Toddler running indoors U or not?

[Onomatopoeiadoodle]

I live in a flat with downstairs neighbours. They are complaining about my (almost) 2 year old running indoors.

Do you think a toddler running indoors is unreasonable when you live in a flat, if so what can I do about it as we know toddlers lack impulse control and I can't leave him sitting in his play pen all day.

Any suggestions welcome

I find that there is a large minority of posters that will look to tell everyone how poor their parenting skills are compared to their own in any situation whilst totally ignoring for example the awful behaviour of this neighbour and the totally reasonable behaviour of the OP. It's tiresome.

Thank you for your takes on the situation. I have now blocked him across all platforms and started a log of times and dates that he bangs on the ceiling.

For those who missed my earlier replies we are out most days and spend plenty of time at the park already. We also do plenty of other activities and lead an active life in general.

We are out more than we are home but unfortunately the neighbour seems to be home constantly so is taking issue with us whenever we're indoors ourselves.

DS doesn't wear shoes indoors and he's always in bed by 7pm.

I wasn't responsible for installing wooden flooring it was already here when I moved in. I have rugs covering about 80% of the floor in the sitting room where all of the banging happens. The biggest rug is about 7 ft long x 5 ft wide and it isn't an overly large sitting room to begin with.

I've been paying extra attention since posting and it's clear that DS is heavy on his feet whether he's running or just walking across the room and actually he isn't running that often at all.

Your neighbour is unreasonable. It sounds like your toddler is completely normal. Block and ignore.

Personally I'd say that a person intolerant of noise shouldn't be living in a downstairs flat with poor soundproofing as that's asking for trouble.

The flip side of that argument is that someone with a noisy, energetic toddler shouldn't be living in an upstairs flat with poor soundproofing, though.

As it is, very few people have the luxury of living in detached, soundproof homes so both sides need to be willing to compromise.

Thank you, it's a relief to hear that others agree he's being unreasonable.

Given that the vast majority of the floor is already covered by rugs I doubt having a carpet would make all that much difference. I don't know what flooring my upstairs neighbours have but I can hear them walking around, it is what it is in flats really.

This.

Carpet + underlay would probably make a fair bit of difference, but obviously that's not cheap and wouldn't stop all the noise anyway.

It is what it is - you seem perfectly rational and reasonable - he does not!

It sounds like you are being more than reasonable and he's being an arsehole.

I would personally not limit my child's development or enjoyment at all in the circumstances you describe.

Lol @ the PP who suggested card games. The kid isn't even 2!

I'm sure they'd be back to telling you that their kid was playing bridge 18 months and yours would too if you were only a better parent

No it isn't the flip side at all. That's another ridiculous comment from you tbh. People need to move around their homes.

The flip side of that argument is that someone with a noisy, energetic toddler shouldn't be living in an upstairs flat with poor soundproofing, though.

Ha! It's very bold of you to assume everybody has the luxury to live in a house. My flat is perfectly adequate for our small family, thanks.

I'm not the only person with children in the building, in fact every resident I know that lives here has children, bar two.

What you really need is a detached in an acre of land then you won't annoy anyone with the heinous crimes including walking in your flat and replacing a threshold strip.

My toddler runs, shouts, is generally noisy. My walls are paper thin. What can I do, I have a small child, they're noisy. Neighbours are generally cool about it.

Don't bend over backwards trying to accommodate your neighbours' poor ears. They can play loud music, turn the telly up, get a white noise machine, put ear plugs in to sleep and generally get over themselves.

You're doing your best and your priority should be your child's development. Children run because they're developing their motor skills. Take your child out as much as possible and tell your neighbours they're can complain to the council if they want. The council won't do shit about a loud 2 year old lol.

There’s not much you can do to stop a toddler running around

I slammed my washing machine door shut last night and wondered if I would get a complaint

@cinnamonfrenchtoast No it's not. Most reasonable people recognise that neighbours might make some noise. People with children are entitled to live in flats without harassment from someone expecting the impossible. If she were playing music loudly in the early hours and inviting friends over to dance into the bargain, then he would be justified in his irritation. Assuming he works from home, maybe he could invest in some noise cancelling headphones.

It’s a flat, and flats are noisy places - if it’s an issue, the neighbour needs to move to a house (preferably detached).

Flats have always been noisy and it’s important to be considerate, but a kid running around in the day is just normal living noise.

If you live in a flat you have to expect some noise - but can you imagine a toddler running up and down above you?! I'd be moving.

I actually find bare feet or feet with socks are actually more noisy than having something like trainers or soft soled shoes on. My 10 year old walks like an elephant when she’s barefoot!! My ex neighbours many years ago had a step child toddler come and stay often on weekends. We live in a terrace and most noise isn’t really noticeable but we definitely noticed when the toddler was there. Current neighbours have a grandson who occasionally comes round and again we can always tell. I don’t even think it’s excessive running about, it’s just toddlers doing their thing. Have to say I’d hate living in a flat and having that above or below me. We did live in a flat with a grown man above who was heavy footed.

I’d be contacting the police. That’s a threat.
then contact your council about the rave music. Keep a diary.

if environmental health come out, a child walking/running will be an acceptable sound. It’s not like he’s a 12/20 stone toddler stamping at whatever speed!
but race music at 3am they could enforce against.

get in there first and do it right.

I agree the neighbour should be more tolerant and obviously isn’t but also taking him out most days isn’t enough exercise for a toddler.

they need to be out twice a day in my experience morning before lunch and nap and afternoon. Playing in the park, soft play visiting a friend with a similar aged child to play with, walks etc.

No way would I apologise any more to someone who played loud music at 3am.

Log his noise and respond to any more communications politely but firmly, pointing out his noise. Then ignore.

He can fuck off, banging the ceiling at 1pm. That's a perfectly acceptable time to make noise whether he likes it or not. Toddlers run around, it's developmentally appropriate and I wouldn't stop it.

He won't be able to send anything else now as he's blocked.

I think he's a bit bonkers to be honest.

Why on earth, on the morning of a funeral when you should be concentrating on that, would you start texting your neighbour first thing in the morning about noise.. before there has even been any?!

It feels as though we're being used as a scapegoat and all the shit in his life is somehow our fault 😐