Carrying a plastic baby through the hallway might embarrass students, but sophomore Christina Pacheco thinks it’s a way of learning the truth about having a child at a young age. She is not scared of what people think of her carrying around an eight pound fake baby.

Child development classes participated in a program where teens can experience having a child during high school. The students must keep the baby at all times and take them everywhere they go.

“I thought a baby wasn’t that hard to take care of, but it’s really stressful,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco stayed up throughout the night tending to the baby’s needs. The baby woke her up at 2 am crying.

“I threw him in the closet because he kept crying,” Pacheco said.

Although there were times when she wanted to quit, Pacheco learned from this experience.

“There is nothing fun about this. I’m not planning to have kids anytime soon,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco thinks all girls should be required to carry a baby around to learn what its like.

“It’s great practice and almost a teen child birth prevention,” Pacheco said. “I now know what it’s like and what it takes.”

Mrs. Groves, Child Development teacher, thinks this experience will allow teens to realize the consequences of teen pregnancy.

“Maybe the students will make a wise decision not to have kids until they are responsible.” Mrs. Groves said. “I thought this project would let students realize how hard it is.”