A new baby creates a whirlwind of excitement, activity and change in a household. And it also affects the pets at home. Many people are wary of letting pets near a baby because they fear health problems. Doctors, however, disagree. “All you need to keep the baby safe is a little effort,” says Dr Venkata Rao Abbineni, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Let’s start with the most prevalent myth. The presence of a pet in your house can make your baby more susceptible to asthma. “Whether a person gets asthma or not entirely depends on him and a pet can’t be blamed. In fact, if a baby has been brought up around pets, he or she will be more immune to such problems once they grow up,” says Dr Abbineni. For children sensitive to dog and cat hair, doctors suggest that the pet be brushed twice daily so that there is no excess hair flying around. “If a pet is brushed and clean, it can’t be harmful in any way,” says Dr Abbineni.

Here are a few rules to keep your baby safe:
*Don’t allow your pet to sleep in, or even climb on, your baby’s crib. A particularly friendly pet might interfere with a baby’s breathing by curling up in the cradle or licking the baby’s face.
*Once your baby is mobile, he will probably try to play with the pet. While that’s not harmful, doctors suggest the baby not be kept around the pet at all times. As a part of baby-proofing your home, you should find a place for the pet that is inaccessible to the baby. There is, however, no need to abandon the pet.
*Keep your pets well-groomed and clean to reduce the risk that they will carry diseases, fleas, or ticks.
*Help your pet get adjusted to your newborn. Once the pet is relaxed and familiar with the new entry, it will come to accept the baby as a part of the family.