Bringing a newborn to university lectures

[Nimnuan]

I'm on a part-time university course (apprenticeship) and expecting a baby in the next few weeks. I'm not intending to take a break as any break would mean a year's delay. All classes this year my baby will be under 26 weeks old and breastfeeding.
I want to bring her to lectures with me because arranging childcare and expressing breastmilk will be much more difficult at such a young age and given the university's atrocious arrangements for expressing. Obviously if she cries or is disruptive I'll have to step out into the hallway.
I've just been told that I'm not allowed to bring my newborn to lectures because it would be a "contravention of rules and regulations". I've asked to be told which rules and regulations but haven't heard back yet.
Can you give me any advice about how to argue my case?

Definitely the better angle to be tackling this.

They allow babies into cinemas, shops, churches etc. Can’t see what H and S breeches there are, unless it’s medical, dangerous, chemicals etc, but sitting in a lecture hall? And as long as you move if baby makes a noise.

I think if the lectures genuinely aren’t interactive and you’re just listening for hours (sounds difficult!) then push for online attendance. I really don’t think you’ll get anywhere with the idea of bringing a baby to an entire day of lectures every week (and don’t think you should, but that’s not the point)

the premise in my university is all lectures are recorded for inclusion reasons but there’s a long list of options for lecturers to opt out. If the lectures are more discussion based, if the topics are sensitive, if the lecturer has privacy concerns for any sort of personal reasons… the vast majority are recorded but not all. And we need students to physically attend things for all sorts of reasons (including visa requirements) so there’s that pressure as well.

I personally wouldn’t have a problem with this but I think you need to check your university policy. possible arguments:

• worried about disruptions- could you argue for a trial period? You would sit near the back, close to the door. this is no more disruptive than those who need to leave for personal/health reasons. If not accommodated request a clear reason as to the distinction supported wity evidence
• concerns about your health? As an adult you can determine whether you are fit and able to attend class. You’ve had a baby, not lost your mind
• concerns about baby’s health- as a mother you are best placed to determine this. Could argue better for babies health to go with you if breast feeding. But could you get a letter from a gp to help with this?
• inclusivity- as the course is significantly male dominated, making such provision would have the narrow impact of helping you personally but the broader impact of showing that the uni supports and encourages women into this field. This could potentially make it stand apart from competitors who do not make such accommodations.
• ask them to justify their policy on this with evidence

you need to speak to someone in the department re this and a breastfeeding space.

you could ask for a recording of the lecture. Some lecturers do this by way of course, sometimes on request for a particular reason and the undertaking you will not share the recording. Ask them what their reason is for not allowing a recording. Or alternatively they could live stream.

good luck.

https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/students-with-individual-needs/students-with-parenting-responsibilities

It’s not fair on the other students. It’s disruptive and distracting. You are being unreasonable and entitled.

I do not believe there is a way to argue your case; I lecture and I breastfed and would, when lecturing, express to ensure my baby - who was not with me whilst lecturing - had my breast milk. I have also lectured and a person brought in their baby (without asking first either) and it was massively disruptive. Babies are a total delight but, they aren’t really a great plan in a class. You have an absolute right to a suitable place to breastfeed and to express but to bring a baby into a class - whether quiet or not - will be disruptive and it is everyone’s right, not to have that occur. I totally sympathise about not wanting to delay a year. Is there a way that someone could attend with you and have your baby during your class, and sit, perhaps, outside the class and if the baby cries, you come out to be with the baby? That seems the only resolution that the university is bound to make.

I think that cinemas and churches are very different. Shops are completely different! I can still do my shop in Tesco even if a baby is crying and unsettled.
The OP has quite a challenge, it's not really comparable to the above.
However, she had a very quiet docile baby the first time around, so it could work ok.

Intellectual property , intellectual freedom, risk of voice being chopped up for ai, options around discussion of sensitive topics - particularly subjects like international relations, terrorism
lots of good reasons to record and lots of good reasons not to

Thank you, that's really helpful.

What's to stop someone recording it from their phone in the lecture theatre though anyway? Same problems 🤷‍♀️

Definitely speak to the university about financial help and childcare access, but keep your baby out of the place designed for sound to travel, where people are trying to listen and concentrate. I would not be happy as either the lecturer or a fellow student if someone brought their baby to the lecture.

They often record lectures, I'd be surprised if they didn't.

The lecturer or other students could ask someone recording to stop. They shouldn’t be doing it without consent and it would possibly be illegal to do.

I would agree that the way forward is to ask for a recording of the lecture, if accessing it live via teams or whatever isn't possible.

Data protection law.

What if there are other mothers on the course who have arranged childcare? I'm sure they would certainly feel disgruntled to say the least. They must have a blanket rule, not only for health and safety/insurance purposes but also because making allowances for one person would set a precedent that it's absolutely fine to bring your kids to a lecture hall. It would become a creche; the majority of babies would not sleep quietly without needed a feed, attention or changing. The whole idea is utterly ridiculous, OP is an adult who should have considered the logistics before becoming pregnant again.

How much of your apprenticeship are you missing with maternity leave, or are you planning to take your baby along to work to? People saying it is discriminatory not to be able to take baby to lectures are they going to argue the same for not being able to take baby to that.

Interesting how some lecturers seem to have been able to take baby to work, can’t see teachers being allowed to do that

I’ve had to stop my lectures being recorded and uploaded and made available online for my own personal safety on the advice of the police.

Just wanted to say I absolutely DON’T think you’re being unreasonable and I do think this could be achievable but I think it will be a lot easier the first 3 months, once baby starts to wake up it will be tricker, in my experience it doesn’t matter if you have a sleepy newborn or a wakeful one (I had the latter) they just want to be held all the time and a lecture that lasts perhaps 1-2 hours is completely achievable. However when you get to the 4/5 month mark you might struggle, baby might not want to just sit on your lap during a lecture.

If I were you I would really really fight to have her there the first 3 months because if you’re breastfeeding you NEED to be together for the sake of your supply and the baby. You will struggle to succeed if you separate from one another. Especially those initial weeks.

When I was pregnant with my first I found it difficult to accept I was going to have to take a break from work, but when my daughter came it was like I’d stepped into another world and everything was upside down. She was the focus of my everything, feeding her and caring for her and being with her, your baby will be utterly helpless and they will need you. You yourself will be going through a huge transition.

Rest and looking after your baby should be your main priority in my opinion and anything else is possible but requires support that most people don’t get. That’s the harsh truth.

Again for those saying it should be allowed, at what age baby/child would you draw the line?

personally wouldn’t have a problem with this

@Bestfootforward11 I’m very surprised you wouldn’t. People pay thousands for their course and this is their one shot. All the suggestions you gave are great for OP I guess but still very unfair to the other students. Even running out once a baby starts crying still takes time for the mother to realise it’s more than a grumble and then the time to pack her things up which given her boudys not properly bounced back either never mind a child hanging off her will take additional time for her to depart. Ridiculous to say, minimum disruption.

Just very entitled behaviour just because OP wants to stay on her preferred schedule. Hopefully, the students will have equally good pushback why it’s not fair on them. And as a PP said, where does it end? You could open floodgates where anyone’s child can accompany them if they have no suitable childcare but still want to attend class!

Just to be clear, the advice many people will give you, and have a perfect right to give you, is that you should not argue this case, because it would be an incredibly selfish thing to do.

The best option is to defer a year.

I'd say somewhere between 3-6 months.

Perhaps with a child with additional needs, it would need to be longer, though, if that's going to be a policy.

Strange how universities like the OU have their lectures or tutorials recorded and it is their default way of operating.

No one needs to see faces, only hear voices which is the critical part that really matters?

I take on board what you're saying re: safety but obviously where do you draw the line. Surely it's an occupational hazard if you are holding lectures you need to accept your material is out there?