Meditation

Keep calm and meet baby

The most important part of introducing pup to baby’s sights, sounds and smells is to get them to lay down and relax. Dim the lights, tell them to stay and calm your pup before introducing anything baby-related.

We call this doggie meditation.

Sounds

Baby will make a lot of new noises your pup has never heard before. New sounds can be jarring for dogs, so introduce them to baby sounds in a positive way before your little one arrives. Relax your pup with some doggie meditation, then gradually introduce them to each noise using our intro to baby sounds guided meditation. (Scroll down to find it!)

Smell

Baby brings a bunch of new smells for pup, and their expert snout will be highly sensitive to all of them. Give them a sniff-peek into baby’s unique scent before they meet. Wrap your newborn in a cuddly blanket at the hospital, then bring the blanket home for pup to investigate before baby arrives.

Routine

The more structure you can give pup prior to baby’s arrival, the better. Help prepare pup by creating a regular feeding schedule that will work for you when baby comes. You can also start walking pup with your stroller pre-baby, so your pupper can get used to having a new walking buddy.

Objects

Give pup a proper intro to all baby’s new toys, tools and thingamabobs. While your pup is calm, allow them to check each item out with their eyes, ears and expert snout. Then, redirect their focus back to you by saying your pup’s name. (Bonus points if you offer praise or a treat for staying calm and attentive!)

First-Meeting

Meeting baby is a BIG deal, and it’s normal for pup to feel some pre-meeting jitters. As one family member relaxes your pup with doggie meditation, approach slowly with baby. Read your pup’s signals every step of the way—if they’re too excited, keep baby above pup’s level or at a distance until they’re calm.