Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Friend listening to radio to sleep (I’m a guest)?

26 replies

LoisLaneKent · 01/08/2025 23:44

im staying with my friend right now and I completely forgot her habit of listening to the radio or a podcast to sleep. When she stays with me we have a long corridor separating our bedrooms so it doesn’t keep me awake.

but now at her smaller place she’s given me her room and she’s right next door. She has two cats that want to sleep with me but come and go so I want to leave the door ajar. Problem is she’s asleep in the room next to me with a podcast playing. I’ve got four more days of this and I’m very noise sensitive…

Would you say something or suck it up and wear earplugs?

OP posts:
Chickoletta · 01/08/2025 23:46

I would show an interest and then ask whether she sets a timer. She obviously doesn’t but might not be aware that she can do this. I sometimes fall asleep to podcasts or my audiobook and just use the timer on my iPhone to switch it off. This will
at least help a bit. Earplugs too! I don’t think you can ask her not to do this in her own home.

MidnightScroller · 01/08/2025 23:47

Play some white noise on your phone you won’t even notice it 👌

Gettoachiro · 01/08/2025 23:47

Just shut the door.

ForgetYourShovel · 01/08/2025 23:47

Shut the cats put and close the door. Earplugs for tomorrow night, or ask if she can set a timer.

Sycamoretrees · 01/08/2025 23:48

Kicking the cats out and shutting the door is surely the easiest (and least rude) solution?

KrisAkabusi · 01/08/2025 23:49

Feck the cats, close the door!

Original poster
LoisLaneKent · 01/08/2025 23:49

If I close the door to block the noise out I reckon the cats will scratch and scratch which will likely keep us both awake. But might be the only way.

if she mentions it I guess I can just explain I am not able to sleep with the door open while her stuff is playing. I agree I can’t really ask her not to.

OP posts:
newrubylane · 01/08/2025 23:50

I'm aghast that you would consider the whims of someone else's cats above your own sleep. Shut the door, first job! But yes, probably get some earplugs and maybe avoid staying in future.

Original poster
LoisLaneKent · 01/08/2025 23:50

Cats hate a closed door and they always sleep in this room. I can give it a go.

OP posts:
Blades2 · 01/08/2025 23:52

If a cat scratches and scratches at the door, the door will be damaged.
Tell your friend you’re quite comfortable in her spare room, so her cats can sleep with her in her room, and you can have the door shut.

MsPug · 01/08/2025 23:53

White noise on your phone as a pp suggested (I use brown noise actually) is really very good!

pizzaHeart · 02/08/2025 00:01

It’s a choice between telling her about the obvious problem and letting cats to scratch the door.
I think it’s up to her what she does on her own but when she invites people she needs to think about them as well.

BernardButlersBra · 02/08/2025 00:04

Her house = her rules. Other people’s houses are often annoying

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 02/08/2025 00:04

Agree you need to swap rooms.

SheridansPortSalut · 02/08/2025 00:13

Ear plugs.

She gave you her room. Let her have her podcast.

TheShadowOfTheWizard · 02/08/2025 00:19

Goodness no you can't be so rude to say something when you could easily wear ear plugs, or play white noise etc.

SecretNameAsImShy · 02/08/2025 00:19

Ask to swap rooms. Then the cats can go with her and you can shut the door

McSpoot · 02/08/2025 00:21

Blades2 · 01/08/2025 23:52

If a cat scratches and scratches at the door, the door will be damaged.
Tell your friend you’re quite comfortable in her spare room, so her cats can sleep with her in her room, and you can have the door shut.

Yup. That is what I was going to suggest.

wanttokickoffbutcant · 02/08/2025 00:23

I have ear buds to listen to Audible to block out my husbands snoring.....and my annoying cat (but he died four weeks ago but also would not have allowed a closed door). I have cheap £25 ones from Amazon. My daughter has proper Apple ones and I think mine are just as good tbh and I won't panic if I lose mine.

Frostynoman · 02/08/2025 00:23

Headphones or swap rooms. The cats will soon work out where she is

ImustLearn2Cook · 02/08/2025 00:23

I agree with @Blades2. Switch rooms.

Athreedoorwardrobe · 02/08/2025 00:27

As a night shift worker here is what you do to sleep through noise.
Find a recording of white noise or rain or sea or rainforest sounds on YouTube or Spotify or whatever you have.. make sure its hours long and you've set it to play on a loop.. put that on at a volume that drowns out the noise you can hear.
Also get silicone ear plugs not the foam ones. You can mould the silicone ones to the exact shape of your ear and form a seal over the top so they block out far more noise.
I also have a fan on whilst I sleep to drown out any sudden sounds.

Turnedturnip · 02/08/2025 00:39

Swap rooms or stay in a hotel. I sleep to a podcast/audiobook(do use timer) I can’t sleep without sound now. But I have earphones headbands.

Miyagi99 · 02/08/2025 00:52

I do this but if I’m with someone I put it through my Bluetooth headband/mask, as you’re in her house I’d say get earplugs.

SallyDraperGetInHere · 02/08/2025 01:00

Put a cushion outside your door for the cats to cosy up on, and close it. Sweet dreams!