Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Simonjt · 29/07/2022 06:58

LunaLights · 29/07/2022 06:43

Why on earth would you have a car that does a light display every time you open it? What is the point? Aside from sounding like the perfect trigger for any photosensitive epileptics who had the misfortune of seeing it….

I can’t think of a car that doesn’t have a light signal when unlocked, apart from very old cars that have to be physically unlocked with a key.

wheresmymojo · 29/07/2022 07:00

LunaLights · 29/07/2022 06:43

Why on earth would you have a car that does a light display every time you open it? What is the point? Aside from sounding like the perfect trigger for any photosensitive epileptics who had the misfortune of seeing it….

This is most new cars now. The description actually made me laugh out loud because mine is so similar (and a totally different manufacturer).

I'd say mine is less silent disco and more sinister transformer woken from sleep followed by an ultraviolet nuclear bomb.

MsMiaWallace · 29/07/2022 07:00

I'm sure it's a bed of roses for the parents too....

overitall1 · 29/07/2022 07:06

This is why we only camp on adult sites now. However every site we've been on have a 'quiet after 10pm' rule, and they do throw people off, be it screaming kids or drunken adults.

I feel for you OP

kateandme · 29/07/2022 07:07

Best part of camping was hearing the hubbub of people all around.laufhtwr.kids.life in other tents.pitches.
Tbfwe never suffered with any really awful neighbours.
But alas my childhood and camping is full of sickening nostalgia.we did do it in the big canvas tents and mobile homes though.best times ever.
Could you ask the owners if u could move.
But earplugs.
It's the worst feeling being tired and kept awake op.but I'm sure they aren't a shit family trying to cause you annoyance?but it will be shit for them too.so I sympathise with a family being In their situation and they are probably really embarrassed.

DelisButAlsoCrime · 29/07/2022 07:09

anotherbrewplease · 29/07/2022 06:57

@DashboardConfessional @milkyaqua

oh dear Grin I've been thinking that was Oscar Wilde for such a long time - I'm 58!!

Better late than never - so thank you for pointing out my ignorance. God knows what else I've been getting wrong.... probably quite a lot.

As well as being Sartre and not Oscar Wilde, it doesn’t really mean what it sounds like it means - it’s about being trapped by the apprehension others have of you, rather than it being “hell” to be with other people.

(I had this mansplained to me by my otherwise lovely husband when I used it incorrectly; so just passing it on in turn!)

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 29/07/2022 07:10

wheresmymojo · 29/07/2022 07:00

This is most new cars now. The description actually made me laugh out loud because mine is so similar (and a totally different manufacturer).

I'd say mine is less silent disco and more sinister transformer woken from sleep followed by an ultraviolet nuclear bomb.

Show quote history

When you unlock my car, the interior lights slowly light up to a perfectly reasonable brightness. When you lock it again, it flashes twice. That’s it.

What on earth is the point of an extravagant light display?

DIYandEatCake · 29/07/2022 07:13

Yes it’s annoying - but the parents are going to be far more tired and stressed than you, and probably not in a rational frame of mind. I had a toddler who often woke screaming and it was horrific and exhausting. I can remember staying in a travelodge visiting family and feeling absolutely awful for the people in the next room… we stayed as we wouldn’t get our money back, hadn’t seen our relatives for a long time etc but I did feel so guilty. They’re probably optimistically hoping she’ll get used to camping and sleep better the next night. We go camping often and when I hear screaming toddlers in the night I just feel sorry for the parents (and thankful that my two are older and sleeping soundly).

Tumbleweed101 · 29/07/2022 07:14

The last time I went camping it was in Canada. Given a pretty camping space next to a small lake. Was lovely... until nightfall when the noise of thousands of chorus frogs and spring peepers began! Has got to be the noisiest night camping ever. Didn't sleep but did enjoy the novelty.

Mothhunter · 29/07/2022 07:17

We're on our 4th night of camping and the people have been ok apart from the occasional drunken laughter or thunderous opening and closing of tent zips.

The nature on the other hand! Cows mooing, birds shrieking, insects chittering. And two unidentified creatures last night that were calling to each other with a 'hoooo' 'heeeee' for ages. I then heard one come sniffing and snuffling around our tent. They didn't sound like foxes, badgers perhaps?

tonystarksrighthand · 29/07/2022 07:19

Twiglets1 · 29/07/2022 06:28

Why would anyone go camping in the first place is the question that puzzles me

This.

milkyaqua · 29/07/2022 07:21

www.the-philosophy.com/sartre-hell-is-other-people

I think it can mean both.

winewolfhowls · 29/07/2022 07:23

As long as the parents were actively trying to reduce the noise,which is probably not even possible, I would be sympathetic. And have ear plugs. However if it went on for more than three nights I would have a word with the warden and ask nicely if one of us could move tent locations.

