Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

10pm too late for young children?

77 replies

MotherofOats · 12/04/2018 12:43

Upstairs have 2 children 4 and 6. There is no carpet upstairs so I can hear general walking around. I've lived in this flat for a couple of months now and I can hear the children running bouncing and stomping around almost all the time :( recently that home I've noticed it carries on until at least 10 at night. As it was a Saturday I brushed it off but it's carried on for over three weeks now!
Am I being unreasonable to think that a 4 and a 6 year old should be asleep by 10? When I look after my nieces and nephews who are between 2 and 5 and they go to bed latest 8 p.m.!

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 12/04/2018 12:44

I can understand that the noise is annoying but I think that's a separate issue. It's really no one's business what time other people's children go to bed.

Ragusa · 12/04/2018 12:45

It's the easter holidays. And all families are different.

PollyGasson24 · 12/04/2018 12:48

I know someone whose preschool kids used to stay up late so they could see dad when he got home from work. May be something like this?

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 12/04/2018 12:49

Some flats have it written into the lease that you can't have bare boards if there's a flat underneath you. Maybe check it out?

Ubercornsdiscoball · 12/04/2018 12:49

It’s not really any of your business what time their children go to bed though is it really?

happy2bhomely · 12/04/2018 12:50

It is unreasonable that they are disturbing you but it is none of your business what time they go to bed!

Mine are up until 10pm in the holidays and the youngest are 5, 8 and 10. They are not running around but mooching about, reading, watching a film or having a shower just like we are.

Some people would say you are unreasonable letting a 2 year old stay up until 8.

I would knock and let the parents know if it is disturbing you regularly but don't suggest that they should be put to bed earlier!

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 12/04/2018 12:51

Sounds annoying. Does this happen when it's not school holidays?

DanceDisaster · 12/04/2018 12:53

The noise is one thing and yes, I think you need to find out if they’re ‘allowed’ to have wooden floors in a flat. I think that’s downright antisocial unless they’ve soundproofed.

I don’t really see what the problem with the children staying up late is though. It’s probably not ideal, but there could be any number of reasons for it. None of which are any of anyone else’s business. But, if you feel there’s something else ‘off’ about the way the children are cared for and this is just one part of it, then that’s different.

FridayNightFun · 12/04/2018 12:59

It really isn't anyone else's business about any aspect of any one else's parenting.

However, we all own judgey pants and I think 10pm is late for young children to be up. If they're up at that time on school nights they'll very likely be tired and have difficulty concentrating at school.

sirfredfredgeorge · 12/04/2018 13:00

11pm to 8am is 9 hours, even on a school day that is well within the normal range of sleep requirements of a 6 year old.

youngnomore · 12/04/2018 13:01

By 13 year old is in bed by 10. I know a few families who let their younger children run riot till late hours of the night. I think it’s not fair on the children firstly. Sleep is very important at that age. Also if you have neighbors it’s just bloody annoying and rude. Some people have no manners. But they always seem to find an excuse. Unless their is a very genuine excuse (Sick or SN child ).

moofolk · 12/04/2018 13:07

Maybe they need a bit of help? Glad are annoying when you have kids upstairs; there are two preschoolers above me and it's noisy even through their thick carpets.

Difficult to judge other people's bedtimes though, they may nap in the day, even at after school time. and stay up late, plenty of people do this.

Don't let this fester though. Have a work with them about moist while you can still be friendly about it.

DairyisClosed · 12/04/2018 13:09

It's Easter holidays FYI

FridayNightFun · 12/04/2018 13:09

9 hours is the low end of recommended sleep for a school age child and preschoolers need more than that. Also, getting up at 8am on a school day sounds like it'd be a rush, in my opinion.

But it's easy for me to judge from my perfect family home with my perfect children.

Flutterbyeee · 12/04/2018 13:15

If noise bothers you don't live in a flat. I am subjected to constant complaints about my 5 and 4 year old sons walking across the floor between 8am and 7pm. Some people forget they were children once too.

backinthatdress · 12/04/2018 13:19

I dont think its anything to do with you what time her kids go to bed.

to be honest, if there only running around and walking in there own home then there not being unreasonable. There kids, they wont be staying still and not doing anything all day as there so young.

Its also easter holidays, my 6 year old is up til 9.30-10 in the holidays

Original poster
MotherofOats · 12/04/2018 13:21

Flutterbyeee thats a bit of a stupid statement.. not all of us can afford to live in a house
Oh yeah I completely forgot the holidays lasted 2 weeks not 1! I guess I am a tad judgey but probably because every time I've lived above someone I've really made a point to be quiet at certain times. 10pm isn't terrible for a kid to be awake but I just don't expect to hear SOOO much bashing abd banging when Im getting into bed myself

OP posts:
DanceDisaster · 12/04/2018 13:22

If noise bothers you don't live in a flat. I am subjected to constant complaints about my 5 and 4 year old sons walking across the floor between 8am and 7pm. Some people forget they were children once too.

Do you have carpets though? It’s totally different “living in a flat” or “living in a flat beneath someone who has no carpets”. Honestly, the noise can be atrocious. I’ve lived in many flats and never had any problems. I went to my friend’s who lived under an uncarpetted flat and it was dreadful.

PrettyLittIeThing · 12/04/2018 13:22

It's actually not true that it's "no ones business" I was reported to ss (malicious phone call.) that stated my children go to bed at midnight. They don't and the referral was (in the end) proven to be malicious but it was still investigated and I had to answer the allegation.

Flutterbyeee · 12/04/2018 13:24

How is that stupid? Are you posting for solutions or angry debate? Buy some ear plugs and stop being an unreasonable twat.

DanceDisaster · 12/04/2018 13:26

Are you posting for solutions or angry debate?

Tbf, you’re the only one who is coming across as weirdly aggressive here.

Buxbaum · 12/04/2018 13:29

In many flats having no carpet is a breach of the lease. Worth checking the terms, OP.

Flutterbyeee · 12/04/2018 13:30

Okay Dance Disaster, I am clearly your target today. Fill your boots.

DanceDisaster · 12/04/2018 13:33

Um... you’re the one calling the op an “unreasonable twat”. I was merely pointing out to you that you were coming across to me as a lot more aggressive (in the mood for angry debate) than she was . Sorry that’s pissed you off.

Redpony1 · 12/04/2018 13:33

Flutterbyeee
You seem to be the one that's being unreasonable to me!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread