Neighbour complained about 9 month old

[wrinklycactus]

My 9 month old is going through a phase where he kicks his legs a lot when he's lying on his back. He can't crawl yet so he spends all his time either sitting or rolling around/ lying.

We're in a flat and he does bang the floor quite a lot as he's kicking... but he has a thick rug and a thick playmat under him. Our downstairs neighbours have complained, but I'm really not sure what else I can do about this.

We spend a lot of time out in the park etc but sometimes obviously we are at home. It's never at night time, he goes to bed at 7 and sleeps through til 6.30.

Early in the morning I try to stop him doing it or put a pillow under him but I don't think it's really fair to try and restrict him like that every single time during the day because he can't roll easily when there's a pillow in the way.

It's also a phase that will probably pass as soon as he can crawl.

What would you do in this situation... AIBU to just try and minimise it early in the morning and go out as much as we can, but otherwise leave him to it?

French? Such a simple language. Mine was speaking Farsi and Portuguese. And tap dancing. We had some fantastic games of chess...

This - your neighbour is totally bu, it's normal noise tell them to wait until he/she runs around and play drum ! If they don't like it they can move don't restrict a 9 month old child.

Ask to go down and listen while the kicking is happening. It may be deafening! I used to do a yoga class inna flat under a flat where a child played and it was impossible to hear the teacher. Because of the structure of the building.

Unless she moves or they move the neighbours will have a 5 year old running around at some point!
it can’t be that bad OP, he is only little. Can’t be making more noise kicking than other baby noises like crying etc! They need to get over themselves. Please don’t wander about with your Young child for them, just apologise and leave him to it! Will he tolerate tummy time on those water mats or is he too big for that now? What about a jumperoo although that could be more noisy. Can they hear you walking and making normal day to day living noise? (Is it just this kicking they can hear/bothering them?)

OP Amazon has a range of sound proofing rugs and mats. You can also get sound proofing rubber foam squares.

Are you in a converted house or a purpose built flat? I lived in a purpose built flat for 6 years and never heard a peep from upstairs. I'd put down a good thick rug. You can also get old carpet samples which are great for minimising noise.

Awwww that’s one of the loveliest ages when they have kicky legs whilst laid on their back. My 14 month old puppy does it! 😆 Seriously though, don’t let them ruin this precious (and quick) period of time in your baby’s development. You’ve done what you can. Soon enough, you’ll be stood somewhere in your flat and be startled by your baby appearing, having confidently crawled to find mummy like my daughter did! (Scared the bloody life out of me…)

Tell them to read the information from your council re:noise pollution. All councils clearly state that noise from babies & children is to be expected. If they want to complain they can complain to the council 🤷‍♀️

Tell them it will get better when he’s older and there won’t be any banging, just his violin practice

I’m actually jealous. Mine refused to sit or lie down prior to walking..I had to carry him until he could go in a baby walker …about 7 months old…then he zoomed about , happy as Larry

They can hear it, doesn't matter what context, you are making noise,put thicker stuff under him,and then consider if your neighbour was constantly banging on your ceiling it's fucking annoying no matter what's causing it

They think thats bad? Wait until he's crawling, walking and running!!!

Why aren't they at work anyway if it's during the day, or do they wfh.

Your neighbour is an idiot. I had a DJ who lived downstairs from me for 6 months, loved to mix and blast his bass at all hours. Never again. Agree with the others, if it's in hormal hours let your baby continue.

There's really nothing else you can do. You have a thick mat underneath. Wait until he's running around. The way my 1 year old runs (he refuses to walk) will definitely be heard if we lived in a flat. But children are children and at that age he obviously won't understand 🤷. God when I lived in a flat I could hear the man upstairs peeing, his microwave, toilet, kettle and even him switching on his lights. It was horrible at first but you learn to live with it.

I’m not saying you are being unreasonable at all but, in case this is brought up again in the future, it would be worth looking at your lease to see if there are any covenants about the flooring and underlay. That way you will know if you have met all the terms of the lease before it’s brought up again. I’m assuming it’s leasehold as it’s a flat. Forewarned is forearmed!

Her neighbours might be very intimidating?

Swap flats.

Assumes the flat is rented.Maybe the noise would be less.

Think it would easier if the baby was on the ground floor. Building access for trolleys, push chairs etc much easier.

A lot of flats especially with concrete floors and thin walls have really bad noise problems.Even with ordinary everyday noise.

I am on the first floor and when l moved in to this building.. The woman on the ground floor could not even bare hearing me walk across the floor. Even though l wear plastic clogs/Crocs

She also said that l was banging about and throwing the furniture around at all hours.

Most of this noise was coming from the first floor flat next door to her. Where her heavy handed, clumsy friend lived. But she didn't want to blame her

A builder friend recommended laying Acoustilay thick rubber like Sound Proof Flooring over the concrete

I then went to a then local Law Centre and they complained to my Housing Association. My HA got a Acoustic Engineer out to measure the noise.

The women downstairs wouldn't let him in. to her flat. So all the testing was done in my flat

The Acoustic Report said the noise wasn't excessive and my neighbour shut up immediately.

There we are. A real life Case Study.

Going out on a limb here - maybe invite them for a coffee & let them meet the 'lil hell raiser? They may have a different view & understand once they meet your baby & have a 'connection'?
But YRNBU, if someone wants total peace & quiet, a middle flat isn't the right place for them. 🌷