to be fed up with neighbours' bedtime toddler running routine?

[juststoop]

Every single evening, the neighbours next door seem to try and tire out their toddler before bed by letting him run around the house screaming. I don’t mean a bit of noise, I mean full-on running laps with the volume getting louder. I can hear them encouraging him to run faster.

It happens every night, at the same time and the noise carries straight through the walls. It is not just footsteps, it is the shouting and high-pitched screaming that goes with it.

I did mention it to them once and they said that they do it on purpose to tire him out before bed, like it was some kind of clever routine. Basically they weren't going to stop.

I get that toddlers are noisy and I am not expecting silence. I wish it would stop.

I know it’s shit, but it is at least predictable shit - put the tv on loud for an hour, knowing that it’s going to be over

It does mean a quiet evening. He would be up for longer playing with normal toddler noise but the parents want to fast forward bedtime hence the running game.

I have next door neighbours that keep their 4yo DD up at weekends throughout the night when they've friends over for a drinking session. She then sleeps all day Sunday.

Yep there are parents like that out there.

Some children need “rough-housing” or boisterous horse play just before bed to settle them. Especially those with extra needs or neurodiversity.

Accidentally voted YBU and can't change my vote.
YNBU. Definitely not. Sorry!

Does everyone else need to hear it though?

My neighbours still do this. She’s six.

terraced life.

Really? The toddler next door is 2. I was hoping it might stop soon!

Yeah we thought that too. She has some neurodivergence I think.

we’re moving to a detached soon. She has been top of the list of reasons to move. Our walls are really thin.

I would just play Loud music over that time. Seriously. If it overstimulates her then they will ask you to stop. And then you can also ask them to stop.
Cant really expect other people to deal with their child’s bedtime nonsense!

Call me old fashioned but back in the day we did tea, bath and bed. No one suffered.

Yes famously no child ever suffered ‘back in the day’

my next door neighbours kid still does this. hes nd and aged 9
his brother is now copying him. it’s like thundering elephants. and dont start me on them banging the windows.

oh and it’s from 10pm to midnight. even on school nights.
its unbelievable. i’ve had friends round and they think ive got kids upstairs it’s so loud so i have to explain it’s through the wall.

so i feel your pain.

Actually it’s the usual advice you’re given for poor sleepers. Rough and tumble play is good for children who need more sensory input - it discharges tension and helps them wind down for sleep. Not all kids are cut from the same cloth when it comes to sleep.

terrible mean thing to do! Is this the state of the world now?

toddlers will fall asleep then its over... they also grow fast... get over it! We all have to endure neighbour noise but it pisses me right off when folk moan about small babies and toddlers!

Gosh some people have little to complain about!

this child is being taught it’s ok to make a load of noise and be inconsiderate - it won’t change , the child will get older and larger and louder . I’m afraid I agree with you and you need to address it again .

I wouldn't get annoyed by it as small children are noisy.
But it seems a very strange tactic. Surely it would wake up and excite the child and make bed time more difficult.
All the advice is to calm down your child before bed time not wind them up.
I would be very surprised is any parent behaved like this

When toddler is in bed and you can picture them on the sofa get that hoover out. A bit of Freddie on YouTube and get to it.
Ndn spent best part of a year doing DIY before they moved in..
Now it's our turn..
Op I bet you have always been a considerate ndn like most of us are.. I tell you what it's quite liberating to stop giving a fuck.
I don't message ds for tea now I just bellow.. YouTube and singing while I make tea. Hoover at 9pm.
Radio on at 7 in the shower.
No fucks to give.

The noise of a noisy child - for about an hour at day - is part of neighbourhood living.

I have had ALL sorts of neighbours - some really unpleasant/scary/stressful. Children are one of the better noises!

I've had heavy metal at top volume/ weight lifting while shouting abusive slogans (!) - parties/ karaoke in the middle of the day from drunk people/ genuinely frightening incidents / uptight young people who complained about my baby crying.

I am not saying you have to like it or that you can't have a polite chat with them to let them know you find it stressful (i would say they would be better off taking him for a little walk!)

but - yes our neighbours can bother us - and I would personally suck this up.

also - with kids, things pass. They won't be a toddler for long. Like my neighbours who complained about my baby crying - the baby stopped naturally at a point - before that - I was doing my best!!

I hear my next door kids bickering/ playing and their dad shouting at them all summer - part of life. THey will get older and that will stop too.

Can you invite one parent round so they can hear how much the sound travels?

Rough and tumble play doesn't have to involve screaming. Screaming should not be encouraged as a form of play unless you live in the middle of nowhere

Having a bad relationship with neighbours can be beyond stressful. So, if you otherwise have a cordial relationship with them and this is basically the only thing they do that annoys you, I’d ask yourself whether it’s worth damaging your relationship with them - given that it occurs at a fairly reasonable time and the toddler won’t be a toddler forever.