Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lovely neighbour banging on wall

324 replies

Pastnowfuture · 24/08/2021 07:53

We have lived in our home for 5 years. It's a terraced house and we've always had a good relationship with our neighbours. We chat in the street often and we exchange christmas cards. When our son was born 15 months ago they bought him an outfit. A few weeks later we gave them a card and wine to apologise for the newborn crying. Over the last year whenever I have apologised for any noise the female's response is "baby's cry" and the male's response is "we don't hear anything".

My little boy started nursery 4 weeks ago and ever since he has been ill a lot and cries much more during the night. We never leave him to cry but he only wants to be comforted by me. On the few occassions I am desperate for sleep he will cry loudly in my husbands arms for about half an hour before finally the crying turns to sobs and he drops off.

In the last couple of weeks the neighbours have started banging on the wall. Three times in total. Last night he was very unsettled and at 3am they were banging on the wall.

I'm not really sure what we can do. I'm trying my best but feel like such a failure. He's not a great sleeper generally but I cosleep and breast feed so whenever he wakes we snuggle and he's quickly back down so limited crying (until last 4 weeks).

My son's room joins to theirs but if we changed his room it would join to their adult daughter's so wouldn't be any better. I saw the female neighbour after the first banging and she didn't say anything and neither did I. I hadn't actually heard the banging and genuinely assumed my husband had been mistaken as it was only 9pm. She was her usual friendly self to me and my son.

It must be awful for them and I feel really guilty but I also feel like the banging is really agressive. I'm anxious about seeing them in the street and last night I couldn't sleep even when my little boy finally went down because I was worrying he would wake again and disturb them.

They've always been so lovely. AIBU to be so upset by this? What should I do/say if anything?

OP posts:
FrankGrillosFloof · 24/08/2021 07:55

Is it the adult daughter who’s banging and perhaps her parents aren’t aware?

User135792468 · 24/08/2021 08:01

Your neighbours sound like nice people and have been very understanding. If you baby will only settle with you then don’t leave him to sob with your husband for half an hour in the middle of the night. That isn’t fair to anyone at all. You need to come up with a system where you can catch up with sleep either in the morning/ evening when your husband is still awake or in the day. I’ve had two absolute awful sleepers myself (recently too so I haven’t forgotten) but what you’re doing isn’t working. Your neighbours aren’t being aggressive, they’re just letting you know that whilst it hasn’t been an issue until now, the baby is waking them at 3am for half an hour which isn’t really fair if it can be helped at all. In some cases it can’t, but in your case, I feel like something can be done.

DancingBabyGoat · 24/08/2021 08:04

Maybe it’s the daughter?
My neighbours are very loud when having sex.
My teens are right next to their room and they laugh at all the noise. I hope they don’t think it’s me Grin

UnsuitableHat · 24/08/2021 08:06

If they’re not saying anything to you when they see you, I’d be tempted to ignore it.

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 24/08/2021 08:09

I reckon they’ve changed rooms and it’s the adult daughter.

I would have a chat before this escalates.

Pottedpalm · 24/08/2021 08:10

Presumably you are awake to hear DS sobbing, so you might as well be the one dealing with him. Hopefully he will settle once he adjusts to school, etc.

GoodGrief100 · 24/08/2021 08:10

I'd go and have a polite word with them if it were me. It could be the daughter banging and they aren't aware but babies cry, you can't do anything about that and banging on the wall is a real dickish thing to do. Pop over and say you've heard them banging and you're aware of them being woken up but it doesn't help when you're trying to settle your baby so everyone can get some sleep. It doesn't need to be a confrontational conversation but it's time to address the issue.

BeHappyAndSmile · 24/08/2021 08:12

@User135792468

Your neighbours sound like nice people and have been very understanding. If you baby will only settle with you then don’t leave him to sob with your husband for half an hour in the middle of the night. That isn’t fair to anyone at all. You need to come up with a system where you can catch up with sleep either in the morning/ evening when your husband is still awake or in the day. I’ve had two absolute awful sleepers myself (recently too so I haven’t forgotten) but what you’re doing isn’t working. Your neighbours aren’t being aggressive, they’re just letting you know that whilst it hasn’t been an issue until now, the baby is waking them at 3am for half an hour which isn’t really fair if it can be helped at all. In some cases it can’t, but in your case, I feel like something can be done.
And if op is back at work? She's just meant to be the only one not getting sleep because the baby gets upset for a little while with any one else? Like the neighbour said...babies cry. If you live in a terrace or semi detached and your neighbour has a baby you kind of expect crying.
ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 24/08/2021 08:13

I feel for you, and I’ve been there with a baby that cried and wouldn’t sleep, but 30 minutes is a hell of a long time for other people to endure the noise, and lack of sleep will make people grumpy.

