Dog parents about to become human parents often ask how to keep everyone happy and safe once the new baby arrives.

Here's a key part of the answer that you can implement easily and right away before your baby's arrival:

Manage your space to set up both the baby and your dog for success from day one and as your baby grows!

How to keep babies and dogs separate, but together

As both a certified professional dog trainer and Family Paws educator (training for family/dog interactions), I get lots of questions about how to keep our dog-kids central to our lives smoothly and safely as new babies and then young children become part of the family.

Solutions for these questions are not only my work life as a dog trainer and family educator -- they're important in my own home life full of dogs and children. Let's jump in with some answers and pro tips to help you navigate your growing family!

You can also watch me take you through these solutions and pro tips in the accompanying video below.

Your dog and baby questions answered

1) Can your dog still sleep in the bedroom with you?

That's often one of the first questions new dog parents ask. When your dog has been sleeping in your bedroom or on your bed, what now? One sacrosanct rule of Family Paws education, and with good reason, is: "Baby and dog on the scene...parent is in between."

Try this with your dog and baby

Translating that into sleeping arrangements means there is always a physically awake person between your baby and your dog -- and/or dependable physical barriers. If your baby will be sleeping in the baby's room, you're fine as is with your dog in your room.

If your baby is sleeping in your room, you want to be sure your baby is in a crib with high sides your pup can't reach over as well as slats your dog can't reach through. The crib can't be right next to the bed where your dog could use it to access the crib. You'll want to make sure your dog cannot reach your baby in any way.

Another thing to consider based on how your individual dog responds: will you disturb your dog if you're up with your baby through the night? That might mean you want a quiet corner spot for your dog in your room or maybe you do want to find another room you can make appealing to your dog.

If you do want to make this kind of change in your dog's routine:

Start well before the baby arrives to create a new habit by setting up a super comfy bed in another room with things your dog loves: favorite toys, treats, a chew or bone. Or if you have older children or another family member staying in your home who your dog already loves, you might try encouraging your dog to sleep with them in their room.

Start establishing your new routine before the baby comes home to make sure your dog is comfortable. Later when your baby is ready to sleep in the baby's room, your dog can always return to yours.

All these strategies are designed to keep your baby safe, your dog feeling happy, included, and loved, and give you peace of mind so you can get much-needed sleep!

2) How do you set everyday boundaries with a dog and a baby?

The best way to keep your baby and your dog safe throughout your daily activities and normal family life is to first manage what you can predictably control: your physical space. You'll want to train your dog as well as your child as he or she grows and can process the learning, but for an essential foundation, get the inanimate, "sure thing" all set.

Try this to set boundaries

Think through how your days will play out and where you'll be doing things throughout the day, then create a "safe space" or what Family Paws calls "success stations." These are places where your dog can be happy, relaxed, and still near you and the baby with a sight line to the family activity.

Family Paws defines "success station" as a place where you've removed all but the good options, so your dog has no choice but to succeed! You can set up multiple success stations around the house and outside. Your dog can safely and happily be more involved in family life by being a very good boy or girl!

What makes a good "success station"?

For your dog, it's a place that feels rewarding, never ever should it feel like punishment or isolating.

That means a soft, cozy bed or mat with blankets, food-stuffed chew toys, other favorite toys, treats, bully sticks, puzzles or licking mats, all those things your dog loves and finds relaxing. You also want it to be near the action and where your dog can see what's going on and feel included.

You can see in the accompanying video below that I use a play yard with high, mesh sides my dog can see through easily. It also has a gate for an easy in or out.

For you, it provides peace of mind that you have a barrier between your dog and any access to your baby.

That means using a baby gate or large play yard or big dog crate to be the barrier around your dog's cozy spot when you need it -- especially when you're doing other things like changing a diaper, feeding your baby, or having tummy time. These are the times when you're focused on your baby, your hands are occupied, and what's happening might be most interesting to your dog.

Or it could be when you can't focus on your baby or your dog like when you're on a conference call. When you can't be an alert "parent in between" barrier, that's when you'll be thankful you have a totally safe, separate space where your dog feels comfortable and so can you.

Side note on space: You can also see in the accompanying video below where I have my dad as the human between my son and dog in addition to the big glider they're playing with that also blocks my son.

Another important point, my son is in the corner of the room, while my dog is close to the open door, giving my dog the option to escape and leave the room anytime he wants. You always want to give dogs a flight option, so they can choose to go elsewhere and not feel trapped with no escape if they're stressed.

