby's room or wherever the baby will sleep, and to close the door, because cats look for the warmest, cosiest spot, which could be the bassinet or cot. As your baby sleeps in your room, this usually means your bedroom becomes pet-free.
• No pets in bed with your baby. The Lullaby Trust says not to bring other children or pets into bed with you and your baby.
• Keep pets off the cot and pram. Cats Protection says to let your cat investigate new baby furniture and prams but not climb on them, then keep them shut away.

What about a cat net for the pram?

A Cats Protection magazine feature from 2012 suggests a safe cot or pram net, pulled taut so your cat can't use it as a bed, alongside keeping the nursery shut while your baby sleeps. Cats Protection's current advice focuses on keeping the nursery off limits and supervising. If you use a pram net, fit it securely and keep the pram in sight; a net doesn't replace supervision, and indoors a closed door is more reliable.

Can I keep my cat while I'm pregnant?

Yes. The worry is toxoplasmosis, a parasite infection. The NHS toxoplasmosis page says it's found in the poo of infected cats, in soil contaminated by cat poo, and in undercooked meat. If you catch it while pregnant, it can cause miscarriage or, if it spreads to your baby, serious complications. But the NHS also says you can't catch it from stroking a cat or having a cat as a pet. Cats Protection's pregnancy advice describes the risk from cats as low, and Australia's We Are Family program says there's no need to give up your cat just because you're pregnant.

To lower the risk while you're pregnant:

1. Let someone else do the litter tray. The CDC says pregnant women should not clean litter boxes if possible. If there's no one else, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands afterwards (NHS, CDC).
2. Empty it every day. The CDC's toxoplasmosis prevention page says the parasite doesn't become infectious until 1 to 5 days after the cat passes it, so daily cleaning removes it first.
3. Wear gloves for gardening and wash your hands afterwards, as the NHS advises. Cats often use garden soil as a toilet.
4. Cover sandpits so cats can't use them, as the CDC suggests.
5. Feed your cat commercial cat food or well-cooked food, not raw or undercooked meat (CDC).

The NHS also lists undercooked meat as a source, so cook meat thoroughly.

How do I keep things clean with pets and a baby?

Pets can pass on germs and worms, and babies explore with their hands and mouths. The CDC's pages on dogs and cats, and We Are Family's page on diseases from pets, suggest:

• Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching pets, their bowls or their poo, and before preparing food or bottles.
• Pick up dog poo straight away, even in your own garden, especially where children will play (CDC). We Are Family says worm eggs in pet faeces can contaminate backyards and sandpits, so keep pets wormed and cover sandpits.
• Don't let pets lick your baby's face, and wash your child's hands after they touch a pet (We Are Family).
• Keep litter trays out of reach of children (Cats Protection) and away from where food is prepared (CDC).
• Keep your baby's feeding things out of your pet's reach, and store pet food separately (Cats Protection magazine).

What are the signs a dog is stressed or might bite?

Dogs give warning signs when they're anxious or frightened, but they're easy to miss. We Are Family's guide to dog and cat body language says to read the signs together rather than one at a time. A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog.

RSPCA Australia lists turning away and lip licking as stress signals. If you see them, calmly end the interaction and give your dog rest and space.

To lower the risk of a bite, leave dogs alone when they're eating, sleeping or in their bed, or playing with their own toys, as We Are Family and the CDC advise. As your baby becomes a toddler, stop them grabbing fur, pulling ears or tails, or hugging the dog around the neck. If your dog growls, snaps or seems worried around the baby, keep them securely separated and get help early from a vet with experience in dog behaviour or a qualified dog behaviourist (RSPCA Australia).

For cats, We Are Family describes a frightened cat as crouching low with ears flat and whiskers pulled back; a cat that can't escape may scratch or bite.

Are reptiles safe around babies and young children?

The CDC says reptiles and amphibians often carry Salmonella in their gut, even when they look clean and healthy, and it can spread from them, their tanks and their water. Its advice:

• Children under 5 should not handle or touch reptiles or amphibians or their environments, because they're at higher risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.
• Consider another pet if there are young children in the household.
• Keep reptiles and their equipment out of the kitchen, don't let them roam freely through the house, and wash your hands with soap and running water after handling them or cleaning their tank.

When to get help

Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) or go to the nearest emergency department if your baby has a bite with bleeding you can't stop or a large or deep wound (the NHS guide to animal bites says to go to A&E for these). Also call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) if your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher after a bite or scratch.

Get medical help today if a dog or cat bite or scratch has broken your baby's skin, especially on the face, head, hands or feet, or the wound looks hot, swollen or red, leaks fluid or smells. First clean it with soap and warm water, pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing. The CDC notes cat bites and scratches can spread germs even when they don't look deep.

If you're pregnant, get medical help today (an urgent GP appointment or a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US)), or call your midwife, if you have symptoms that could be toxoplasmosis, as the NHS advises. Most people have none, but some get flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, headache, sore throat, aching body, swollen glands, tiredness, or feeling or being sick.

Talk to your vet if your pet seems stressed by the changes, and get prompt help from a vet with behaviour expertise or a qualified behaviourist if your dog growls, snaps or stares at your baby. Keep them securely separated until then.