Noisy neighbors, sick baby?

Question

I live in a townhouse, I have neighbors with kids on both sides. The problem is that the parents let their kids RUN in the house all day, starting at 5 am til about 8 pm, sometimes later. My problem is I have a baby who is sick, and the neighbors kids run and bang so loud my baby only gets a 15 minute nap before they wake her up. I don't want to seem ignorant and tell them to keep their kids quiet, I just think that the children should do their running outside. It wouldn't be that bad if they didn't do it NONSTOP, but I can't deal with it any longer, if you were my neighbor, how would you prefer I proceed? Thanks!

Answer 1

I would prefer you come and tell me, nicely, of course. I have a 3 year old and a 19 month old who do run non-stop. We recently moved to a first floor apartment from a third floor apartment. I didn't realize that my kids made that much noise running around, but I guess to the people downstairs, they sound like a herd of elephants.

Now that we're on the first floor (with no neighbors other thsn the people upstairs who can't hear anything) I'm much happier.

Having a sick baby is no fun, and if you have a couple hooligans running around and squealing/fighing/playing (like mine) is even less fun. Chances are if these neighbors of yours have fairly youngs kids, they *remember* what it's like to have a sick baby, so they'll (I hope!) be sympathetic to your situation and try to keep their kids as quiet as possible.

The thing you have to remember is--kids HAVE to run and burn energy. Now that it's winter and cold outside, it's impractical to think they can take their kids to the park and/or playground and let them run outside. It's just too cold. Try reasoning with them and telling them that, "My baby sleeps between the hours of ____ and ____, so if you'd try to get your kids to be quiet at least during those hours, it would be OK." I think it would work out for you.

Having a sick infant is no fun--believe me, I know! It's all about being nice to them, really. Depending on the type of person they are, if you call in noise complaints to the leasing/management office, they may just be petty enough to make their kids run harder and faster. Hopefully not, but you never know.

I'd definitely go to your neighbors individually and play the sympathy card and try to make them understand.

Good luck to you, and I hope your little one is feeling better soon!

Answer 2

I would think that since you too are a mother that you could be a little empathatic with these poor parents. Just think how bad they have it !! ha ha - There is no easy answer here. I would suggest that you try to modify your townhouse as much as possible to make it quiet for your baby. I know that is not the answer you are looking for, but chances are - there is nothing the other parents can do about rowdy toddlers. When your baby hits the 2 thru 4 age - you will have a whole new perspective on it all. I would suggest moving your baby's crib to a quiet wall and then trying something to drown out the noise. I started using fans with my kids - the kind with multiple settings - it was and still is a lifesaver. You can make it a quiet "summer breeze" or as loud as a plane taking off - It will help your little one sleep also. A humidifier would probablly give the same effect and might help a sick baby as well. Good luck

Answer 3

I think you could talk to the neighbors, but make sure you do it with a lot of tact. You could just let them know that your baby is sick and the walls are thin, and see if you can make an arrangement so that you'll ALL try to be quiet during certain hours of the day. After all, your baby might be noisy sometimes, too. My husband and I don't have kids but we live in the basement of a family who does, and we have a deal that we're all quiet after ten at night.

Answer 4

Don't start a war with them .... You may achieve momentary quiet by complaining but you will gain forever enemies. When your living close proximity do everything you can not to have trouble.
Do you have box fan??? If so put that in the babies room. Face it away from her on med intensity. Soon she will grow accustom to the hum of the fan.Box fans are great at masking out loud obtrusive noises. Good luck !

Answer 5

I assume that moving is out of the question....If so, there's not much you can do about what the neighbors do. I would get either a sound machine or a vaporizer to put on in the baby's room. The white noise drowns out just about everything else. We use a sound machine and our baby loves it.

Answer 6

I suggest you just tell them that your baby is sick and ask them if they wouldn't mind keeping quiet for a few days. If they ask what noise you are talking about, politely say that you often hear running and screaming coming from the wall.

Answer 7

put your baby in the quietest room in the house. Hanging things and furniture and things help absorb sound.
You have no recourse, unfortunately you live in a thin-walled townhouse. I doubt anything you say will stop the kids from running inside, and unfortunately, their allowed to.

Answer 8

It appears your landlord is on the case. Just bide your time and pray that the new tenant is better behaved. I had to evict a tenant from a flat and it took nearly 14 months to get the b.....d out. There is something wrong with the law in this country. People like that seem to know all their rights and none of their obligations.

Answer 9

Try turning a radio or TV on near where your child is sleeping. My kids bedrooms were by my washing machine and dryer. I did not try to keep a quiet house when they were sleeping. I did launrdy, listened to music or whatever when they slept. Therefore, noice rarely woke them up and they could sleep most anywhere.

Answer 10

if i were your neighbor, i would prefer that you set aside a time for the kids to run around, and then after that's over they play quietly so that your baby can sleep...