Aibu/wwyd - screaming child

[SM1234]

Hi

I really would like some help with this situation....

I live in a small one bed flat, it’s an old block and solid concrete/breeze block built so not paper thin walls.

The neighbours downstairs have a child aged between 2-3 which screams to the point it is gagging on its cries for hours on end. Last night it started about 10 and went on until around 1, it screams and screams getting itself more and more distresssed.

It’s a very small flat, one bed converted into two bed, so you can shout from one room to the next. The parents just shout at the child to “shut the f*k up you little cnt” at the top of their voices and don’t go in to settle the child. If they do get up, amongst their shouting, they bang and crash around.

I am really struggling to know what to do, I’m concerned for the child and I’m seriously sleep deprived.

The father is a very agggressive character and I’m scared to knock and talk to them and the mother never speaks, even if I do see her on her own.

Friends of mine suggest social services but that sounds like I being VU, I’m aware children do cry and parents do get annoyed. However this has been going on for about a year. What would you do?

Thanks

I would be phoning social services that sounds horrific.

The parents just shout at the child to “shut the fk up you little cnt”* This is desperately sad

I would record it and report to social service or nspcc.

Report. You'd never forgive yourself if something happened

I would definitely phone social services. I understand parents wanting to teach the child they just need to go to sleep (we have all had the Samuel L Jackson reading running through our heads in that situation) but the shouting and language you describe indicates there are general problems. The child can only benefit from someone checking their situation.

Yes there are plenty of people who will tell you to mind your own business but that is how tragic events happen. It is unacceptable behaviour from those parents. You need to log it with social services. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t and nothing anybody could say would make me think otherwise.

You would be unreasonable not to call so, child scream but adults calling them little cunts is shocking, do it for the child

Call Social Services but be aware the parents might accuse you of reporting them if they get a visit. I think you should do it though, that sounds a miserable life for the child.

Social Services, definitely. That poor child.

Report to Social Service today. And record/note all you hear and see.

My child is a nighttime screamer. Sometimes we do have to strategically ignore (after hours of placating!). However you would never find us using that sort of language to anyone, let alone our child. That’s not a parent making a thought out decision and explaining it. I’m your shoes I would probably report if it was going on for a long time.

Report. Everyone has a responsibility to report things like this. Your information could be the last piece of the jigsaw that leads to the child being protected. Even if you report anonymously, absolutely do not do nothing. Just one person speaking out could save the child. It could be nothing (though sounds serious) but it's better to report and it turns out fine than not to report and have something happen. Google and contact your local authorities safeguarding team, or even the nspcc directly. Do something though op

Report. I really would. We al lget to the end of our teather, but this isnt isolated, its conistent. It may be the father needs support and help with other issues, it may be that it is an abusive type of relationship. Either way interventions needs to be put in place.

I’d report it to social services ASAP.

Report, no question. Sounds very unhealthy situation for a child, no wonder it is screaming, poor thing.

I have recently made reports to Ss. It is daunting that the fate of a dc might be at your doing. But their fate if you don't may be much much worse. Please ring.

The screaming child is annoying for you, but not unusual sadly.

The real problem here are of course the parents. There is no excuse for shouting expletives at your toddler and not attempting to soothe him/her.

Please report to social services ASAP. Today. This morning. The poor poor child needs someone to intervene. How sad.

Ring social services!! This has been going on for a year, and you've done nothing??? That poor child.

That’s awful. I really think you should report that. No child deserves to suffer through being ignored and shouted at like that. It’s so sad to think of this child who is asking for comfort being screamed at.

Another one to say report. I didn't report something when I was in my early 20s and I regret it so much. Thankfully, somebody else acted, but I still feel immensely guilty 15+ years later that I could have (and should have) done something.

Report. If you're worried about the scumbags finding out, so what? Being shouted at by feral scum won't kill you.

Children do cry and parents do get annoyed? . Why are you trying to justify this instead of reporting?

No doubt about it. The screaming for hours, not so much. The parents language - yes. It indicates that the child isn't being soothed in any way. My son was a night time screamer. He used to scream blue murder for hours and hours no matter what we did. Difference is, we were dealing with it and not aggressive in any way.

Daniel Pelka, Baby P, Victoria Climbie, Khyra Ashaq...please please please report NOW...please don't leave it...things will only escalate...and as people have said you will never forgive yourself...please phone social services, CYPS at your local Council or NSPCC you can remain anonymous.

Thanks everyone, I’ll be calling ss this morning.