The dining hall can initially intimidate babies, but eventually they learn to enjoy the company, Preble says.

"At first, she was kind of daunted by being in the dining hall, but she has gotten comfortable in that kind of setting, with all the people poking at her and peering at her," Preble says of Alana.

And the Markey's children are "impressed by the high ceiling in the [Lowell] dining hall." Tim Markey says.

Of course, combining toddlers and cafeteria-style dining can occasionally lead to disaster.

"A lot of times, I feel like, 'Oh my God, they're touching the doughnuts,' or "They spilled a second glass of juice all over the table," Theresa Sull says.

Despite some hazards, Markey and other parents say that tending to children in the dining halls helps the parents meet the students they oversee.

"As resident tutors, one knows a lot of students, but one knows that many more having a baby or a small child in the house, because many students are attracted to your child in the dining hall," he says.

"By the end of the first semester, we probably know at least 100 students by name. We've made more friends that way, and acquaintances too."

Babies can help students meet other students as well.

"Sometimes Alana has helped students who wouldn't otherwise get to know each other become friends," Preble says.

And the kids enjoy themselves too. "They're already having lots of fun, in the dining hall, talking to people, playing with people," says Caroline Quillian Stubbs, senior admissions and financial aid officer, who lives in Currier House with Senior Tutor John L. Stubbs and their three young children.

"Currier is great because there's so much inside space where kids can ride their tricycles," she says.

But constant socialization with strangers needs to be monitored, she says. "We have to be sure to have family time also."

Theresa Sull, who lives in Winthrop House, which hosts just six children, says sometimes there are not enough other children around for her three to play with.

"The bad thing is obviously that there aren't a lot of kids around," says Theresa Sull.