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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

What would you do if a university student wanted to bring her newborn to class?

368 replies

camaleon · 21/01/2014 17:04

That is really. I have to make a decision regarding this. I need advice. I want to accommodate this student as much as possible but I am very aware of disrupting other students' learning experience.
What would you do?

OP posts:
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Mabelandrose · 21/01/2014 17:06

I don't think it's appropriate

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LaurieFairyCake · 21/01/2014 17:06

Surely the uni has Health and safety policies on this Confused

It was never allowed where I worked

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Mintyy · 21/01/2014 17:07

As a one-off or regularly?

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sebsmummy1 · 21/01/2014 17:08

Gosh I love the idea of it but cannot imagine the student being relaxed enough to concentrate incase her child starts crying and interrupts the class or her classmates being able to concentrate if her baby does start crying.

Id probably say no personally but I am reminded of a European MP who took her newborn into meetings and whilst voting because she was breast feeding and still takes her daughter in now, as a two or three year old.

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camaleon · 21/01/2014 17:10

I think the health and safety policies on this are normally ridiculous and just a way of excluding children from campus. I don't want to use a protocol to have an easy escape.

We have agreed to be flexible with her attendance but a few sessions involve presentations and she needs to attend those to pass the module

OP posts:
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TheZeeTeam · 21/01/2014 17:10

I used to take mine. My child minder turned out to be a flake and I couldn't get DC1 into the nursery for another month. It was my final year and I thought I would have to drop out.

My lecturers were fantastic and they came up with the idea. I would leave if he made the slightest peep and it meant that I got to graduate on time, without disrupting anyone else.

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OddBoots · 21/01/2014 17:10

Offer to try it and see how it goes?

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camaleon · 21/01/2014 17:11

Thank you very much for all the answers by the way. I will offer and see how it goes as proposed.

OP posts:
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morethanpotatoprints · 21/01/2014 17:13

I was going to say, does it not contravene H*S policies or insurance?
i'm not sure it would impact other students too much, depending on lay out and size of the classroom. Even less impact if a lecture in theatre.

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Onesleeptillwembley · 21/01/2014 17:14

No, of course not. What a stupid, selfish idea. She's meant up be there to learn. So is any other student. Bloody ridiculous.

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Procrastreation · 21/01/2014 17:15

Newborns are pretty inoffensive - mine went everywhere with me including conferences, theatres and work meetings. I took a seat by the door & had my boobs on quick trigger - it really wasn't a hassle - and so much less stressful than getting childcare for a tiny.

Let her do it.

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Procrastreation · 21/01/2014 17:17

Seriously - assuming she comes with a sling & sits near the door, these are the outcomes:

She comes with the baby. The baby sleeps. She listens.

She comes with the baby. The baby feeds. The baby sleeps. She listens.

She comes with the baby. The baby fusses. She leaves.

I think you're more likely to be disrupted by her mobile phone than by her baby.

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frogwatcher42 · 21/01/2014 17:18

I would love the idea of it. But having had a similar situation in a meeting at work even though the baby slept through and was no trouble it still put people off.

I think it will disturb the other students who will be distracted by it.

I still love the idea though in theory. But in the real world I think it would be too selfish.

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OddBoots · 21/01/2014 17:19

Licia Ronzulli took her baby with her to work in the European Parliament and her daughter caused no problem at all. Newborns are usually much less trouble than older babies.

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5madthings · 21/01/2014 17:21

i took my newborn ds1 to some lectures and classes.


sat by door and fed him, cuddled him as he slept.


it was fine, i was studying history and sociology so no health and safety issues which i guess there could be with a science subject?

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SilverApples · 21/01/2014 17:21

If the mother is willing to co-operate, I agree with Procrastreation.
If she has to leave the presentation because of the baby, will she fail the module? and if that's the case, might she insist on staying having been given permission to have her baby with her?
I'd definitely like to ban all mobile use in classes, that is very distracting.

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Procrastreation · 21/01/2014 17:22

The sling.

If she wears the sling she will find it much easier to anticipate her baby, and the baby will be quieter & largely invisible.

We're talking newborn . So not rattly toys and cheesy crackers - milk and sleep.

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tabulahrasa · 21/01/2014 17:22

When I was a student (a couple of years ago, in case it makes any difference) a few times other students had to bring young children...it wasn't an issue. As long as she leaves if the baby's disruptive I don't see why a newborn is going to cause a problem.

I took DS to a lecture, but as he was 13 and played his Nintendo - I'm not sure it counts, lol.

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frogwatcher42 · 21/01/2014 17:23

My colleague thought her baby was no trouble. And it truly wasnt - slept through the meetings no problem.

The trouble was it distracted people. They didnt relax the same in truth.

If its only one or two lectures I think it would be ok though. I reread ops posts and it seems as if it is only for a short time.

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CailinDana · 21/01/2014 17:23

I can't see how it would be a problem. I used to go to special parent and baby cinema screenings with baby ds and even with a roomful of babies and the film at a low volume it was absolutely fine.
I would say yes on condition I could sniff the baby's head and grab it for a cuddle. Blush .
A newborn cry sounds loud to the mother but in fact it's a very thin sound.

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5madthings · 21/01/2014 17:24

frog if people are put off by a sleeping baby that is their problem.


and yes ronzulli took her baby into european parliament, until she was quite big i think.

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kelda · 21/01/2014 17:24

I've been in lectures with a baby. They were no problem. I've also known lecturers to give a lecture with a small baby in tow - not in the UK where maternity leave tends to be longer - in some countries maternity leave is just a few weeks.

As long as the baby is not crying, I don't see the problem.

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CailinDana · 21/01/2014 17:25

I think meetings are a different matter. In lectures everyone faces front and will hardly know the baby is there.

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Procrastreation · 21/01/2014 17:25

Btw - one thing I did once (#veteran )- was ask one of my friends to babysit in the coffee shop next door. He was a bit scared, but I literally left him in charge of a buggy with sleeping DS in it. I expected him to sleep for 2 hours, my meeting was 1 hours - but he had instructions to text if he woke. It went very smoothly - but DS was about 2 or 3 at the time - so more disruptive when awake but also more predictable when asleep.

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OneHolyCow · 21/01/2014 17:26

My friend had a baby going through teacher training college. I looked after her 2 other boys and she took the newborn to class. Never an issue, it was like Procrastreation said, no hassle. Let her take the baby. If it doesn't work out, I'm sure you can talk.

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