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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Screaming child in tent next door

412 replies

Sittininafield · 29/07/2022 05:07

AIBU to think the parents are selfish knob heads. Fourth night in a row. Toddler screams from 10.30 till 11.30 ish every night and then periodically every couple of hours. Not sad baby crying but toddler tantrum screaming and shouting. I am beginning to think it is the spawn of satan. Why would you go camping if your child doesn’t sleep, and why wouldn’t you go home out of consideration for others after a couple of nights? They are quite now but I’m awake since the last screams at 3.30. Should I go and shake their tent in sleep deprived, demented re-wenge?

OP posts:
Nahimjustaworm · 31/07/2022 15:36

bluesapphire48 · 31/07/2022 15:11

This is NOT my idea of being in the “Great Outdoors.” One or two nights of unhappy toddler might be okay, but four nights is unfair to the child and anybody within earshot, including yourself. For a child to cry on the first and second night in a strange place and unfamiliar routine is understandable, at least from the POV of the child, but for the parents to keep the child a third night in happy circumstances is stupid, and by the fourth night, borders on abuse. I would let the parents know in no uncertain terms that if the child continues to register loud complaints, you will call the authorities on a complaint of child abuse, and THEN DO IT. The parents are clearly selfish clods and need to wake up and realize their vacation pleasure comes at the expense not only of innocent strangers, but their own unfortunate offspring, who will grow up—unless the parents are checked in their foolish ways—to continue the pattern of narcissism. Good luck!

Oh do get a bloody grip 🤣

Jojojo71 · 31/07/2022 16:23

Well I have to listen to a screaming toddler from next door all day and most nights when I'm at home so I would like to go on holiday to hopefully escape the noise! When my children were little I used to show a bit of consideration to people around me

daffodilandtulip · 31/07/2022 16:48

I live next door to a toddler who squeals/screams/shouts from 2pm until 10pm. The parents encourage it by chasing her around and making stupid roaring noises to make her jump and scream. Constantly.

If I went on holiday and heard that, it would tip me over the edge. People go on holiday for a break from that shit. For peace.

pixie5121 · 31/07/2022 17:59

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

MsTSwift · 31/07/2022 18:06

You’d have to be a sodding saint to smile beautifically and think kind thoughts the third night in a row being kept awake by someone else’s screechy toddler.

Nahimjustaworm · 01/08/2022 08:20

MsTSwift · 31/07/2022 18:06

You’d have to be a sodding saint to smile beautifically and think kind thoughts the third night in a row being kept awake by someone else’s screechy toddler.

Nobody is saying OP should be happy with the situation. Some are saying it's unreasonable to expect the other family to cut their holiday short though. They're not intentionally being a nuisence. They're not partying/drinking til 3am. Their baby is upset and they're probably trying their best to placate them. There's a massive difference

Panatone · 01/08/2022 09:33

It’s not unreasonable at all to expect the family to leave. They are being self entitled arses!
It’s time for the wardens on campsites to ask selfish fuckers like this to leave!

DillonPanthersTexas · 01/08/2022 10:45

They're not intentionally being a nuisence. They're not partying/drinking til 3am. Their baby is upset and they're probably trying their best to placate them. There's a massive difference

I doubt it is intentional but if your children have still not settled down to the point where they cant get through the fourth night of camping without keeping most of your neighbours awake then maybe you should call it a day and let others have a bit of peace and quiet.

Lollypip · 01/08/2022 12:57

I see you are in the press on facebook 😂. They love picking up mumsnet stories

DillonPanthersTexas · 01/08/2022 13:24

I see you are in the press on facebook 😂. They love picking up mumsnet stories

How exciting!! Daily Mail????