HPmagic · 24/08/2021 08:14

Bring him down to the living room to cry if he's that's loud and keep rocking and until he drifts off that's what we used to do. Keep the living room dark etc and no difference

Hopdathelf · 24/08/2021 08:15

Very much sounds like it’s the daughter.

Whinginadeville · 24/08/2021 08:16

You need to find a more workable system tbh

Thehop · 24/08/2021 08:18

Can you take him down to a dark lounge?

Pottedpalm · 24/08/2021 08:20

@Pottedpalm

Presumably you are awake to hear DS sobbing, so you might as well be the one dealing with him. Hopefully he will settle once he adjusts to school, etc.
Sorry I misread! Thought he was 4 😄
Bimblybomeyelash · 24/08/2021 08:22

Sorry but I don’t think it’s ok to leave a baby to cry for half an hour in the middle
of the night if it can be heard by neighbours. My children were both horrific sleepers and woke frequently, but in the times that they were unable to be quickly Consoled I would take them
Downstairs as I was conscious of trying to minimise disturbing the neighbours. Yes children wake
Up and cry, that is life, and it’s unavoidable that neighbours will hear. But there is a big difference between a few minutes and 30 minutes.

SmileyClare · 24/08/2021 08:23

Try not to take this too personally. It sounds frustrating for everyone, including the neighbours but is just a phase. You say he's crying in the night because he's not well? In which case, this will soon resolve.

You could apologise to neighbours for him crying in the night and explain he's been unwell to clear the air if you feel uncomfortable.

I hope his sleep issues resolve, it sounds tough for you and when you're tired and sleep deprived, you can feel a bit sensitive and emotional.

twinningatlife · 24/08/2021 08:28

I also thought the child was 4! 🤦‍♀️

Anyway i agree if you know he won't settle for anyone but you then unfortunately you need to be the one that steps in. I have baby twins and I don't care how understanding my neighbours profess to be I don't let them cry it out etc after 11pm. Most people are understanding that "babies cry" during the day and the evenings at bed time but letting them cry at 3am isnt being particularly considerate - sound carries so much further at that time as everything else is so quiet. I could hear my neighbours teenage daughters talking at 1am through the party wall so I certainly wouldn't inflict 2 screaming babies on them as I imagine it would sound like they were in the same room as us!

I also take them out of the bedrooms that are on the party wall with the neighbour and settle them downstairs before taking them back up to bed when they are quiet

Megameg56 · 24/08/2021 08:29

It sounds like your little boy has "learned" to get attention at night.maybe he looks for attention,as he is away in nursery now.I would talk to your neighbour about your boy's issue with sleeping.they sound nice people.it is always better to communicate.you need to urgently sort your boy's sleeping/waking issue.please seek professional help!

Billandben444 · 24/08/2021 08:29

Agree with taking him downstairs until he settles. This is only a phase and it won't be long until they're banging on the wall cos of his music! Try not to let it stress you out but they/their daughter are letting you know that what you're doing atm isn't working for them. If you do decide to speak to them, it won't make the situation better by telling them that banging on the wall doesn't help (as suggested upthread) as that will come over as confrontational - own what's going on and be conciliatory.

TheWeatherWitch · 24/08/2021 08:30

I think I’d bang back next time, twice as hard, twice as loud and for twice as long!
Are they stupid enough to think you’re not doing everything in your power to console your ds?

Ask them outright if they know something you don’t, because if they know how to stop a tot from crying they need to share that shit!

You’re already under enough pressure from your poorly child, neighbours banging on the wall are not helping in anyway, just adding to your stress!

LookItsMeAgain · 24/08/2021 08:30

Ignore the banging. If they wanted to say something they really could knock on your door and ask to have a chat.
They clearly haven't any recollection of sending a child to nursery or school and the disruption to their lives and subsequently the rest of the family.
Just you do you and your family. Look after your DS and reassure him that everything is ok and that it gets better or easier at least.

RedHelenB · 24/08/2021 08:31

It will juat be from exasperation. Don't take it personally but at 3am all anyone wants to do is get back to sleep quickly.

TheSockMonster · 24/08/2021 08:33

Time for another card and bottle of wine I think!

YANBU about the banging, it’s unhelpful. I’d suggest apologising for the noise, explaining the circumstances and saying what you’re going to do to make it more bearable for them.

Taking baby downstairs is a good suggestion. It may that you all just need to power through for a week, but if you prewarn the neighbours that’s what you’re doing they will know the disruption is not going to be endless. I agree with PPs who said the adult daughter may be banging and the parents unaware.

MattDamon · 24/08/2021 08:33

YABU to not move the crying baby away from the wall/go downstairs when you know it's bothering them.

TheFairyCaravan · 24/08/2021 08:33

You shouldn’t leave a baby to scream, which crying loudly is, for half an hour at 3am., especially now you know you’re upsetting the neighbours. You need to take the baby downstairs to settle him and bring him back up when he’s quiet.