Couples who call or text constantly

[newmomof1]

I have a number of friends/family members who I spend time with on a semi-regular basis (once a month or so).
To clarify, I spend time with them individually, not as a group.

There are a handful whose OH's seem to be in contact constantly, to the point where it interrupts our catch ups, or my friends/family member end up leaving earlier than planned (especially on nights out pre-baby).
Obviously you would expect that if someone wanted to chat to you they'd drop you a text and wait for a reply, however this is more "if you don't respond to my text within 5 minutes I'll call with the exact same thing to say".
It always seems to be the most trivial things too: can you pick me up something to eat on your way home / I'm going to order a new game / are you free a week on Wednesday?

The most recent example: a friend came to visit me and my new baby and her boyfriend phoned 3 times within the space of 2 hours. "Where are you? Well I can't hear the baby!" (She was asleep)
"Can you bring me something to eat back?"
"What time are you coming back?"

If me or my OH is out with friends, we will leave the other one alone until we're ready to talk! On a night out there might be a "hope you're having a good time - I'm going to bed. Call if you can't get a taxi and I'll pick you up" but that's it.

AIBU or are their partners super clingy?

BigRedLondonBus - yes, I generally only speak to my dh when we're together. That's not in the slightest bit odd! I see him nearly every day so why would I need to chat to him in the few hours we're apart? I'm much more likely to message someone I don't see all that often.

I don't really hear from my DP if he's at work, sometimes all day without a message, other days he sends me a message or two. He will let me know when he's on his way home because he basically works until he's finished and that could be. early or late.

If he's out I don't message him at all and again, he'll send me a message when he's on his way home.

He's currently on a work trip and one of the guys he's with has to message his wife every hour so she knows he's okay.

I get the frustration and the concern over the “can’t hear the baby” comment as it does sound as though your friends DP doesn’t trust them. But without being in the relationship it’s difficult to pass judgment or advice as we don’t know their whole story.

My FIL is the sort of person who tells people he won’t always be able to respond immediately to a text if he’s busy, but if he texts me or DH and doesn’t get a reply within 10 minutes he’ll call to ask the same question, knowing full well that I’m at home looking after twin toddlers (so often quite busy!) and DH is at work and can’t check his phone unless he’s on break/lunch. It does irritate us quite a bit but he’s one of those where his questions, however trivial to us, are extremely important to him and he wants an answer there and then. He’s 71 so I don’t think it’s just a younger generation thing... just comes down the the individual and their personality.

I think that is quite unusual for a 71 year old. That age group were well on in adulthood before mobile phones became really common, so weren't used to the constant contact.

It's ironic that there are so many misunderstandings caused by lack of communication, with all this endless messaging

This would get right on my nerves. I wouldn’t answer on purpose especially if they didn’t want anything.