8 things you’ll only know if you had a baby when you were at university


by Samantha Ball |
Published on

Having a baby while at university probably wasn't on your list of things to do before your degree ends, but would you change it for the world? Absolutely not.

You might find yourself quoting Peppa Pig in your essays from time to time and that's not all. We've made a list of things about what it's like to have a baby while at university.

Gallery

Baby at university

1 of 8

1) Coffee becomes your favourite drink

There are plenty of late nights with a new born so throw in the added bonus of writing an essay and coffee quickly becomes a go-to drink to help keep you awake. Instead of 'when baby sleeps, you sleep' it will be 'when baby sleeps, plan an essay!'

2 of 8

2) You budget a lot more

Being a student can be expensive as it is; living away from home, weekly food shops and maintaining a social life, all while you’re trying to juggle a part time job AND assignments. A baby makes it all the more expensive, with baby furniture to buy and nappies, wipes, you have to learn to budget more than before.

3 of 8

3) You sometimes have to take your child to lectures

The dreaded issue of not getting any childcare will always be a problem at some point. You email the lecturer and ask if it’s okay to bring your little one in and they reply “yes”. It’s a huge relief, but maybe slightly distracting to others cooing over your little one…

4 of 8

4) You see more 9ams than most of your class

With those early morning rises (or should we say those sleepless nights?), you'll have seen more 9am lectures than most of your class combined and maybe your little one will have tagged along too.

5 of 8

5) Split screen comes in handy

Even if your child refuses a nap you don't have time to put off deadlines, so you sometimes have to dedicate half your computer screen to work and the other half to Peppa Pig...

6 of 8

6) It changes your work perspective

Whether you're due date is creeping closer or you have a little one, it might have been easy to not show up to lectures or start an assignment a few hours before your deadline at one point but you can't afford to do that now.
You sometimes find it gives you more of a purpose to do well and get that job you really want and not just for you, but it sets a good example to your little one as they grow up.

7 of 8

7) Asking for help is okay

Whether you have a baby or not, asking for help is okay.
It’s sometimes scary asking for help in case the answer is no, but when you have a little one you have to ask or at least keep your lecturers in the loop. Let them know if your little one has the chicken pox so you can’t make it in to the seminars, your tutors will be grateful and more understanding when it comes to your work submissions!

8 of 8

8) Your graduation pictures will be a little different

While there might be the cliché photo of throwing your graduation hat in the air, there is nothing cuter than a graduation hat on a baby, so of course that’s what we’ll do!

 

Did you have a baby while at university? Let us know about your experience on Facebook or Twitter!

Make sure you're following Mother & Baby on Instagram for relatable memes, inspiring stories and parenting hacks!

Join the club! Introducing our brand, spankin’ new Facebook group called #mumtribe. Simply search ‘#mumtribe’ into the search bar and meet like-minded mums, win gorgeous goodies and have some fun!

Have approx 60 seconds to spare? Why not join thousands of mums-to-be and start your very own Amazon baby wish list! They're absolutely free to create and perfect to send to the friends, aunties and your mum to make sure you're getting the baby products you really need...Click here!

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.