Neighbour's child wailing all day - is this normal?

[HannahJones3]

I'm beginning to get a bit concerned about a child who lives next door to me. The couple moved in about two months ago with a child who looks roughly one year old.

I recently had two weeks annual leave and spent most of my time at home. Whenever I was home, the child wailed all day every day without a break. It's not so much a cry, it's a loud wail. Our living rooms mirror each other and the crying comes from the same corner of the room. There was also regular banging and rattling sounds against the wall in that corner.

I recently went round there to collect a parcel, and the child was in a playpen in the corner of the room where the crying comes from.

I'm not a parent so I don't have any experience raising a child, nor does the actual crying bother me as noise. I also don't hear the child cry overnight, just throughout the day from about 8am-10pm.

I just don't know if this is normal, as it really sounds like the child is never let out of the playpen, or acknowledged when it cries. The crying never moves from that one corner. I don't want to waste anyone's time by reporting it because I don't ever hear shouting or anything to indicate abuse, but I would like some advice because I really feel bad for the baby.

Thank you in advance.

[icantdothis2017]

When I started reading this I knew you wasn't a parent. ..

[Fitzsimmons]

How long is the child crying for? When you say all day is it really all throughout the day or just periodically? Cause my kids wailed quite a bit at that age but certainly no more than ten minutes at a time, with the odd epic meltdown extending to about 20 minutes.

[ivenoideawhatimdoing]

@icantdothis2017 - well I'm a parent and I don't like the sound of this, so what is your point?

OP are you sure it was constant? It didn't just feel like it was constant? If it was then do you think he's just in the playpen all day? Do you ever see him? Does he look dirty etc? Do you hear shouting?

Monitor it over Christmas and see if it stays the same or changes.

They could have been having a terrible day/not been well etc.

If you notice a pattern consistently, it wouldn't hurt to give SS a call.

[TectonaFlow]

No, that would concern me too.

I think you should definitely report what you have mentioned here. If you are (hopefully!) wrong, then there will be nothing to be done but at least your mind will be at rest.

If there is a problem then hopefully the parents will get some help and support to improve the situation

[newmumwithquestions]

No, if it’s really as you say that’s not normal.

I am surprised though - a child cries for attention. If the crying doesn’t get attention they stop (eventually). Are you sure you’re not just hearing regular crying (which can be normal) and thinking it’s constant?

If it is as you say I’m not sure what you do about it.

[Santasbigredbobblehat]

I don’t see what not being a parent has to do with it, a one year old shouldn’t wail all day.

I agree with keeping an eye on it over the holiday.

[newmumwithquestions]

Just to add I wouldn’t just report. Can you talk to your neighbour?

[Pinky333777]

I'm not sure how to interpret the loud wail if it's not a cry.
Maybe they have a child who likes the sound of their voice?
Why not try befriending the neighbour?
Get them round for a cuppa then see if any alarm bells ring?
But a child seemingly stuck in a playpen all day every day is a cause for concern.

[purplecloudsgreyrain]

I would absolutely report this and I absolutely would not leave it till after Christmas.
You definitely have grounds to be concerned that the child is being neglected. If you leave it till after Christmas that is over a month of a child being left alone in a play pen throughout the day. Your post indicates that the child is in a play pen, by themselves from 8am to 10pm. That is abuse by neglect. its actually really serious. There is more to abuse than shouting. Neglecting a child because you can't/ don't want to cope wtih them is abuse.
You instincts are right when you feel bad for the child. You really must report it asap. The parents may need help and support and if you report it they will get it if they need it. The child definitely needs someone to speak up on their behalf, and that person is you.

[HannahJones3]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all of your replies. I thought I'd update you and let you know that I decided to anonymously contact the social services and explain exactly what I said in the original post. They were not concerned, so I can stop worrying :) Thanks again to everyone who took the time to reply to my post and I wish you all well.