What to do when your child starts walking:

Once your young child is big enough to be on the move and walking, the safe space helps protect your dog from potentially dangerous interactions with a toddler. I often use an extra layer of barrier for a crawling baby or when my kids are able to toddle over to my dog's space but don't yet understand not to put fingers or food through a crate or pinch instead of touch.

To prevent those dog bites-in-the-making situations, I add a flexible and expandable baby gate around our dog's playpen or crate.

From the very beginning with your baby, you'll want to start narrating everything you're doing when you're interacting with your dog and why. Yep, out loud! It's great for your baby to hear words and magically bit by bit your baby will take in your tone and emotions along with your words around your dog.

Then over time, gradually introduce simple, appropriate ways your child can interact with your pup. Making sure to always have your dog's consent for interactions along the way!

How do I get my dog to be less drawn to my baby?

Some dogs are incredibly fascinated by a new baby, the baby sounds and smells, and others aren't. A lot depends on your individual dog. Two key things can help keep your dog at a more relaxed level of engagement and comfortable distance from your new family member:

1) Make sure to give your dog plenty of exercise, both physical and mental stimulation.

It's easy to come up short on extra time and energy when you have a new baby, so make sure you plan with other family members how they can be part of making sure your dog gets exercise. You can also go for a walk or play ball with your dog while your baby gets some fresh air by your side in a stroller or tucked into a front carrier on you, weather permitting.

Or you can play games inside or give your dog enrichment puzzles or a lick mat for a mental workout and de-stressing.

2) Make things other than your baby more interesting to your dog.

If you've set up your success stations to be more rewarding than hanging around your baby, your dog should be quite happy there most of the time. If not, ramp up your success station game a bit and give your dog a frozen marrow bone, irresistible peanut butter smeared into a licking mat, or some other long-lasting, super-engaging chew or activity. Make the success station where you or another family member gives your dog a full-body massage regularly.

You get the idea -- you want your dog to associate the success station with compelling things and feel it's the best place to be.

6 Pro tips to set up your dog and baby for success

1) Learn how to read your dog's body language to preempt unsafe incidents.

You can get ahead of problems and preempt them by knowing your dog and how to read your dog's body language. We get signs from our dogs all the time letting us know how comfortable they are -- or aren't.

Long before growling or snapping, dogs tell us with their eyes, ears, body carriage how they're feeling. Do you know the signs your dog sends when feeling fearful, stressed, trapped or threatened? You can find a full guide on dog body language here on Dogly.

2) Don't force interaction; always give your dog choice and consent.

Always let your dog choose any interaction. Let your pup come to you and the baby. That's true even with adults and your dog.

3) Remember not to isolate your dog from the family but continue to provide your pup a safe haven.

See above on making sure your success stations are where the family action is happening and your dog can see you clearly.

4) Keep in mind that babies and toddlers can't follow directions reliably.

Babies and toddlers simply aren't developed enough to be counted on to follow your teaching and directions around your dog consistently without fail. Show your baby or child how it's done and do everything in tandem and with a close eye.

5) When your baby starts crawling, don't allow access to your dog's things -- dog food, toys, or treats.

Otherwise, you're setting your dog up to fail by reacting naturally in response.

6) Don't punish your dog for anything related to the baby. Actually never punish your dog anytime; it's never a good idea and counterproductive on all levels.

Anything remotely associated with your baby should never have anything negative attached to it for your dog. If your dog is happily wagging away near your baby and you don't want your dog's tail to thwack your baby in the face, take positive action by calling your dog away with treats.

Always create positive experiences around your dog and baby and reward your pup for good behaviors you want to see more of.

Don't leave your baby and dog unsupervised — ever.

This is the ultimate given, the underpinning of all you do to keep everyone happy and safe. Everyone in your household needs to own this as your base operating philosophy and live it in all circumstances no matter what.

Stay safe and enjoy every moment of your dog and baby-filled life!

Next up in the Kids and Dogs Channel on Dogly!

Now that you're armed with solutions and pro tips to set up your dog and baby for success, check out the next guide for more on how you can ensure your smoothest, best life together.

If you have any questions on how to manage life with kids and dogs or other questions about your growing family life with your dog, just ask us in our Community Discussion.

Continue in our Kids and Dogs Channel where you'll learn everything you need to know for your dog from our community of Dogly Training Advocates.

If you need more personalized dog training guidance, get started in your dog's training plan here.