The kid next door

[user1469736815]

So we have had a family move in next door, we haven't spoken but have exchanged smiles across the fence. They have 2 children who never seem to play out in their garden. The youngest must be 3/4 and will cry alot. Today around 7 he cried/screamed for 1.5 hours, non stop, the walls are thin so its quite disturbing. My child is nearly 3 and only crys for 2 minutes if he's hurt or in trouble. I'm trying not to judge as you never know another's situation but surely this isn't normal? I hear the odd shout (in a language I don't understand) but nothing worrying however no comforting either. Then the crying just stops completely. All the worst thoughts go through my head but am I jumping ahead of myself? Do u report? If so who to? I thought about going round to offer support as dont want to offend and cause unnecessary trouble, I dont know them. Thoughts on this situation welcome.

As you say, you don't know the child or the family.
As you both have young, similar aged dc, then why not get to know them ?

Have they moved in since social distancing started ? I'd still be inclined to have gone round to say hello, perhaps suggested a socially distanced cuppa outside.

Yes. Any concerns. Report.

Go with your gut feeling.

It is maybe nothing, but that's not for you to work out.

Sounds like he is a tricky customer at bed time and the silver comes when he finally falls asleep. That would be my assumption, however, I have to echo PP that if you have concerns to report.

The SILENCE comes

Go and introduce yourself. Take a welcome gift.

We having a neighbour with a child like this he screams for about an hour at midnight! He has autism and is non verbal.

Maybe the child has additional needs or just stubborn

My dd 2.5 yrs. Had a tantrum the other eve because she wanted her brothers belly button and not hers. It lasted over an hour.
Honestly people prob thought she was getting harmed. The more I tried to talk to her and distract the worse she was. ( heat and over tired)
She then just stopped and said... Bath now please,

Dread to think what neighbours thought

Just because you can't hear any comforting doesn't mean there isn't any going on, although saying that when my 3yo is having a tantrum she screams louder if there's any attempts at interaction so we tend to politely ignore her.

Agree with pp - how do you know if they are comforting the child or not? If the noise is coming from downstairs presumably the rest of the family are around and it’s not like they have been locked in a room alone.
My first child barely ever has big screamy tantrums, she’s always been really happy go lucky and easy enough to distract etc. My second (age 2) has huge screaming hysterical tantrums that could easily go on for an hour - she won’t allow anyone to touch her, hug her, pick her up and basically come anywhere near her until she calms down. My point being I don’t think it’s fair to assume something is wrong just because your own child doesn’t act that way.

I'd pop over to introduce myself and kids. Suggest the kids could play out in the gardens together when the weather's nice. They might take you up on it.