neighbours kicking up a fuss...

[cantmummyhaveabreak]

DS (5yo -just) woke up at 3am with a nightmare. Cried for about 5mins (no longer than that... fairly loud i admit but he's 5yo and isn't fully aware that he'd woke everyone in the middle of the night.

We also have 2 younger DD's (3yo & 11mo) and he'd woken both, ending with me having to feed DD2 so she'd go back off to sleep.

Anyhow, about 2mins into DS's crying nextdoor started banging on the wall, then shouted really loud 'shut the F* up' and i'm pretty sure that woke the rest of their house as there was no other noise till then. The DD who shouted that is about 16yo and is aware of Dc's ages. This morning at 8am the mum came knocking shouting at me for keeping her kids awake.

I tried to say he's only 5yo FGS and isn't aware of times when he's just woken from a nightmare and that if her DD had just led and waited till he'd calmed down a couple of mins later she'd have not woken everyone in their house anyway. She kept going on and shouting at me so i shut the door and ignored her knocking for another few mins as she was still shouting outside the door. She went back home but i could hear her shouting about me through the walls.

She also started saying she'll report me to the police for excessive noise as Dd2 has also woken them a few times in the nigh the last few weeks- she's a baby and i let her winge for no more than 2mins before feeding her. Dh sleeps in the same room and sleeps thru it fine. Will the police pay any attention? She really scared me this morning, and the DC's... i didn't want to leave the house for the school run worried that she'd come out and start shouting again....

let her report you - she'll get laughed at (after having to keep a diary for 3 months before they'll even CONSIDER coming to witness any disturbance)

You'd have more luck reporting her for harrassment if she won't leave you alone

I think her threatening behaviour should attract more attention from the police than children crying from nightmares through the night.

Ignore her - if the police come to your door then just explain what happened here and your neighbours subsequent reaction.

I have no doubt it can be disturbing being woken through the night but it is not the end of the world and a little compassion goes a long way.

thanks- i'm glad the police wont pay much attention. I didn't think they would TBh as it's noise from a child crying... Maybe i should have pointed out that when her DD's aged between 12-16 are playing loud music at 10/11pm they are waking my 3 young children and i dont do anything about it. They are fully awake of the time and what they are doing. DH was fuming that they banged and shouted in the night- he has yet to find out she came round shouting at me!!

I agree, the threatening behaviour from her is unacceptable. And continuing to knock the door and shout when inside her house is harassment. Both her & her DD sound like fishwives tbh.

If you get any more grief from her, tell her you will report her to the police for harassment. Also make sure you keep a detailed note of this, and any other problems you have with your neighbour.

She is awful. I agree you should keep a note of any further incidents where she harrasses you.

I dread to think of my poor neighbour who is woken every night by DD2 who has night terrors and will scream hysterically for about 45 minutes and wont be comforted.

Dont let her get to you - she is a moron and most people wouldnt bat an eyelid at a child crying in the night.