Pregnant In College: Can you live in dorms with a baby?

You just found out you’re pregnant, and you live in a college dorm. What now? If you’re confused about dorm rules, scared of losing your housing, and jumping to worst-case scenarios, take a breath. In this blog post, we’ll guide you toward next steps to make sure you and your family have a home.

Are you allowed to stay in dorms while pregnant?
Yes, pregnant college students are allowed to stay in dorms. Colleges subject to Title IX typically cannot force a student to move out of dorm rooms during pregnancy. Title IX protects pregnant students from discrimination, giving them the same opportunity to live in campus housing as any other student. 

If anyone tries to remove you from your dorm housing during pregnancy, contact your school’s Title IX coordinator. Under Title IX, pregnancy is treated like a temporary medical condition. You have as much of a right to live in your dorm room as a student with a sprained ankle! 

Once your child is born, you may be subject to rules about whether children are permitted to live in college dorm rooms.

Your Title IX Rights as a Pregnant Student.
Your rights aren’t limited to housing. Schools must allow you to continue classes and extracurricular activities. You can also ask for reasonable accommodations like elevator access or frequent bathroom breaks.

Can you live in a dorm with a baby?
Usually, infants and children are not allowed to live in dorm rooms unless it’s in designated family housing on campus. Colleges don’t allow children to live in college dorm rooms due to safety regulations, liability issues, and many other factors. If you’re pregnant, consider asking your housing coordinator if student apartments are available on campus for families.

Make dorm life better during pregnancy.
Living in a dorm while pregnant can come with its share of challenges. Lack of privacy, limited food options, and social friction or stigma can be stressful. Here are a few ways to improve dorm life while pregnant.

Make your dorm room more comfortable.
Basic beds and chairs aren’t designed for long-term comfort. If you’re able to, get a mattress topper to quickly upgrade your dorm bed. A pregnancy pillow and extra cushions can also provide much-needed support. A room divider can give you some much-needed privacy in a shared bedroom.

Get creative with food.
Keep a mini-fridge stocked with quick, nutritious foods. If allowed, use small appliances like a microwave or electric kettle to expand your food options. Even without a full kitchen, a little planning can keep food accessible when you’re dealing with cravings or food aversions.

Get quality sleep.
Dorms can be loud with parties, alarms, and other people’s routines. You might have to have an honest conversation with your roommates and set quiet hours or other boundaries. Earplugs or white noise apps can help you sleep when you don’t have a lot of control over your environment. If you can, take naps! Nighttime sleep might not be enough.

What are your housing options after having a baby?
As a pregnant college student, you’ll have a few housing options once your baby is born.

Family housing on campus. 
Some colleges provide on-campus housing for students with spouses or children. They might request documentation like a marriage certificate or birth certificates of children to verify eligibility. If you want to live on-campus, be sure to talk to your school representative as soon as possible because sometimes there are waitlists.

Apartments. 
If your campus doesn’t offer family housing, it might be time to rent your own apartment off-campus. This will give you flexibility to live with your children and/or partner, as well as more privacy. Some colleges offer off-campus housing assistance.

Moving in with family.
Many students move back in with their parents to reduce housing costs, get help with childcare, and make it easier to balance work, school, and parenting. This might not be an option for some students, depending on family dynamics. Don’t worry, there’s another option.

Housing programs.
There are government-supported housing assistance programs, housing assistance connected to schools, and also nonprofits that assist with housing for pregnant and parenting students.

If you’re pregnant and living in a dorm, what should you do next?
The Avi Project, a nonprofit devoted to pregnant college students, helps women find housing and offers financial assistance. Text or call us at 720-386- 6009 today to learn more (it’s free and confidential). The Avi Project was founded on our own unexpected college pregnancy story. We’ve been through this, and we understand what students need to move forward with confidence.