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AIBU?

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to be fed up with neighbours' bedtime toddler running routine?

59 replies

juststoop · 19/04/2026 10:11

Every single evening, the neighbours next door seem to try and tire out their toddler before bed by letting him run around the house screaming. I don’t mean a bit of noise, I mean full-on running laps with the volume getting louder. I can hear them encouraging him to run faster.

It happens every night, at the same time and the noise carries straight through the walls. It is not just footsteps, it is the shouting and high-pitched screaming that goes with it.

I did mention it to them once and they said that they do it on purpose to tire him out before bed, like it was some kind of clever routine. Basically they weren't going to stop.

I get that toddlers are noisy and I am not expecting silence. I wish it would stop.

OP posts:
Bombayss · 19/04/2026 11:14

Turn music on really loud to blot it out.
Leave the house and get back at 9pm.
Perhaps they might get it.
Running around is one thing, screaming another completely.

BerryTwister · 19/04/2026 11:12

As annoying as this is, it’ll only be a phase, and it’s probably not worth falling out over.

I always got on well with my neighbours, I’d go so far as to say we were friends. Then my son started to play with a ball in the back garden. For 3 years, in the summer months, he would accidentally throw a ball over the fence maybe once every 2-3 weeks. I get that it was annoying, but my neighbours made a huge fuss about it. I made sure the fence was as high as legally allowed, and told my son off every time, but kids are kids and these things happen. I never actually argued with my neighbours as such, but the atmosphere became frosty.

My son is older now, and hasn’t thrown a ball around in the garden for years, but the relationship with my neighbours never went back to what it was. Their young daughter now makes a hell of a noise in the garden, but I don’t complain, because I know it won’t last. If only they could have been a bit more tolerant, we’d still be friends.

juststoop · 19/04/2026 10:38

DoughnutDreamer · 19/04/2026 10:34

And then the toddler wakes up, can’t get back to sleep so they let him/her run around screaming for a second time that evening to tire him/her out enough to go to sleep.

OP, what time is the running and screaming happening, and how long does it go on for?

It starts at 6.45 and goes on until around 8.00 sometimes a bit earlier if toddler gets worn out early.

OP posts:
Edenmum2 · 19/04/2026 10:36

What time?

DoughnutDreamer · 19/04/2026 10:34

RosaMundi27 · 19/04/2026 10:17

Wait till toddler falls asleep, then play your favourite music as loud as your speakers will go. Do this every evening. When they complain that you're waking up their kid tell them that this is your evening routine to tire yourself out before sleep. They'll get the message.

And then the toddler wakes up, can’t get back to sleep so they let him/her run around screaming for a second time that evening to tire him/her out enough to go to sleep.

OP, what time is the running and screaming happening, and how long does it go on for?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/04/2026 10:25

Wait until it all goes quiet and blast some nice loud music through the walls to relax yourself?

Evaka · 19/04/2026 10:18

Meh, if you know it's coming just stick on the radio or noise cancellers. We have a lively toddler above us and she bops around to the same shit tune every morning and evening. It's repetitive and annoying but all within reasonable hours and it's the noise of family life. We have to be able to tolerate others..

RosaMundi27 · 19/04/2026 10:17

Wait till toddler falls asleep, then play your favourite music as loud as your speakers will go. Do this every evening. When they complain that you're waking up their kid tell them that this is your evening routine to tire yourself out before sleep. They'll get the message.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 19/04/2026 10:13

This sounds horrendous. Why can’t they tire him out in the day like everyone else

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