What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff

(and a tempting one), and both food and bowls (including water bowls) can become contaminated with dangerous bacteria, like salmonella. Cat litter should also be kept in a baby-free zone, and if that will require a change of place, make the move now. In general, cats and dogs should have a “safe” space (which could be a room or a crate) where they can retreat for a respite from baby.
    â€¢ Sniff out jealousy. After delivery, but before you introduce your new baby to your fur baby, bring in an unwashed piece of clothing your newborn has worn (baby’s nursery beanie, for instance) and encourage sniffing. Bring on the hugs and treats so that the scent becomes a happy association. When you bring baby home, greet your pet first—and then let the meet-and-greet (including sniffing of your well-swaddled, well-protected newborn) begin. Reward that first sniff with praise, a treat, and a pat for your pet. Try to stay calm and avoid scolding.
    â€¢ Include the furry new big sib. Scratch your cat while you nurse. Take your dog on especially long walks with baby in tow. Reward gentle behavior around the baby with treats.
    â€¢ Be protective, but not overprotective. Allow supervised visits of baby spaces and supervised sniffing of baby and baby’s things—protecting your baby from suddenly snappish behavior but without setting off jealous stress signals that could trigger aggression.
    â€¢ Don’t take any chances. If your pet seems hostile toward the new arrival, keep the two safely separated until those feelings have been worked out.
    For more tips on prepping your pet, go to whattoexpect.com/pet-intro .
Choosing a Baby Doctor
    Feel like you’ve practically been living at your ob’s office (or on the phone with the ob’s office) over the 9 months of pregnancy? Well, that’s nothing, baby—at least, nothing compared with the time you’ll spend with your baby’s doctor (or on the phone or email with your baby’s doctor) over the next year. Even the healthiest baby needs a lot of health care—from well-baby checkups to regular immunizations. Factor in those inevitable first sniffles and tummy aches, and you’ll see why your baby’s doctor will play such an important role in your little one’s first year—and in your first year as a parent.
    And beyond … potentially, way beyond. After all, the doctor you choose could be seeing baby—and you—through some 18 years of runny noses, earaches, sore throats, upset stomachs, bumps and bruises, and more. You won’t be living with your baby’s doctor during those years (though there will be times, particularly nights and weekends, when you’ll wish you were), but you’ll still want him or her to be someone you feel comfortable and compatible with—someone you’d feel at ease asking questions that aren’t easy, someone who’s equally patient with both tiny patients and their nervous parents.
    Still looking for Baby Doctor Right? Start your search here.
    Health Insurance for a Healthy Family
    Think health insurance is complicated and expensive? Get ready for about eight more pounds of complications and expense. If you’re already covered under a family plan, adding your new bundle is as easy as making a phone call once baby is born (just don’t forget to make that call, since coverage for baby doesn’t kick in automatically). If you’re covered by a plan but only as an individual, you’ll need to do a little more legwork to figure out how switching to a family plan might impact your bottom line—switching from an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) to a POS (Point of Service plan) or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), for instance, will likely increase your costs—and which type of coverage will best suit your growing family’s needs.
    Speak to someone in human resources where you work, call your insurance company directly, or check