Baby crying more than 6 hours

[Lemonicecream]

NC for this.

I'm awake and not able to sleep as I this terrible flu bug. Nonetheless I am here cosied up in bed with MN and two cats on my lap for company.

I live with one upstairs neighbour in a maisonette and for the last 6-7 hours their baby has been crying. A really distressed low level wailing. Stops for about 10 minutes and then starts again.

I find baby crying noise extremely distressing and I can't find my headphones. This is in addition to 4 years of no fail morning and evening wailing and crying from their older child. Usually remedied by the parents whooping at the child as a distraction. Obviously doesn't work as the child is probably looking for comfort.

I understand child rearing is hard as I have DC myself and I am a single parent but AIBU to just be at the end of my tether now and want to rip my ears off.

My 7 month old has the flu / covid that you have, coupled with teething. Consequently he's been crying much more than usual as he's uncomfortable and distressed. Not 6-7 hours straight but significantly more than he does in a normal day. I hope my neighbours aren't mulling publicly over whether to report us to social services while stuffing their faces with cheese and crackers.

But isn’t better to be safe rather than sorry?

It is if it’s a genuine concern but apparently the OP has been worried for 4 years about the older child and has done nothing.

Amen. Hope your little one feels better soon.

@Curly12345 I found that reply to you very bizarre and a swirly mix-up!
Had to read it three times to try and make sense of it because I was sure I had picked it up wrong due to the late hour it is and my tiredness.
But nope - it really is a rather bonkers response 😂

Anyroad - Hope the Consultant/Medical Team find out what's the matter and are able to put your baby on the road to be mended very soon. Such a distressing, sad situation for you both 😕 I hope you have some strong, reliable support to help you along the way.
And for sure, you're certainly not a failure!!
You're the mummy of a brand new, tiny, precious baby who cries a lot and you're unable to fix them, no matter how hard you try.
Like I said, I hope all is fixed very soon and you'll both be able to enjoy each other's company 💕
Will keep you both in my thoughts xx

It was rather odd lol
Especially the last part because essentially the OP has been ignoring worrying signs of neglect for years….

Thank you so much. I really do appreciate your comments. It’s so horrible seeing him in pain all the time. Hopefully we will get there soon xx

My eldest cried and screamed a lot as a toddler, she has additional needs. No idea about the baby though.

DS had colic and spent day after day til it passed screaming in pain for 2.5 hours each evening. All the advice from GP we followed but nothing would ease his distress
Babies don’t just cry and are quickly comforted some babies can cry for hours

Everyone saying neglect - neglected babies and young children learn not to cry. They learn pretty quickly it doesn’t get them anything.

Yes but I believe it is better to be safe rather than sorry. That was your experience but respectively, it doesn’t mean those children are having the same experience as yours.

Was you “whooping” at your children when they would cry? Like the OP suggests this mother is.

What a nasty, unnecessary response! I hope when you have had some sleep and aren’t feeling so rubbish you look back at this and regret how you spoke to a mother sharing her child’s medical needs with you.

That was unnecessary and unjustified.

Oh god I'd have moved out by now. I cannot stand crying and screaming. My old neighbours were like this and I complained often.
Maybe do an anonymous report to SS.

My son cried 24/7 for 9 weeks with colic & cows milk intolerance.

Op, why not knock the door to see if they need any help before phoning SS!

Because OP has mentioned in a previous reply that these neighbours have been rude to her several times and she is currently battling with the flu/covid.

Dont rip your ears off, that will hurt.
When you have the light of day, when you can call at their door and breathe, take them a cake or biscuits? Ask if everything's OK? How are they? How's bubba? There might really be something wrong? Low crying from a an infant is not good, could be very hungry, weak or really sick? You might be able to help or encourage them to get a medical opinion? I really feel for you, that must be an ordeal when your unwell. Hope it resolves well.

I’m sure if they were half-descent people it wouldn’t be so suspicious but given their rude and OP can hear them shouting at their children through the walls, I imagine there is something more sinister going on.

However, like anything, I could be wrong. I do hope so because I feel awful for those two children from the sounds of things either way!

@onceuponatimelived not clear they're not "half-descent." "Whooping" to distract the kid isn't necessarily yelling at them. All OP has said really is they're rude to her. That's not grounds for social services to intervene. They may be decent.

I don't know why everyone's assuming the baby is being left to cry. It may be in arms and crying. Some babies do. Lucky you if you've not experienced that.

Didn't want to read and run, this was me and my first child. He cried 10 hours a day for 7 months. I was petrified someone was going to call SS. We were in and out of the GP/hospital. Then one day he just didn't. He's now a healthy, happy 2.5 year old who goes to sleep at 7pm and we don't hear from him until morning.

His 7 month old brother is the calmest little baby and I've done nothing different this time round. It's been a very healing experience.

This is really reassuring to hear. I’m so so lost with it all. I hope they sort him out or maybe one day, he’ll just be happy and content

OP also said they can hear someone walking across the room which would suggest someone is there with the baby. That’s very different to a baby being neglected.

Neighbourlyness is dead then? That'll up the anti, that person reports me before helps me? They themselves could be ill? Are you guys OK? Need anything from the shops? I'm poorly as well, what a night, I feel for you? If these people are abusive to you when you talk to them, 101 it, but if they are OK then talk to them first? Seems obvious OP. Hope it works out.

I would not ignore this. Contact SS OP. Tell them what you hear.

I would also contact social services. The situation with both children sounds quite extreme and I wouldn’t want to assume that the eldest isn’t being neglected because they still make a lot of noise when upset.

And I don’t know why you’re assuming it’s all perfectly fine, do you know them personally? Right, so you can’t be so sure. It’s not just the baby crying that is extremely worrying, it is a host of multiple alarming signs that have been ongoing for YEARS. Please read the thread in full before you respond so you can understand the severity of this situation.

Please OP, get a 101 welfare check on those poor children at the very least, just to be on the safe side! At least then you know you did what you could to try and safeguard those children if needed.

All the best 💐