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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:
Constellationstation · 24/08/2021 16:30

@Summerishere12

It’s mumsnet, advice you get here does not make sense in real life, it’s buy chocolates/detached house/adopt neighbour’s baby etc.
😆 you’re one to talk! ‘Play loud music at 3am for half an hour’
Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 16:38

I would actually do it if the neighbours were unapologetic and continued with their appalling disregard of my needs. It takes me several days to get over a disturbed night of sleep and my husband suffers from panic attacks and uncontrollable noise is a big trigger. So I’ll go mad if someone put earplugs in and went to sleep in a different room, leaving their baby crying. But I am living in a real world, not a mumsnet fantasy, where you can sort everything with a box of chocolates..

Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 16:42

By the way my youngest spent the first sixth months of his life sleeping in the living room with me on the sofa for the exact same reason - I did not want to disturb my elderly neighbours in our old house with paper-thin walls.

RandomMess · 24/08/2021 16:51

Presumably you are giving him pain relief? One of mine suffered massively with teething the others really not at all.

We used teething powders before bed as well pain relief which seemed to help.

Thanks
2bazookas · 24/08/2021 16:56

Isn't there any room which doesn't have a party wall with them?

Where DH could cuddle the howler until he drops off.

Constellationstation · 24/08/2021 17:00

@Summerishere12

I would actually do it if the neighbours were unapologetic and continued with their appalling disregard of my needs. It takes me several days to get over a disturbed night of sleep and my husband suffers from panic attacks and uncontrollable noise is a big trigger. So I’ll go mad if someone put earplugs in and went to sleep in a different room, leaving their baby crying. But I am living in a real world, not a mumsnet fantasy, where you can sort everything with a box of chocolates..
Your husband suffers from panic attacks and uncontrollable noise is a big trigger, so you’d put on loud music to solve the problem 😆 If you were my neighbour I can assure you that wouldn’t be solving any problems
Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 17:04

Well, if he is awake anyway, it won’t make a difference. But anyway, we all think differently, I might be bonkers, all I sad previously - the OP is lucky to have such a tame couple as her neighbours, many people won’t tolerate it, depends on a person I guess. I get angry very quickly and often react before thinking through, so I won’t hesitate going and banging on her door/report her to social services/play music at night etc if she tipped me over the brink so to say.. even if I’d regret it later.

Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 17:10

Sh*t neighbours can really affect your mental state, that’s what I am trying to say here. Especially when you are being quite and considerate and minding your own business without disturbing anyone by your life choices.

Pastnowfuture · 24/08/2021 17:25

@RandomMess yes he has calpol and anbesol but I could try the granules.

He's currently on antibiotics for his 2nd ear infection in 4 weeks.

OP posts:
Waspsarearseholes · 24/08/2021 17:40

@Nixandwotsit

Go round and speak to them. Personally I wouldn't take apologetic presents because they should be apologising to you. Be nice but not apologetic. They will be stunned I'm guessing if you or your husband appear at their door, possibly baby in arms. Something along the lines of "I'm really hurt that you've been banging on the walls lately. You've always been so kind and understanding about x. The thing is, he's been really ill and he can't help being upset and crying. We're doing our best but short of moving house there's nothing more we can do."
Why on earth should the neighbours apologise to OP? They haven't woken anybody up. 'Hurt' because they banged on a wall? Ok, what if they are 'hurt' because they've had so much disrupted sleep? Would OP then be 'hurt' that they neighbours are annoyed about it? We could go on all day here. You are so fucking rude if you don't think that your neighbours deserve an apology if noise from your house has kept them awake. It doesn't actually matter what the noise is. Being kept awake by a baby doesn't make you feel less tired than being kept awake by a rave.
tegannotsovegan · 24/08/2021 17:42

@BigButtons

Now you know your child IS disturbing your neighbours. So now you can go round and apologise to them.
@BigButtons

You have got to be joking.

RandomMess · 24/08/2021 17:45

@Pastnowfuture ear infections are just the worst! He must be in agony.

tegannotsovegan · 24/08/2021 17:45

@Waspsarearseholes

The thing is, a crying baby can't be helped if you're doing everything you can to reassure them... raves can be helped. Just don't have then.

Someone's feeling entitled today (hint: it's you!)

Waspsarearseholes · 24/08/2021 17:54

[quote tegannotsovegan]@Waspsarearseholes

The thing is, a crying baby can't be helped if you're doing everything you can to reassure them... raves can be helped. Just don't have then.

Someone's feeling entitled today (hint: it's you!)[/quote]
I'm not suggesting it can be helped. I'm saying that if you know noise from your house has disturbed your neighbours' sleep then the decent thing to do is apologise. Are you sure you know what 'entitled' means?

Pastnowfuture · 24/08/2021 17:57

@2bazookas Unfortunately not just the stairs and hallway along the other side of the house. We do walk him up and down the hall.

OP posts:
tegannotsovegan · 24/08/2021 18:01

@Waspsarearseholes

OP has already said they're going to apologise, so I don't see what your point is.

Yes. The definition of entitled is your attitude at the moment.

BigButtons · 24/08/2021 18:01

@tegannotsovegan no why would I be?

Waspsarearseholes · 24/08/2021 18:06

[quote tegannotsovegan]@Waspsarearseholes

OP has already said they're going to apologise, so I don't see what your point is.

Yes. The definition of entitled is your attitude at the moment.[/quote]
Right. Did you not notice that my comment was in response to another poster's comment, though? And no, my comments are not the definition of entitled. At all.

GoodGrief100 · 24/08/2021 18:54

I don't think you're entitled. I do think you trump wasps in the arsehole department.

GoodGrief100 · 24/08/2021 18:54

@GoodGrief100

I don't think you're entitled. I do think you trump wasps in the arsehole department.
@waspsarearseholes ... oops 🤭
Waspsarearseholes · 24/08/2021 19:06

Cringe

GoodGrief100 · 24/08/2021 19:11

@Waspsarearseholes

Cringe
Your attitude really is 😁
Pinkcadillac · 24/08/2021 19:32

[quote Pastnowfuture]@RandomMess yes he has calpol and anbesol but I could try the granules.

He's currently on antibiotics for his 2nd ear infection in 4 weeks.[/quote]
If he has an ear infection he must be in pain. I'd go on breastfeeding while he is ill. Could you take time off from work for a week or two so that you can rest during the day?

I'd start dropping the night feeds him as soon as he gets better.

DixonD · 25/08/2021 00:28

@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.
This.

Sorry OP, it’s hard when you’re tired, but YABU to leave your baby to cry (even in someone else’s arms), when he only wants you.

silentpool · 25/08/2021 01:21

You are all being unreasonable. You, for allowing them to be disturbed during quiet hours and them for passive - aggressive banging. Can you soundproof the shared wall?