Shrieking child next door ALL DAY LONG! WWYD

Part of living in a terrace is hearing noise from next door but it's also accepting that you should try to keep the noise down for your neighbours in return. Our toddler understands that we think of others so shouting, screaming and loud music are a no go.

Tell your workplace to provide you with an office then? 🤷‍♀️

People telling op to wear headphones or even move house!! Why should she? . The I is here is in the parents of the child to keep him quiet and not let him make everyone life a misery around him. If they can’t do that then they should move. Don’t inflict your kids noise on others. If there are some special needs it’s a shame but it still stands that others shouldn’t be disturbed. If that is the case it’s up to them to either soundproof or move somewhere with no neighbors.

Some kids are very loud. Just born like that. Appreciate it’s annoying but the parent may well be doing all they can and it’s very unlikely this would count as any kind of nuisance/ antisocial behaviour. By all means have a word but I wouldn’t expect it to stop. After all it is his home and most homes in the UK (small/ bad sound insulation/ close together) are not really designed to be workplaces.

Have you tried working in a different room, noise cancelling headphones and making sure the windows are closed when you really need to concentrate? Could you go into the office a bit more or find a quieter work space nearby? If he’s closer to 3 than 2 he might be about to start nursery and it won’t be long before he’s in school, so it’s a relatively short time.

Your neighbour is aware of the problem but selfishly is doing nothing to respect the neighbours. Check the noise regulations in your area. Have a word with your neighbour and see what happens. If nothing improves then social services would be the next point of call so that they can check if all help is available to this family.

But you can force somebody to forfeit their right to hear in their own home? madness.

I never let my DS make that row at home, it would have done my head in. If he wanted to run about shrieking and let off steam we'd go to the park for a few hours. Small children can be distracted. It's lazy parenting.

Get some headphones. You can't ask someone to make their toddler be quiet, it's just what comes with being in a terrace. I imagine the parents would love some quiet time too.

I would record it and go over to play it to them and say is there any chance we can reach a compromise on the days you work from home

If the child has ASD you can still do everything in your power to reduce the screaming. And also talk to the neighbours to explain the situation. That's what I did. Ours rarely bothered the neighbours because I took him to the playground every day and he only screamed when having a meltdown. He talked loudly but we corrected by whispering and saying it was hard to hear when he spoke loudly. Still have to correct him at 14. But nothing says the boy next door is Asd. I know lots of children who scream if you don't tell them to stop and use their quiet voice. If nobody tells the poor lad how is he supposed to learn?

My friends 5yr old DD is autistic and non verbal, but shrieks / squeals a lot too. A neighbour asked her if she could keep it down as her DH was on nights and couldn’t sleep. She told them unfortunately nothing she can do, which is true. She’s in a flat so worse, but she can’t afford a house so it is what it is unfortunately

My two year old likes to squeal and shriek but he doesn't have many words yet. I am also wondering about autism at the moment. He often does it in excitement. You can't really stop them doing it if they are two or just turned three to be honest? Put the TV up high?

We had this in a previous house and it was during lockdown 1. DCs trying to home school, DH and I trying to work and kiddo next door shrieking all day in the back garden, mainly on the trampoline. It was dire.

We all got decent NC headphones, DCs worked in the sitting room which was at the front of the house, DH and I took turns having online meetings in the back spare room while the other worked at the kitchen table. Younger DS stopped going in the garden at all (he's autistic) unless he knew the neighbours were out because the noise was so distressing for him.

We had to speak with the neighbours after DS (then age 10, autistic) was outside in the garden playing football with his brother while they were out, then they came back and let the kid out into the garden and the shrieking started. DS had a meltdown and his older brother (then 13) lost it and yelled "shut the f up" through the fence 😳

Thankfully the neighbours were nice, we had a chat over a socially distanced brew. They had got so used to the noise they just didn't really comprehend how constant and loud it was, or the impact on our autistic DC, and we agreed some set times where the trampoline would be out of bounds so we got some peace and kiddo still got to use it. Lockdown was easing as well so they could go out more. By lockdown 2 neighbour kid was in nursery because the mum was back at work after her mat leave with no 2 finished.

