Today, pets are often considered part of the family. Their birthdays are celebrated, they sleep in the bed, they lounge on the couch, they get playdates and daily walks, and overall are treated like human children.

But what happens when an actual human child enters the picture? With all the energy and time it takes to care for a newborn, the pets in the house are bound to feel a little left out. But there are steps soon-to-be parents can take to ensure the smoothest transition possible.

First, it’s important that if the pregnant mother-to-be is the person most connected to the pet that she start distancing herself a little bit at a time. If she feeds the pet, have her husband do that chore. If the pet sleeps with her, start transitioning the pet to another area. If the pet sleeps on her lap, start not allowing access to that area.

Second, bring other babies around the pets as much as possible. If the couple have friends or family members with newborns, invite them over often to get the pets used to the sounds and smells of babies. If this is not an option, download the sounds babies make and play them occasionally throughout the day.

Third, when the couple starts accumulating items for the baby such as a crib and stroller, set those things up in the house to get pets used to the new items. Allow them to smell diapers, baby clothes, and anything else they might want to explore. If you limit their exposure, they may have hard feelings toward the baby when he or she arrives.

Taking some early steps can ensure that the first baby in the family – the family pet – greets the newest member of the family – the baby – with open paws and no hard feelings.