Neighbours are sleep training. Help?

[Fruitful92]

Hi everyone,

Non-mum here and would love some advice from actual mums.

My neighbours are a young couple and have a small child, I’m really not sure how old but definitely under 2. I met them once and said hi in passing but we don’t speak generally as they use a different hallway than I do.

For a good few months now, I believe they have been sleep training their child. The child’s bedroom is directly next to mine.

I am frequently woken up in the middle of the night by the child not crying but screaming bloody murder for a good 30 mins to an hour, sometimes a full 2 hours of on and off screams.

I am suffering from PTSD and extreme anxiety after leaving an abusive relationship. I have trouble sleeping as it is and this is extremely distressing for me.

I understand babies cry and this is just temporary, but I don’t think it’s fair that I am regularly losing sleep over it. But I struggle with confrontation and don’t want to cause an argument.

How do I approach the subject and try and resolve the matter with my neighbours?

Thank you

100% this. I NEVER left mine to cry. And you know what - she sleeps just fine without ever having been sleep trained. Babies do not need to be sleep trained. They all get there in the end.

DS used to have night terrors, it was awful and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

Unfortunately our NDN thought that banging on the walls and calling social services would magically stop this! It was such a hugely stressful time.

Thankfully we already had support from our HV, social services contact HV first, in our case anyway. Never heard from SS directly, I contacted them once our HV told me, they said they had no concerns but had to follow up any call, which is fair enough.

Not unless they were screaming too. The parent is probably shhing, singing, cursing under their breath or crying. Hopefully not screaming as loud as the baby

I haven’t any good advice that you’ve not already had OP but I just wanted to say, as I don’t think you’ve had it enough on this thread, WELL DONE on getting yourself out of a terrible situation. I’m so sorry about what you’re going through, PTSD is awful and you really need quietness and calm around you to process memories and work through trauma. I feel more sorry for you than your neighbours, honestly. With any luck it’ll stop soon and you’ll get your sleep back.

And hopefully they won’t have another!

Mine sometimes cries no matter what I do. If you had a baby that doesn't cry and sleeps well you are lucky. It doesn't mean you are a better parent.