Screaming child in tent next door

[Sittininafield]

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?

Currently got this with neighbours - before and after midnight last night. Loud music and screeching in the garden. I luckily moved bedrooms.

One of them is in Bit Coin trading, the other got made redundant from her research post so they obviously have time to fuck about on a weeknight.

A few weeks ago DB and his DW and DS stayed overnight with me. They were cleaning their car outside in street and heard loud screams for about 15 minutes (at 7am) from the bedroom of NDNs, presumably sex ones. They're not prudes by any means but try explaining that away to a 4 year old...

thought mansplaining was when a man explains what you already know?

Slightly off topic, but I had a new guy start work this week. He was explaining to me all the best places to go, in a town, I have lived in for 40 years and he had lived in for a couple of weeks and had never visited before!

YANBU and YABU. Camping is about acceptance and following Stoic philosophy - noise should be the same as peace and not bother you if at all possible.

I was in a similar situation a few years back. I have total sympathy but at the same time we never took either of our two to a campsite when they were small.

After the third night of no sleep, and after having no fun on the holiday because of being tired and grumpy, I spoke to the campsite owner and asked if there were any spots available across the field.

They asked which tent it was and I said I did understand how difficult it was as they couldn't gag the child but it was really ongoing and the parents made no obvious effort to sort it out.

They were asked to leave

It wasn't what I had asked for, but the campsite did have very strict rules I found out later about noise after 10pm.

When they had gone the family in the tent on their other side said they were pleased as they had had no sleep either.

I wouldn't comment directly, as if they seem to be unaware of the nuisance they may get annoyed but do flag to the people who run the site

Cars not allowed on the camping field: lug stuff on barrows. Maybe allowed only to unload and pack up

While I share some of your criteria, this one puts me right off. We need the car to get the tent on site and use the car for relatively secure storage while camping. I hate having to traipse backwards and forwards to a remote car park.

No that was Jean-Paul Sartre

We’ve gone home early from camping when the kids (toddlers & babies) were just not adjusting well to the change in night time routine. It’s miserable for us parents, the kids and everyone else around us.

Were trying again next week 🤞🏼 it goes better!

I think anyone making a disturbance like that should be asked to leave. I think too often "family friendly" is interpreted as being literally for children and therefore absolutely anything children do is totally fair game. Anyone who doesn't like it can apparently go off to an adults-only place. But that only decreases tolerance, and the same parents will be back asking why people are intolerant of their kids in situations where there isn't an adults-only segregation.

The proper answer to it is that "family friendly" be interpreted as welcoming of kids who are capable of meeting society's general behavioural expectations. At the moment, it seems to be set up so that many spaces are suitable only for young annoying children and their parents.

I’m sure I have seen “Well behaved children welcome”.

Unfortunately, “well behaved” is open to interpretation.

But little kids and babies aren't always cooperative. As other posters have said, for many this is the only affordable option they have - and your usually sweet tempered toddler may just decide to randomly pitch a fit for a night or two.

How hard is it to have ear plugs? Personally, I'm super sensitive to sound so always try and pitch as far away from others as I can - and have ear plugs.

I get being annoyed with older kids misbehaving... But. Really young ones are unpredictable. And not everyone can pay for a villa in Spain!

@EsmeSusanOgg If they're not co-operative, and they're pitching a fit for a night or two, then they should be asked to leave. It might also be everyone else's only chance for a holiday. Parents aren't the only people in the world who can't afford a villa in Spain.

I love all the people saying 'Yeah, people are so selfish these days...loud music, drinking, sex, toddlers screaming'

As if those things are the same

Some of those things are the choice of adults. You can ask them to stop. If they don't - they are choosing not to. And they are being arseholes.

One of those things is an unsettled & overtired baby/toddler - who you can trying telling that Margaret in the tent next door expects quiet after 10.30pm but I don't think they will listen.

Nobody likes crying children. Not the parents. Not even the child themselves is having fun. You want peace and quiet? Go somewhere with walls.

👏🏻👏🏻

Maybe if you're a light sleeper don't go camping?!

Oh really... There are, as others have said more eloquently, noises that are adult choices (sex, music etc.) and noises that are not (babies crying, people snoring, cows lowing in the field).

People should only be asked to leave for things that are entirely controllable choices.

Frankly, if you don't like the sound of small children. Don't go to a family friendly holiday place in the middle of the summer holidays.

What what a miserable so and so you and others are.

Grief!

Wow . . . this thread! I'm so shocked at some of the statements on here.

Firstly, if you want to avoid the possibility of children crying, go to an adults-only campsite.

Secondly, silicon earplugs are THE BEST and drown out most noise (and I'm a really light sleeper!)

Thirdly - those poor parents. Sounds like they're having an awful time. I feel really, really sorry for them. Leaving might not be an option for them but I bet they wish they could.

Or take earplugs, and know you won't get good sleep. I'm amazed by the number of really grumpy, supposedly grown adults in this thread.

Agree. The lack of compassion on this thread is astounding.

Well said @ReallyDoc

So the adults who don’t wish to hear screaming babies and toddlers throughout the night that have children shouldn’t camp in the holidays then or at all since they should camp at adult only places? So toddlers and babies can scream while their parents decide everybody should revolve around their screaming infant or toddler?

said parents again of non screaming infants and toddlers should wear earplugs meaning they wouldn’t hear if their own children not screaming but awoke and maybe left their tents?

or the parents of such screamers could you no not camp instead. Rather than Inflicting their choices on the rest of the campsite and expecting the world to bend to them also.

👏🏻👏🏻

The entitlement of some parents never fails to amaze me.
There are lots of them on this thread!
I have absolutely no interest in why your kid is screaming. The bottom line is that they are, so you are responsible for them and their behaviour and you need to sort it out. if they can’t behave then take them home!

This. The entitlement and inconsideration of some of the parents on this thread.

He's a toddler? That's what they do. He could be tired, hungry or in pain...

Don't go camping next time either. I feel sorry for the parents and child...maybe the kid was having difficulty sleeping because he/she was poorly suddenly? Make sure you book a 5 star hotel next time with no neighbours.

Babies and toddlers can go anywhere. Planes. Camp sites. Hotels. The Ritz. Anywhere you can go.

If you live next to someone with a baby who cries every night you cannot complain to the council as the council classify it as "unavoidable household noise"

Nobody is asking you to care about the child. Or fawn over it. Or give one solidarity shit about it. Just to accept it is nobody's fault and comes with the territory of sharing your holiday with a bunch of strangers. And the fact you all spent your early motherhood years breastfeeding in the loo of some grotty pizza hut does not mean we are going to.

I personally find whingey old people moving ridiculously slowly and complaining about everything the most annoying breed of holiday maker but I put up with them because they can't help it. Just like an overtired toddler...they can't help themselves