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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:
Dixiechickonhols · 24/08/2021 12:52

Just speak to them. It sounds like you usually get on ok. Just say sorry I know baby been crying a lot he’s unsettled with starting nursery and poorly. If they say it’s fine say but we’ve heard banging on wall so assumed bothers someone in house?

SwimmingwiththeFishes · 24/08/2021 12:53

@burritofan I use it sparingly on MN but everyday in life 😂

I agree with your response to PP, how dare you very occasionally let your DH try and soothe your baby for 30
mins while he cries rather than dropping everything, rushing to his aid and soothing him at the expense of your own sleep and work productivity.

And I think Op has now mentioned 3 or 4 times that they take the baby downstairs but it doesn't stop neighbours from hearing him.

OP also said they can hear the neighbours talking in the evening so one really must assume the walls are paper thin.

burritofan · 24/08/2021 12:54

Just reread the OP and saw how friendly your neighbour was after the first banging episode, how they’ve said they don’t hear anything. Sound travels oddly: is there any chance it’s their neighbour in the terrace banging – i.e. next one along from them – and it’s travelling to you? Or the neighbour on the other side of you?

I do think you’re going to have to speak to them, but I’d keep it short and brisk: establish if it’s actually them banging, DON’T apologise for the noise but perhaps explain your son is ill and unsettled, and point out he actually gets worse when the wall is banged as it makes him jump/makes you and DH tense and that sets him off again, etc. Then post a bed bug through their letterbox for being bangy cunts

deathbyprocrastination · 24/08/2021 12:55

OP you are doing your best. I'm sure you're totally knackered so it's not surprising you're feeling low. It sounds really hard for you and it's not as if you haven't taken your neighbours feelings into consideration but you do need to be able to get sleep yourself sometimes too. Also totally understand your anxiety about actually approaching them. Perhaps you and DH could go together, take around a gift, explain that you're having trouble settling DS at nursery etc and you don't think it'll be a long term issue but you've heard the banging and can understand they might be frustrated - is there anything else you can do while this is ongoing etc?

Pastnowfuture · 24/08/2021 12:56

@BigButtons he wakes for various reasons when he's not ill but it doesn't disturb neighbours and it's developmentally normal. Usually once between 1 and 3am.

OP posts:
crosstalk · 24/08/2021 13:02

What DixieChick says.

Latte40 · 24/08/2021 13:02

Drop them round silicone ear plugs - we use them for camping and they block out 90% of sounds but you can still hear your alarm etc

a8mint · 24/08/2021 13:06

Dont feel guilty-babies cry. They were screaming babies once!

Beelzebop · 24/08/2021 13:11

Yanbu because of the weird approach. Just speak to them, say you're really sorry kids and all! Then say really nicely that unfortunately the banging is making it worse as it scares your child.Smile

Hels20 · 24/08/2021 13:14

We live in a terraced house and have done for 13 years. Our kids are 10 to 15 years younger than next door neighbours. Over lockdown, our 4 year old (who has severe ADHD which you can’t Medicate for until 6) would sometimes be noisy - during the day. Eg playing super heroes and jumping around a bit. House was quiet from 8pm to 7am when kids were asleep. However NDN started banging on walls at midnight to wake us up and started sweating - eg F you Hels20, F you Hels20 son. It was awful. Also got banging during day if they dared to play for 10 mins. It become so stressful and so nasty.

In the end, there was a confrontation in street as they were complaining about ADHD son. Telling us to take him out (unfortunately he had had to self isolate twice which was v distressing for him). DH had it outwith them and pointed out we were v sorry about noise, but what they were doing was abuse. From that day, the banging on wall stopped.

Have they thought about sound proofing if noise travels that much? Can you? It is hard for both sides but I agree with PP - if they can’t take noise - a terraced house with poor insulation is wrong place to be living.

I feel for you OP but I wonder if it continues, your DH goes round to speak to them. Our NDN were embarrassed by their behaviour - esp when we told them that it would be hard to sell with their constant issues about our noise. I was on verge of a breakdown - not helped by stress of Covid.

sadperson16 · 24/08/2021 13:15

Poor little baby crying and poorly and tired.
Life isn't made easy for parents in this country.

no1iscoming · 24/08/2021 13:16

@sadperson16

Poor little baby crying and poorly and tired. Life isn't made easy for parents in this country.
? What do you mean?
Nonbio46 · 24/08/2021 13:23

@TheWeatherWitch

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!

This! Good luck op. X
sadperson16 · 24/08/2021 13:23

I mean it's very hard to he a parent of a small child or children, find the right childcare and work.
I believe some countries have a more enlightened approach.

Heliachi · 24/08/2021 13:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Indoctro · 24/08/2021 13:32

If they don't want noise through walls they should of bought a detached house
Babies and children cry , they need to get over it and stuck a pair of ear plugs in...or go and move to a detached house.

BigButtons · 24/08/2021 13:33

[quote Pastnowfuture]@BigButtons he wakes for various reasons when he's not ill but it doesn't disturb neighbours and it's developmentally normal. Usually once between 1 and 3am.[/quote]
It can be- I have had 6- within 8 years if that matters.None were regular night wakers at that age though, only if poorly. I think you have all got into a habit that is not good for rest for any of you.

Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 13:34

You are lucky your neighbours are nice people! I would be playing loud music at 3 am for 30 min, if you would not do something about your baby’s noise after a few months of disturbing my sleep.

Nixandwotsit · 24/08/2021 13:34

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."

burritofan · 24/08/2021 13:35

I would be playing loud music at 3 am for 30 min, if you would not do something about your baby’s noise
Of course you would. Save it for the creative writing course, eh.

Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 13:37

@Indoctro

If they don't want noise through walls they should of bought a detached house Babies and children cry , they need to get over it and stuck a pair of ear plugs in...or go and move to a detached house.
So everyone can afford a detached house then? I’d love a detached house, please let me know how to get more money to pay for it.
Goldenbear · 24/08/2021 13:38

I think Summerishere12 has just demonstrated sadperson16's opinion very well. How childish and counterproductive!

Sugarandtime · 24/08/2021 13:39

@Indoctro

If they don't want noise through walls they should of bought a detached house Babies and children cry , they need to get over it and stuck a pair of ear plugs in...or go and move to a detached house.
This thread aside as it’s about a poorly baby.

You can also say if you want to make as much noise as you want then you should go and buy a detached house so that you don’t disturb others.

Summerishere12 · 24/08/2021 13:39

Well I Do play loud music and hoover at 7 am after my neighbours party till 5 am in their flat with 20 guests and my bedroom having a party wall with their li wing room. So yes, I totally would

LittleMysSister · 24/08/2021 13:39

These comments!!!

Surely the first step is to go round - or get DH to go if you're nervous - and just speak to them?

I'd honestly go round and just say "Sorry if you're getting some noise from our side in the night at the moment, DS is a bit unsettled after starting nursery but we're trying our best to settle him as quick as possible and hopeful that it's just a stage since he hasn't been like this until now."

If they deny having heard anything, just say "Oh really? We thought we heard banging from your side so assumed it was disturbing you".

Honestly just bring it up. It's not worth the tension.