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Having pets in your home can actually decrease the odds of your child developing pet allergies. Ref: Dr. Greene

Well, you mentioned that you and your fiancee do not have allergies. Does anyone in your family have them that you know of? If not, it's unlikely you'll have to worry too much about it. (Also related, does anyone have asthma or eczema?)

Allergies can develop at anytime after numerous exposures...so if they're going to happen, they're going to happen. (I had been taking Augmentin for years before I had an allergic reaction to it, for example. Most of my allergies, I don't recall having issues with them until around the time I hit puberty.)

If your child is allergic, some ways to help cut down on his or her discomfort that do not involve medication include... no cat in his or her room EVER--make it a completely cat-free zone--and keep the cat away from his or her bed linens. Give the cat regular rinsings and baths. It's the dander from its saliva that humans are allergic to and increased grooming and rinsing will help keep the levels to a minimum. Most people balk at the idea of bathing a cat, but if you insist you just have to keep it in said scenario, you'll have to find ways to make sure your child is comfortable. Even if allergies are "mild," being chronically congested, having itchy eyes, sneezing, and other issues are more then just an inconvenience.

surprised heart You are one of the rare people I've met who actually bathes their cats. (I have hit-or-miss cat allergies depending on the specific cat and their dander levels and when I had my two, I tried giving them weekly baths. Started when I first got them between 2-3 months old. Did not work out, sadly and I still have some scars from it.)

Btw Congrats on the baby! I'm due Feb 14, 09 but your baby's due date is a day before my birthday. (Dec 5th)

Also I'm having the same thoughts of you cause I own a cat as well and pregnant.

Feel free to add me to friends or Inbox me and we can talk babies!

There are allergy meds for kids to help with pet allergies, as well as outdoor allergies and air pollutants, but I understand not wanting to have your child on them. I can tell you that my mother is allergic to pet dander (as well as having seasonal allergies) but we've had a cat as long as I've been alive. Only after I had braces at (seventeen thru twenty) and developed an allergy to latex due to exposure did I develop allergies to pet dander and it's only when they rub on my face. I can pet them and touch my face without issues. (Note: I had seven cats when I developed the allergy)

Like Dirge said, bathing the cat helps absolutely. Vacuuming the carpet and furniture regularly is another really good way to cut down on dander if allergies are a problem. I know it's super expensive, but the Rainbow is the best machine on the market if it comes to that. It uses water as a filter in stead of traditional vacuum filters so almost nothing gets pumped back into the air, like what can happen with an old traditional vacuum. It also acts as an air purifier. You can schedule someone to come to your home to demonstrate the machine before you buy it. Speaking of... using air purifiers is a good idea too.

Finally, if no one in your family has a history of allergies and you only have one cat, I doubt it will be a problem.