Baby next door

LegacyUser · 04-04-2009 05:28PM #1

hi all
my problem isn't as serious as some other posters but it's certainly affecting my life. basically my next door neighbours have a 16month old baby(as well as a 4year old) and the little one appears to be having teething probs or something. she wakes up screaming at least twice a night.
i know her poor parents must be at their wit's end, but i share a wall with her and wake up every time she does. she may as well be in the room with me. and they never take her downstairs, just stay in the room trying to get her back to sleep.the result is i'm exhausted the following day(most days at this point) and as i'm in final yr this is taking a toll.
i don't feel it's something a can mention to the parents as i'm sure they're at breaking point themselves, and i don't think it's my place to tell them how to parent their kids!
don't really know what i'm asking....guess i'm just totally sleep deprived.any suggestions?

Nevyn · 04-04-2009 05:35PM

Ear plugs.

Susannahmia · 04-04-2009 05:36PM

lil ole me wrote: »

hi all
my problem isn't as serious as some other posters but it's certainly affecting my life. basically my next door neighbours have a 16month old baby(as well as a 4year old) and the little one appears to be having teething probs or something. she wakes up screaming at least twice a night.
i know her poor parents must be at their wit's end, but i share a wall with her and wake up every time she does. she may as well be in the room with me. and they never take her downstairs, just stay in the room trying to get her back to sleep.the result is i'm exhausted the following day(most days at this point) and as i'm in final yr this is taking a toll.
i don't feel it's something a can mention to the parents as i'm sure they're at breaking point themselves, and i don't think it's my place to tell them how to parent their kids!
don't really know what i'm asking....guess i'm just totally sleep deprived.any suggestions?

Earplugs? Try the ones made from wax, imo they are more comfortable and block out more sound.

scull2009 · 04-04-2009 05:39PM

shotgun... joke
go to bed with earphones and calming music in, let it die off after 30mins when you will be asleep, the earphones will probably block the sound, but if you still hear it then play your relxing stuff to put you to sleept again

kelle · 04-04-2009 05:42PM

If it's any consolation, it won't last forever!

I don't blame the parents for not taking the baby out of the bedroom, they are creatures of habit and the parents would be faced with problems if they were to take the baby into bed with them or bring it for a walk. Believe me, I know!

Any chance you could sleep in a different room if you're not housesharing, just to catch up on your lost sleep?

LegacyUser · 04-04-2009 05:42PM

not sure i could use ear plugs,i have issues with sticking things in my ears.

Dudess · 04-04-2009 05:53PM

Earplugs are dangerous as they could cause the wearer to sleep through the alarm.
Is your couch comfortable/three-seater? If so, I'd sleep there on nights before early starts. It's not great I know but it's a temporary measure and it's not as if you'd be using the living room as your bedroom (i.e. bringing all your stuff down there), it's literally only a matter of using it for sleep.

Or would there be a fold-up bed in the house?

star-pants · 04-04-2009 06:47PM

I was about to suggest similar to Dudess -- is it possible to sleep in another room? Even for a few nights here and there?

Kenno90 · 04-04-2009 06:50PM

Maybe you could sleep in another room in your house , were the noise of the baby would be less

Victor · 05-04-2009 12:16AM

Dudess wrote: »

Earplugs are dangerous as they could cause the wearer to sleep through the alarm.

Actually, I found the opposite. Instead of the alarm going off with some background noise, with the earplugs in, it is as if it is going off with no background noise. It is the apparent change in noise level that wakes us, not the absolute level (otherwise you would never be able to sleep in a vehicle).

smellslikeshoes · 05-04-2009 11:05AM

Victor wrote: »

Actually, I found the opposite. Instead of the alarm going off with some background noise, with the earplugs in, it is as if it is going off with no background noise. It is the apparent change in noise level that wakes us, not the absolute level (otherwise you would never be able to sleep in a vehicle).

Maybe I'm misunderstanding here but by that logic wouldn't it mean that the earplugs would be useless for blocking out the noise of the Baby when she starts screaming?

fabbydabby · 05-04-2009 08:42PM

I am a tinnitus veteran and would advise against the earplugs. Most brands (disposable or re usable) are quite uncomfortable with your head on a pillow and leaving them in all night could promote ear infections or what not.