Jojojo71 · 01/08/2022 16:15

I have to listen to my next door neighbours toddler having daily screaming tantrums day and night. Never a tear in sight just noise. I have to leave my house just to escape the annoying sound, so definitely would not want to go camping if that's what you get

dadpower · 01/08/2022 17:31

If you don’t like the idea of thin walls and close quarter accommodation, maybe camping is wrong for you. Have you considered b&bs or hotel rooms? No one can control toddlers. How can a toddler adapt to their music environments if their bundled into a car and taken home? Next time take earplugs or actually go and see if you can help and support that, quite possibly, frazzled parent

Tessabelle74 · 01/08/2022 17:54

@dadpower or maybe close quarters aren't for people whose kids scream all night? Have THEY considered B&B's or hotel rooms?

dadpower · 01/08/2022 18:38

My guess is the campsite is full of children from a variety of ages. Majority rules.

takealettermsjones · 02/08/2022 09:32

I hope the poster who said report to the authorities for child abuse was making a (very inappropriate) joke.

DillonPanthersTexas · 02/08/2022 09:45

My guess is the campsite is full of children from a variety of ages. Majority rules.

I would say 'the majority' in this case are the people who can make it through the night without having multiple screaming/tantrums. From my experience, most children after a day of running about can settle down at night and sleep. You occasionally get a bit of grumbling/crying before said child settles again and that is fine. What is not fine is allowing a child that for whatever reason is seriously struggling to sleep and is up several times a night screaming and keeping others awake, they are the 'minority'. It is on the parents to show a degree of judgement and consideration to other people on the campsite rather then the 'suck it up' attitude some are displaying on here.

Panatone · 02/08/2022 10:27

I have come to the conclusion over time that parents who have for whatever reason‘difficult’ children feel very hard done by, and want the rest of us, both parents and child free people to suffer as well!!
it’s a kind of,- how dare you have a life, when I’m struggling. It’s human nature to some extent, but it doesn’t come from a good or healthy place!

At the end of the day, those of us who have children chose to become parents. You are not free to live your life however you choose when you become a parent.
you need to suck it up and make sacrifices/ changes when your choices impinge on other people. It’s as simple as that!

Bigtitinmegarden · 02/08/2022 11:01

apple.news/Ai9WM6lxZTBCsvNtFCRi5lA

Congratulations, you made the mirror 😆

NelStevHan · 02/08/2022 11:04

Who goes on a campsite for a good night sleep??? Not us that’s for sure… next time go off ‘wild’ camping. And ALL campsite are fair game for families, BTW, playpark or no.
I sure as hell didn’t go camping pre-kids unless to a festival or similar.

DillonPanthersTexas · 02/08/2022 11:07

Who goes on a campsite for a good night sleep???

So if the tent next to yours were keeping you awake by playing music/chatting all night you would be fine with that?

SuperCamp · 02/08/2022 12:01

Who goes on a campsite for a good night sleep???

Me! I love sleeping in my tent and sleep well. And in general have always found campsites beautifully quiet at night, owls and dawn chorus excepted.

I choose my sites carefully, (small, ‘wild style’, back to basics, no EHU, no amplified music allowed at any time )and no one would think it reasonable to disturb others repeatedly at night.

OP, did anyone speak to the parents? I note they were not English speakers. In many countries / cultures people are more direct and would say, without confrontation or bad temper, if there was a problem. Maybe if no one spoke to them they somehow assumed people could sleep through the racket or were tolerant of it.

etulosba · 02/08/2022 16:41

next time go off ‘wild’ camping.

At least in the UK, that does rather restrict your options to Scotland only.

Not much use if the place you want to visit is in England or Wales.

Maddie1974 · 04/08/2022 21:21

Wow, just overwhelmed by the unsupportive comments here. Parents here must have such a great grasp of all situations ...... I have three children, all unique and you won't forsee everything. My youngest is severely autistic. Has anyone stopped to think ....maybe this was the only holiday this family could choose, or maybe attempt ? Maybe you could approach that tent the next day and say hello, ask how they are and if they need anything from the shop or offer any help. It takes a moment to just be a human and reach out.

SewingMum46 · 06/08/2022 23:54

We camped with our children for several years but until the youngest was 5 we had shorter holidays in rented holiday homes simply because we didn’t want to disturb anyone else. Never got woken by other peoples kids fortunately, but one night we were kept awake and in the morning eldest child (aged 16) asked who on EARTH was sawing wood in the middle of the night. We’d all been woken by it. It was the couple in the camper van on the next plot having very energetic sex at about 2am🤣

vickilnl · 08/08/2022 10:40

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