Best friends: 22 photos of babies meeting pets for the first time

After a long week, there’s nothing better than a healthy dose of cuteness. 

Inspired by the sweet moment when TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie’s baby, Vale, first met Wrangler in the Orange Room, we asked members of our parenting community to send us photos of their own babies meeting the family pet for the first time.

Samantha Okazaki

And the results were, as you might expect, unbelievably adorable. They include many unsuspecting, occasionally unconscious tots, a few doting dogs, and some oh-so-curious kitties, too.
For your own chance to be featured in future “Baby’s First” round-ups or one of our other fun series, make sure to like the Today Parents page on Facebook.
And for tips on how to safely introduce your family pet to the new baby, check out this helpful advice from the Humane Society of the United States.
1. The Lick of Love

Mykela Bivins

2. What’s This?

Karrisa Fabin

3. Happy Together

Elise Waldman

4. The Protector

Sandra Horn

5. I’ll Stay By Your Side

Nicole Desrochers

6. Curious Kitty

Liz Lee

7. The Old Dog and the Newborn

Ashley Piatt

8. Seeing What All the Fuss Is About

Laura Brink Kuhlenbeck

9. Checking Out the New Guy

Carey Doty

10. Two is Better Than One

Kara Marianetti Elum

11. Matching Collars and Baby Blankets

Rebecca Diane

12. Puppy Cuddles

Stephanie Cryer

13. How Sweet It Is

Laura Outwater Brauer

14. Snuggled Up

Stephanie Harkness Miller

15. Quick Conference

Courtnee McGrew

16. What’s This?

Jen Blanchard

17. Nap Neighbors

Trista Larson

18. The Fluffiest Pillow

Nicole Desrochers

19. Thorough Inspection

Kris Kirwan

20. Friends Forever

Gretchen Arnold

21. Snoozin’

Rachel Markey

22. Then and Now

Amy Girouard