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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 8.30am is an acceptable time for a child to play in the garden?

422 replies

Theresamagicalplace · 07/05/2022 08:08

The tiny terrorist is on one this morning and I said to my partner it's fine we can get him out in garden in 20 mins or so to burn off the excess energy. He looked at me like I had two heads and told me anything before 10 or 10.30 on a weekend was unacceptable and would make us those neighbours. For context we have 2 attached neighbours both with babies or young children themselves and ours is only a toddler so plays relatively quietly (obviously not silently though). So aibu, am I accidentally the neighbour from hell?

OP posts:
Bornsloppy · 07/05/2022 08:37

No earlier than 9.30am. I've got two smalls, if I was desperate we'd go the park but this is why Cbeebies exists.

Original poster
Theresamagicalplace · 07/05/2022 08:38

Siht · 07/05/2022 08:35

I'd say 9am at the very earliest. I have a baby and toddler and we're all often still asleep at 9am!

I am so incredibly jealous of that!

OP posts:
balalake · 07/05/2022 08:38

On a weekday or Saturday fine, I'd say too early on a Sunday.

OceanAtTheEnd · 07/05/2022 08:38

I always think 10am at the weekend for kids / gardening / DIY.

LollyLol · 07/05/2022 08:39

8.30am is ok if they can play relatively quietly - chalks on the paving, digging for worms. I wouldn't allow lots of shouty play at 8.30am. By 9am I think it is fine. Round here people start DIY around 9am but no one mows before 10am so that's my rule of thumb for noise levels!

During lockdown I used to trundle my toddler on a morning walk,I did get a complaint about the noise of the wheels on his little truck on my driveway! I felt awful, never meant to wake people up. Apologised and went on the balance bike after that!

andi62 · 07/05/2022 08:40

Dogs bark round here 24/7, builders and diyers start at 7.30, so a child can play in a garden at 8.30am, it's not like there's a swarm of them.

internetpersonme · 07/05/2022 08:40

Its fine unless you have a trampoline! Restrict that until a bit later please!

elfran · 07/05/2022 08:41

I'm honestly surprised and envious at all the posters who are still in bed at 8.30, 9, 9.30! I don't think I ever slept much past 8, even when I was single, in my 20s and going out lots! Early riser problems, I suppose.

That said, I've learnt a lot here and when my LO is "garden age" I'll be keeping her in until 9 to avoid pissing off my neighbours, lest they be MN posters. 😅

That said I think 10 is crazy.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 07/05/2022 08:44

Our nursery let them go out to play at 8am- on a residential street!

yikesanotherbooboo · 07/05/2022 08:45

I would say 9.00 Saturday and Sunday ,8.00 on weekdays,but would probably take him out for a walk, to the park if it is open, or to the shops or similar.I remember the early morning seeming to stretch out forever in the summer .

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 07/05/2022 08:45

Sorry not play on the street- in the garden!!

Whisp3r · 07/05/2022 08:45

9 on a Saturday, 10 on a Sunday. It's the law.

Foxglovesandlilacs86 · 07/05/2022 08:46

I think 8.30 is fine but I’m not mega close in distance to my neighbours, we are surrounded on all sides by other people gardens but they’re big and the nearest house is about 30m away so it wouldn’t bother me at 8.30, and my kids have probably ran outside earlier than that on a really nice day.

80sMum · 07/05/2022 08:47

8.30 on a May morning is not too early, in my opinion. Surely most people (apart from teenagers!) are up and about by then - or if not actually up, then awake at least?
I'm always the last person to get up in my neighbourhood. When I fling the bedroom curtains open at 8.15, the neighbours are already pottering about in their back garden or have gone out for a walk with the dogs.

maddy68 · 07/05/2022 08:47

Yeah it's too early at a weekend

girlmom21 · 07/05/2022 08:48

I think 8:30 is fine too.
Do you have some chalk? The big jumbo ones are fab for drawing on the wall or patio and will keep him quiet

megletthesecond · 07/05/2022 08:49

Yanbu. Send them out.

EchidnaKidney · 07/05/2022 08:49

Mine are annoying nightmares at the best of time so I feel anything before 10am would make me a terrible neighbour.

LoveSpringDaffs · 07/05/2022 08:49

Toddler playing wouldn't bother me anytime. Older children having screaming competitions is really annoying anytime!!

hes 18 months, how much noise does he really make??

Your partner is nuts!! But he can be as nuts as he likes if he takes DS off to play quietly while you go back to sleep! You're the one growing another whole human being !!

ps: with SPD you're not unreasonable to drive next door to borrow some sugar!! Do what you need to! Especially making PARTNER, do as much as possible!!

Cookiecrumble22 · 07/05/2022 08:50

I'm probably talking crap. But I tell myself most people probably get up 6.30/7.00 ish to get ready for work. So if kids go into on the garden at 9am then neighbours have probably had 2hr lay in.

My children don't go out that early though.

CasperGutman · 07/05/2022 08:54

I'd say 9am reasonable in general. A little earlier would probably be okay if you don't have many neighbours and you know they are already awake (e.g. in my case I can see their toddler's blinds have been opened and I can hear their kitchen extractor fan is on!).

Sux2buthen · 07/05/2022 08:54

After 9 all bets are off but 830 isn't too bad really, the neighbours will have their revenge as their kids grow Grin

Georgeskitchen · 07/05/2022 08:57

He's being ridiculous. 6am would be antisocial. 8am is fine

zafferana · 07/05/2022 08:58

8.30am is fine to me, but then I'm always up around 7-7.30am. Young DC wake up early, particularly in summer, so I absolutely wouldn't have a problem with a neighbour DC in their own garden at 8.30am (as long as they weren't screaming - I can't bear screaming at any time of the day!)

Snowiscold · 07/05/2022 09:00

I would say 9, but some of the language you’ve used- “tiny terrorist, on one, burn some excess energy” - would make me concerned about lots of noise.