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Essential Gear for Expecting Dog Parents
While cute baby clothes may be the go-to gift, practical items like a hands-free leash or a white noise machine will be your true lifesavers.
1. Courses
Get started on the right foot with Dog Meets Baby Courses. From The First Meeting to Dog Body Language, Dominika will set you up for success with your dog and baby.
- The First Meeting: sets your dog up for success with an easy, step-by-step process for a safe first introduction.
- Preparation Course: eases stress and prepares both you and your dog, with training and fourth trimester modules.
- Bundle: save money while getting the training and support you need to feel confident and prepared.
- Dog Body Language: learn to speak dog, identify signs of stress, and keep your baby safe.
- Ultimate Bundle: all courses, so you're fully prepared from pre-baby to preschooler.
2. Books
In our house, we've read countless books together! Reading to your children from early on creates such special moments, and as they grow, they'll have their own favorite dog characters to request over and over. Books also make thoughtful baby registry gifts, they're keepsakes that families treasure and return to again and again.
Lola and the Bubble Mission: written by Dominika, the founder of Dog Meets Baby. This picture book teaches the Bubble Concept for respecting dogs' personal space.
Where's Spot?: my children's favorite interactive lift-the-flap book, with sturdy pages and a simple story that's great for building positive associations with dogs.
Tails Are Not for Pulling: teaches toddlers how to be gentle with pets through simple language and colorful illustrations, focused on what to do rather than just what not to do.
Dogs First Baby: tells the story from the dog's perspective as a new baby joins the family, great for preparing older siblings too.
3. Before Baby Arrives: Pre-Baby Prep
Prepare your dog for your baby's arrival by introducing them to essential baby items. We recommend starting in the 3rd trimester or earlier if your dog needs more training. The Dog Meets Baby Courses provide in-depth training techniques and tips on effectively using these items to ensure a smooth transition.
Our top 3 items for pre-baby training:
- Shwally Play Mat - non-toxic and reversible, made by a family with two kids and a dog of their own. 5% off with code DOGMEETS_BABY.
- SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy - the heartbeat and heat pack genuinely calm anxious dogs through all the change happening around them.
- Solly Baby Wrap - Wirecutter's Best Wrap pick, and the earliest carrier you can start practicing with.
Shop the rest of the pre-baby prep categories:
4. Nursery Setup That Works With a Dog in the House
You finally get the baby down. Forty minutes of pacing, and she's asleep. Then the doorbell rings, your dog loses it, and you're starting all over again. White noise machines, air purifiers, and a doorbell that rings straight to your phone instead of through the house all help protect everyone's sleep, yours included.
Our top 3 items for the nursery setup:
- Hatch Rest+ - our community's most-recommended light-and-sound machine, for any age.
- Coway Airmega - 4-stage filtration that doubles as white noise; we personally own five.
- Ring Video Doorbell - routes alerts to your phone instead of a chime, which removes the single most common trigger for reactive barking.
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5. Walking With a Baby and a Dog at the Same Time
Walking your dog after the baby arrives doesn't have to be stressful. We recommend practicing leash training with both your dog and stroller before the baby comes. Here are some essential items to make your walks smoother and safer.
Our top 3 items for walking:
- Ruffwear Front Range Harness - two leash-clip options, so you can adjust for however your dog is walking that day.
- EzyDog Road Runner Leash - hands-free and shock-absorbing, a personal and team favorite. 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY.
- Bark Bistro Treats - peanut-butter based, limited-ingredient, mess-free for stroller or baby-wearing walks. 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY.
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6. Keeping Your Home Clean With a Dog and a Newborn
If you didn't mind dog hair before, after having your baby, you might find that it drives you nuts. That was me. Here's a selection of tools and vacuums that help tremendously to keep your home dog hair-free and lower your stress level.
Our top 3 items for managing dog hair and stains:
- Dyson V15 Detect - our team's daily driver, 60 minutes of run time, genuinely handles dog hair.
- eufy BoostIQ RoboVac - set it to run during nap time, we personally run two.
- FURminator has saved my sanity over and over on long, double-coated dogs.
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7. Boundaries: Gates and Playpens
Gates are key when baby-proofing your house before your baby becomes mobile. You can create dog and baby zones using gates and keep the tempting baby items away. You can separate your dog's resources that your dog might be protective of or keep your dog safe from your grabby and unpredictable baby.
Our top 3 items for boundaries:
- Regalo Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate - a Dog Meets Baby team favorite for great price and versatility to create different spaces.
- Toddleroo by North States 3-in-1 Superyard - a personal favorite, we've owned and used the wooden version for 7+ years.
- Regalo Easy Step Walk Thru Baby Gate - the most popular of all the gates, we have it too, it fits most doorways with good value for money.
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8. Keeping Your Dog's Brain Busy So You Can Focus on the Baby
Puzzle toys, chews, and snuffle mats are a great way to keep your dog occupied while you nurse, during naps, when you are recovering after childbirth, when it's too hot or cold outside, or when your dog is watching 'Baby TV' (a simple technique to help your dog get acclimated to baby's milestones).
Our top 3 items for enrichment:
- West Paw Toppl - my #1 puzzle toy, well made, good for moderate chewers, use with or without a plug. 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY.
- High Tail Hikes Snuffle Mat - soft, durable fabric with hidden pockets to hide treats. 10% off with code DOGMEETSBABY10.
- Mind Game of the Month - the kind of family business you want to support, $1 goes to shelters for every box. 20% off with code DOGMEETSBABY20.
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9. Safe in the Car With a Dog and a Baby
Car safety is essential not just for your baby but also for your dog. Dogs can become dangerous projectiles in an accident. Keeping your dog secure protects everyone in the car, avoiding the risks associated with a loose dog and baby in the event of a crash or being next to each other in the back row.
Our top 3 items for car safety:
- EzyDog Drive Safety Travel Dog Car Harness - well made and easy to put on once it's initially set up, fits dogs 15 to 65+ lbs. 10% off with code dogmeetsbaby.
- Diggs Enventur Travel Kennel - a Dog Meets Baby favorite, cozy inside and very sturdy, our dog calms down instantly. 15% off with code DOGMEETSBABY.
- Sherpa Forma Frame Carrier - great value for money, durable yet comfortable, airline-approved for dogs up to 35 lbs.
Shop the rest of the car safety items:
You've Got This
Every category on this list exists because something specific goes wrong when a dog and a new baby share a home without it. You don't need all of it at once, so start with whatever matches where you and your dog are right now, whether that's the third trimester or week two home from the hospital.
If you want more support along the way, our Dog Meets Baby Courses walk you through the training and the mindset shifts this list can't cover on its own.