Hopefully this will just be a phase and it'll get better!

I bought noise cancelling headphones for DS last Xmas because the noise in my his flats was epic. There was a family above who were training for something and were on their treadmill nearly all day.
He can't hear any of them now and can just get on with work.
But yes it's enough to drive you insane. I actually moved because of the 6 shrieking kids next door.

One of my close friends has a child who shrieks for absolutely no reason. Really high pitch sort of screaming. It's a random playful way not upset way. My friend does not say anything to try and stop him. We could be in a restaurant and he would be doing it the whole time, he did it in a small shop the other week and she didn't even try and stop him. I can't car share with her I have to make excuses so I use my own car a f she uses her car. He's about similar age too. My ears are hurting after a while of being with them in person. I don't understand why she allows it, so you have my sympathy OP.

We have scream neighbours and until I did if I'd heard someone say this I'd say "oh it's just kids playing" etc but no, some parents do let them scream.

I don't get it. Mine would have had to come in if they were shrieking but the neighbours just don't care. Or are immune to it.

Its like they accept shriekign/screaming as part of being a kid. I dot even really get why kids want to constantly shriek. It's horrible.

Its really tricky when you can't escape it in your own house.

Our neighbours moved away a month ago. Hallelujah!!! Boy close to 3 who ALWAYS screamed. Your new neighbours perhaps ?:). My eldest is ND so I know all there is to know about outlandish screaming fits and meltdowns. BUT I have always done everything I can to not disturb the neighbours ! No screaming outside, I will rush him in and close all windows for exemple. This boy next door actually screamed instead of talking outside or windows open, you heard him ALL day. I asked them if they checked his hearing. My younger had an orl problem so lost 30% of hearing capacity and talked loudly. His teacher brought to my attention that he didn't seem to hear what she was saying sometimes. A visit to the ORL and problem solved. I told my neighbours this and the mum got angry and said her son just liked to scream to which I replied that sure, but the neighbours don't like hearing him screaming so we got a problem. They never talked to me again and the screaming went on. I also noted that they never said no to their son. "It's time to go to bed." "NOOOO!" OK, soon then. "NOOO! WANT TO PLAY" Silence. And screaming went on.

So sorry for you OP. But try to talk to them nicely. Perhaps they are more reasonable than our former neighbours. So happy they left🥳

I have the same issue, used to live in a more central and busy part of london now moved out to suburbs and people here are much nosier. I wfh sometimes and in those days I have a neighbour who has no quiet voice, she talks so loud and is always out in her garden doing something or other, she narrates and calls out to her husband about something all day long, even early in the morning.

Then the other next door neighbour has a v whiney toddler who just seems to constantly whinge all day and throw tantrums, I’m hoping it’s just a phase, again they seem to always be outside when he’s whining or else he whines all day and I’m just lucky I can’t hear it when he’s indoors.

On top of that, there’s an older child, at least 8 years old who screeches in a way you describe all day long when he’s out playing with the other kids in the street. I had presumed that he had SEN but from further observation I don’t think he has.

Meanwhile here’s DH and I, trying to train our dogs not to bark so the neighbours won’t be disturbed. We also try keep windows closed if we are on a work call where you need to project your voice a lot. Are we the mad ones?

I miss my sound proofed new build flat 🤣

She can complain to the parents and request they do something about it. He’s their child after all.

Sometimes it is not possible to stop the noise, if the child has ASD this can be normal for them.

With regards to work I would find somewhere else you can work in peace either locally or at your place of work.

Outside of work use noise cancelling earphones or listen to music/podcast. Do you get any quiet time like when the child has gone to bed?

what @Blueybanditbingochilli said. A peaceful home is a basic human right, surely?