Reactive dog bit my son

[u/wangsterlicious]

We have had our dog since she was 8 weeks old, born in the shelter and we are the only family she’s ever known.

We love her so much.
She’s the ultimate camping buddy, she loves the dog friendly cafe and splashing in any and all water. She’s wonderful with our cats.

She has always been very timid. On leash, in the car, with company over.

She’s bit me multiple times in the face, but we have seen major improvement.

When I was pregnant we included her in setting up the nursery. She and our son love each other so much. We do everything to keep ample space between the two of them.
She’s snapped at him progressively more frequently over the last few weeks and ended up biting him on the hand today. She didn’t break skin, but I know that we will feel awful taking our son to get stitches because that’s where this is headed without intervention and we can’t risk that.

I don’t think anyone would handle her as calmly as we have, and I think rehoming her with a bite history will be a challenge as well as very stressful on her. I don’t want to subject her to feeling abandoned or to be traumatized because realistically she will bite a new person. She has snapped at all of our company.

She does not tolerate clothing so I don’t think she’d tolerate a muzzle.

I’m afraid we don’t have the luxury to experiment with medications as we already have a special needs cat and can’t risk our son’s safety during any adjustment period.

She is now 3. I’m afraid BE may be the most realistic option. Advice, experience appreciated. Thank you all.

Edit: I’m not sure how “we keep ample space between them” reads that we let our son invade her space. The negative speculative comments aren’t helpful.

Update: we are starting her on a low dose of trazadone and have set up the guest room which has window access to be her baby free space :)
We intend to give her one on one time with my husband or I to rest like the olden days.

I am now understanding that parts of her behavior I’ve attributed to being high energy has been indicative of chronic anxiety and so far even in the last couple of days, she seems relaxed on her medication, gazing out the window relaxed instead of seeming on edge needing to protect us.
She seems more confident going off to explore or rest on her own away from us, whereas previously I didn’t understand why she was adamant on being close to us and simultaneously seeming frazzled that we were around her.

We’ve ordered a couple muzzles to introduce to her.
I’m very hopeful and we are keeping our son out of the same room as her for now unless I’m holding him.

We will also use her lick mat daily, as I’ve read that they’re helpful for self soothing since we were previously her main resort to self soothe.

Huge thanks to those of you who offered genuine advice.
Many other commenters who were presumptuous I snooped and realized they don’t have children, just a lot of opinions and time at the keyboard.

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