Bringing your *new* baby to school....

[luvmy2angels]

Problem here all....recent member of class had a baby. Now, so far our school has been VERY strict about pretty much everything. Now, I understand that this student is a single mother, on assistance and struggling (well, who isn't nowadays). But anyways she was recently told by our instructor that she can bring her baby to class with her so she doesn't have to miss time. We have class one night a week and we ALWAYS have a test that night because the rest of the week we are in clinical. A lot of the students are complaining that it is distracting, granted she is pretty quiet for the most part but she gets passed around from person to person to be held for the 5 hours we are there and it IS distracting! Plus there are people in class that have had to miss class time because of "children" problems, babysitter couldn't come or whatever....these students feel it is unfair that she was given the choice to BRING her baby to class but others missed time! Something just isn't right about this situation. I don't want to sound like a mean person because I DO want to see her succeed and finish school but at the same time COME ON!!!!!! :angryfire Am I wrong for feeling this way????

[ZootRN]

Problem here all....recent member of class had a baby. Now, so far our school has been VERY strict about pretty much everything. Now, I understand that this student is a single mother, on assistance and struggling (well, who isn't nowadays). But anyways she was recently told by our instructor that she can bring her baby to class with her so she doesn't have to miss time. We have class one night a week and we ALWAYS have a test that night because the rest of the week we are in clinical. A lot of the students are complaining that it is distracting, granted she is pretty quiet for the most part but she gets passed around from person to person to be held for the 5 hours we are there and it IS distracting! Plus there are people in class that have had to miss class time because of "children" problems, babysitter couldn't come or whatever....these students feel it is unfair that she was given the choice to BRING her baby to class but others missed time! Something just isn't right about this situation. I don't want to sound like a mean person because I DO want to see her succeed and finish school but at the same time COME ON!!!!!! :angryfire Am I wrong for feeling this way????

In my school, nobody is allowed to bring children on campus unless for short visit (pick up paper, go to the bookstore etc.) Probably, there is a legal liability involved. I guess, you should voice your concerns. Although she obviously needs assistance with child care, I believe it should not be done on expense of other students.

[llg, PhD, RN]

No, you are not wrong to be feeling this way. If one student is allowed to bring her child to class, then everyone should be allowed -- and that would result in a terrible mess.

As much as we would all like to be compassionate, there are some lines that need to be drawn. Unfortunately, your school may have to learn that lesson the hard way.

Good luck,

llg

[Goldenhare]

You are right! She should be able to take her test in another room with the baby with the instructor popping in on her every once in awhile or with a proctor. She can record the lecture either on video or cassette. I ONCE took my baby daughter to an Algebra class and I sat outside the door, in the hall and listened through the door and took notes. (In all fairness, towards the end of class the instructor found me and told me to come in.) On the flip side, I have AWFUL test anxiety and mis read test questions and I'm very slow besides. It used to make me crazy when my classmates would finish their tests and start talking with their neighbors. It made the test anxiety so much worse. You are right. Go to the instructor and explain possible alternatives. You are all in this together , but this, on an ongoing basis, is unfair. Where does baby stay on clinical days?

[Nurse-To-Be-Joy]

I've had classes where students were allowed to bring their children and it was always a distraction. I know some students struggle, but those kids really make it hard on the rest of us too. Maybe a few of you could speak with the teacher. This girl needs to find another place for her baby to go. What is she going to do once she actually becomes a nurse? Take her child with her? I don't think so.

[NebbyLPN]

What a jerk this student is! At my school there is a school policy that there are to be NO CHILDREN on the campus or in the classrooms. A child has no business to attend to on a college campus, so shouldn't be there, period. It probably puts the college in a potential state of liability if anything happens to that kid while it is on campus. If your school has the same policy report it to the school administration, not the nursing department. This new mother is just going to have to drop out for a semester or two until she gets her sitter problem solved. Perhaps the college can assist with child care for her or has a program they can refer her to.

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

I am sorry but that is insane! We have a policy at my school too, no children are allowed in classes. Not only is it distracting for the rest of the students, but what if something happened to the baby, would the school not be liable? I would be very distracted if there were a baby in my class and irritated!

[prmenrs, RN]

Just a thought....

There may be more to the story than you know. The instructors may possibly know more about her particular situation than what is (or should be) shared w/the rest of the class.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

If you are in nursing school, I'd have to say that the instructor opened up a can of worms here.

However, while doing my prereqs, I did, from time to time bring my elementary school aged boys, one at a time. My oldest son went to Anatomy and to the dissection theatre (with the permission of all the other students) and my 2nd son went to Micro Lecture where he was chosen by the prof to come down front of the lecture hall and help explain DNA - it was very cool. Both kids loved it. I wanted them to see that college can be fun.

A baby, for 5 hours though? That is hard.

steph

[sunnyjohn]

The baby I ignore today is the tax burden I care for tommorrow.

Yes, it would be distracting during an exam.

[fergus51]

I agree the school should try to help her, but this would not be ok with me either. She is the one who chose to have the baby, so it isn't really fair to bring it to class when others find it distracting. I think the idea of taping lectures and writing tests in another room with a proctor is a great one.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Is she breastfeeding?

Some companies allow moms to bring breastfed babies to work for the first several months. Their formula-fed counterparts do not have the same option. Seems unfair, but from a health costs perspective, it's actually a sound decision.

I don't agree with the passing around of the baby, but when mine were newborns, they slept quietly in a sling for hours at a time. As soon as they stirred, I would open my shirt and nurse them. Most of the time, people weren't even aware that I had a baby.

I would say that if it's distracting to the other students, that's an issue you should address with the instructors. But I'm not big on the "it's not fair that I can't do that" argument, because everyone's circumstances are different, and like prmenrs said, I'm guessing there are probably circumstances that the instructor is aware of, but not the other students, which is why they're allowing this.