Is it legal or allowed for a student parent to bring a little baby to the classroom?

[Zoeymama]

I am a mom of a half year old baby and also a student in an undergraduate program at UIC. Since I can't find a suitable day care on campus and don't feel good to leave the little baby to a teenage au pair, plus it is expensive, I wonder if it is possible that I can bring my baby with me to school.
I appreciate your reply!

[Carita]

completely up to the teacher in my experience and completely dependent on the temperment of the child.

I have brought my child to class and he was passed out sleeping - no problems there. But as he got older, there is no way to hush him, and it wouldn't be fair to the class - or to me.

I might put a campus posting up for child care sharing. Maybe you can find another mom in your position and trade watching kids during class? Also if your prof says no to havign the baby in class, maybe you can request to have her classes videotaped and then watch them at home? You'll still need to find coverage for exams though.

[Bluebird9]

Also check the school's rules, my college explicitly bans it.

[One_Girl]

It depends on the teacher and the baby. I have had professors who didn't allow it at all and some who did as long as it they weren't disruptive.

[kalirush]

As a college instructor, I wouldn't allow it myself, not for a regular class. For a small discussion group, maybe. The problem would be that you would be unable to pay full attention to the class (you will have to be focused on keeping baby quiet, not taking notes and paying attention), and there would be a good chance the kid would start to be disruptive and you'd either have to leave, or I'd have crying/noisy baby in my lecture. Your kid is 6 mo, which is past the tiny-sleep-in-a-sling phase and well into the crawl-around-and-make-lots-of-noise phase.

Not sure what to tell you about child care, but you will be a better student if you have class time with no kid. Believe me, I've been there.

[notneb]

Originally Posted by Bluebird9

Also check the school's rules, my college explicitly bans it.

My school also has a policy banning children in classrooms.

[ArtsyMomma]

Our community college banned all children from campus this past year. Too many people were bringing kids to class or work with them. It's annoying. They will escort you off campus. There is a daycare center (I imagine it's exempt from the rule!). DP used to bring my lil guy to school with him once in a while - but since the ban we stopped. DP is a prof. The school says the ban is for health/safety/disruption reasons.

[MeepyCat]

This really depends on the professor and the class. For a lab class, I would say it's completely inappropriate. For other classes, it depends.

I think even many teachers who would be okay with it as a one-time thing in an emergency would be opposed to this being your usual child-care plan. I'd also suggest that bringing a baby to class is a short-term solution at best. A semester is three to four months long. In that time, a six month old baby goes from an occasionally noisy, basically stationary object to a creeping, crawling, possibly even walking person, requiring more and more of your attention.

I'd look around for off-campus childcare options, or a sharing arrangement with other student moms. UIC is not a small school, you can't be the only one.

[Zoeymama]

Thank you all for your replies! Sharing daycare sounds a very good solution. I definitely will try to find a partner. Thanks!

[Zoeymama]

Thank you all for your replies!
Sharing day care sounds a very good solution. I definitely will try to find a partner. I also appreciate your recommendations if you know anyone who wants to do sharing at UIC.

[jkn]

In my experience as well, it is totally up to the teacher and the class. Some departments are particularly welcoming, but others = no way. If you can't find a child care solution, you may want to approach your instructors and see if they would be open to you bringing your baby to class if it were ever necessary.

[rcr]

I am a professor, and I would allow it once in a while - but not every class period. I think it would be too distracting to the students and myself. Likewise, I have had to bring my child to class, but I would never do it all the time.

I think it is totally impracticle to believe that you could get a lot out of a class and tend to your child at the same time. I certainly don't get much work done when I am watching my kid.

Are there public assistance programs for child care in your area?

btw - UIC as in University of Illinois Chicago?

[Zoeymama]

I agree with you that bringing a baby to class is not a real solution for a long term.

Hi rcr, yes, UIC is University of Illinois at Chicago.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Bluebird9

Also check the school's rules, my college explicitly bans it.

At the community college I go to they make it clear that babies/children are not allowed in class. They are allowed on campus if you are taking them to visit the bookstore or whatever but not in any classrooms.