Noise complaints from downstairs

[MarryTheNigh]

I’m honestly in a fix. I live in a block of new built flats. Me and my downstairs neighbour were such good friends, until my daughter started walking and running. From Christmas last year she started complaining about how noisy we were and how they can hear my toddler running all the time! I initially felt bad so I did what I could; put child mats all over the hard floors, lock away toys that make noise, even asked her to stop jumping and running! Me and my husband don’t wear shoes and we are light walkers. By 20:00 my daughter is in bed so there’s no noise after that and one of us always takes her out until 12:00 midday. Also being mindful of dragging furniture around etc. All that and it’s still not enough they went to the management company. I explained the measures I’ve carried out to the company and they were happy with my explanation. Now, they’ve started banging their ceiling (our floor) every time my daughter runs around and it scares her. I honestly don’t know how to resolve this and being pregnant has made me more hormonal, I feel so bad for my daughter that she has to go through this. Any advice for me?

Get carpet!!

Hey! As you can see I’ve mentioned that I have put mats everywhere where there’s hard floor, bedroom has carpet.

Your problem is the hard floors, I’m afraid. (They really shouldn’t be allowed in flats, but that’s by the by). Mats don’t really cut it, the flat needs carpeting.

It isn’t your fault at all, but even a light footed person can sound like a stampede without proper sound insulation.

I usually side with the person who is experiencing the noisy neighbour rather than the noisy neighbour but you do sound like you are genuinely trying to be considerate.
As others have said, is it an option to get carpet instead of hard floors? I think if you can do that you could be satisfied that you have made all the adjustments which are reasonable to expect.
Does your neighbour know that there is another LO on the way so things can only get worse?! She might have to consider moving if she can’t bear it.

I agree to some extent with the carpet - however the same thing is going on with my DS and DIL. And they already have carpet. F with interest

It needs really thick underlay and carpet everywhere except obviously bathroom and kitchen.

Mats won’t help much, you need a proper insulating underlay then a thick fitted carpet on top. The sound of small running feet is very loud and intrusive from the flat below. I’ve been on both ends of this argument and good carpet is the only solution. In some flats they are required in the lease.

As others have said, mats are not enough and you need carpet.

Carpets.

Mats and rugs are not the same as carpet with proper underlay.

Your child isn't doing anything wrong but for your own sanity, carpet it all asap.

You need underlay of good quality and carpet.

You feel bad for your daughter?? I feel bad for your downstairs neighbour! Especially given you’re pregnant so there will be twice as much noise. You need carpets.

My next door neighbours are in the same position as your neighbour. The people above them have laminate floors and 2 toddlers. It’s hell on earth. They’ve given up and are now moving as they can’t put up with the racket from upstairs any longer.

Why is your child running around in the flat so much?

Running for outside not an upstairs flat

I think in leasehold flats (assuming you are in England) there are covenants in the lease to ensure all areas (except for bathroom and kitchen) are carpeted?

If you used to be friends , can you go in to the doesn't flat and get your daughter to run around upstairs and see how loud it is?

Because shes a toddler and that’s what toddlers do?

Being an energetic excited toddler. She’s doing nothing wrong, the floor is unsuitable.

I agree with the majority above. Mats dont cut it as don’t have insulation under them. Make sure you get a decent thickness of insulation.
If she was a good friend before and wasn’t one to mention normal noise, then that makes this your problem rather than her being a complainer.
And of course she went to management if you weren’t effectively fixing the problem. And then has started banging back. She just wants the noise to stop. It is like torture living with banging overhead all the time.
If you say her banging startles your daughter, what do you think her running does to your neighbour all the time?