Mally100 · 29/07/2022 07:23

MsMiaWallace · 29/07/2022 07:00

I'm sure it's a bed of roses for the parents too....

Who cares about them, it's their child so they have to put up with it. Horrid for everyone else!

paddingtonstares · 29/07/2022 07:24

I'm really surprised someone hasn't shouted 'shut that child up!' From another tent. 🤣
The campsites I've been on there is usually someone who is gobbier. Gentle politeness and tolerance is usually in short supply with sleep deprivation.

User367259791 · 29/07/2022 07:25

yabu hth

User367259791 · 29/07/2022 07:26

Mally100 · 29/07/2022 07:23

Who cares about them, it's their child so they have to put up with it. Horrid for everyone else!

Show quote history

Nice.

SizzlingAwayIntheHotSun · 29/07/2022 07:28

We camp, sometimes in this country, sometimes abroad. We've taken a 1 month old and a 1.5 year old abroad in the past. They did wake up in the night and cried, that's what babies and small children do. We were abroad on that holiday and had paid for 2 weeks and couldn't get a different ferry so just going home wasn't an option. We were used to it besides so we weren't going to go home for the same thing at home. We had a Dutch family next to us who were surprisingly the most rude people we have ever met camping (the Dutch are incredibly friendly normally) we assumed they were pissed off about our children, but there isnt much we could do they were so little.

I think if you want silence camping isn't for you. I remember camping when we were just a couple and a family in the next tent were up for the day before 6am, they had 3 or 4 children so it was impossible for them to do quiet so everyday we were awake too. We were camping though and children/babies aren't the same as putting on loud music, unfortunately especially babies don't have a mute button! Book a hotel next time.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 29/07/2022 07:33

My dad's just been abroad and encountered a permanently screaming toddler. 2 week holiday and every single mealtime the kid appeared and screamed continually through from start to finish. Apparently the parents seemed to think it was endearing and acceptable. Not even dealt with in the slightest and they didn't

ladydimitrescu · 29/07/2022 07:33

Why on earth would you go camping in the school summer holidays and expect peace and quiet??
YABU. Get some earplugs or better yet, a hotel.

Brefugee · 29/07/2022 07:34

Yes it’s annoying - but the parents are going to be far more tired and stressed than you, and probably not in a rational frame of mind.

and yet it is still ruining OPs holiday. They really do need to leave. Or at least apologise to everyone.

I think if you want silence camping isn't for you.

I think if you have a screaming baby you have to have some sympathy with people who are having their sleep interrupted by your baby's crying. Not just "suck it up". I usually camp on the continent where quiet hours are enforced. It's fab.

AngelinaFibres · 29/07/2022 07:34

LunaLights · 29/07/2022 06:43

Why on earth would you have a car that does a light display every time you open it? What is the point? Aside from sounding like the perfect trigger for any photosensitive epileptics who had the misfortune of seeing it….

Yawn

Ace56 · 29/07/2022 07:35

SizzlingAwayIntheHotSun · 29/07/2022 07:28

We camp, sometimes in this country, sometimes abroad. We've taken a 1 month old and a 1.5 year old abroad in the past. They did wake up in the night and cried, that's what babies and small children do. We were abroad on that holiday and had paid for 2 weeks and couldn't get a different ferry so just going home wasn't an option. We were used to it besides so we weren't going to go home for the same thing at home. We had a Dutch family next to us who were surprisingly the most rude people we have ever met camping (the Dutch are incredibly friendly normally) we assumed they were pissed off about our children, but there isnt much we could do they were so little.

I think if you want silence camping isn't for you. I remember camping when we were just a couple and a family in the next tent were up for the day before 6am, they had 3 or 4 children so it was impossible for them to do quiet so everyday we were awake too. We were camping though and children/babies aren't the same as putting on loud music, unfortunately especially babies don't have a mute button! Book a hotel next time.

You took a 1 month old camping? 😱 For 2 weeks? Your poor neighbours.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 29/07/2022 07:35

Posted too soon.
They didn't even get the meals over with as fast as possible, they stayed as long as they fancied and just let it scream.

Some parents are just twats.

milkyaqua · 29/07/2022 07:36

winewolfhowls · 29/07/2022 07:23

As long as the parents were actively trying to reduce the noise,which is probably not even possible, I would be sympathetic. And have ear plugs. However if it went on for more than three nights I would have a word with the warden and ask nicely if one of us could move tent locations.

As the OP states:

Fourth night in a row.

OP should have time travelled and pre-bought earplugs, apparently.