I suggest investing in a futon and sleeping downstairs. Otherwise log how often and how much you have been kept awake for a month and call over and explain nicely that while you sympathise with them, you really need them to make alternative sleeping arrangements for the kid, cause lets face it, that's noise pollution right? And they wouldn't be long telling you to turn down your stereo. It's the same diff.

abouttobebanned · 05-04-2009 08:45PM

Kudos to everybody for being understanding of the parents

kippy · 05-04-2009 08:47PM

Move out(if you rent), complain to your landlord(if you rent) or get a builder in(if you own).
Personally, I think its a disgrace that the walls are that thin.
While it wont last forever I can appreciate the difficulty you are having.

LegacyUser · 06-04-2009 09:56AM

thanks to all the replies.

i reckon i'm gonna set up the spare room in case i need to temporarily move in. i've lived here my whole life and even when i shared a wall with to other kids i never got woken up by them!!don't know why it's different with her.

laoisfan · 06-04-2009 12:58PM

fabbydabby wrote: »

Otherwise log how often and how much you have been kept awake for a month and call over and explain nicely that while you sympathise with them, you really need them to make alternative sleeping arrangements for the kid, cause lets face it, that's noise pollution right? And they wouldn't be long telling you to turn down your stereo. It's the same diff.

Noise pollution :rolleyes: You are a sad...sad...sad person. Baby crying due to teething problems, possibly maybe even colic and you're comparing it to a stereo playing. Sad...sad...sad....

If it was the dog howling at night etc then you would have a point....but a baby. You are a joke.

Mods - warn me if you want but this poster is taking the p*ss...

Ann22 · 06-04-2009 01:34PM

You can get these velvet eye mask things that play a selection of soothing sounds in your ears. Choices range between sounds of the sea, rain falling, a river and birds tweeting. There's volume control, they run on batteries and automatically switch off after about an hour I think. You can also plug in an mp3 player to it. My oh bought me one in heatons.
I wouldn't dream of saying anything to the poor neighbours, how stressed they must be! I was in Tesco the other day and there was a woman trying to manage a screaming newborn whilst shopping. It was piercing..I'd've been in tears if I was her:(.

Blisterman · 06-04-2009 01:35PM

Dudess wrote: »

Earplugs are dangerous as they could cause the wearer to sleep through the alarm.
Is your couch comfortable/three-seater? If so, I'd sleep there on nights before early starts. It's not great I know but it's a temporary measure and it's not as if you'd be using the living room as your bedroom (i.e. bringing all your stuff down there), it's literally only a matter of using it for sleep.

Or would there be a fold-up bed in the house?

They'd have to be pretty good ear plugs to block out the sound of a fire alarm.

I'd second trying earplugs. Foam ones are best. The ones shaped like a bullet. I used to live beside a train track, and ear plugs were a godsend.

Dudess · 06-04-2009 03:21PM

Blisterman wrote: »

They'd have to be pretty good ear plugs to block out the sound of a fire alarm.

I mean the alarm clock. I'm a very light sleeper and earplugs have caused me to do so.
Incidentally, calling it noise pollution is too much all right, but if I had a baby, I'd put their cot in the room furthest from the neighbour's.

Dearg81 · 06-04-2009 03:28PM

get a pair of these: http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Audio-Headphones-K440NC.htm

They're headphones that block out all noises. Theyre worth it if its affecting your sleep.

Seniorpeazel · 06-04-2009 03:30PM

Dudess wrote: »

Earplugs are dangerous as they could cause the wearer to sleep through the alarm.

I thought that any danger would be the ear plug getting stuck in your ear or something like that... wouldnt say they are Dangerous jsut because you may sleep through your alarm .

My suggestion is white noise... its realxing and will drwon out the babies cries...

shellyboo · 06-04-2009 03:30PM

Dearg81 wrote: »

get a pair of these: http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Audio-Headphones-K440NC.htm

They're headphones that block out all noises. Theyre worth it if its affecting your sleep.

How would anyone be able to sleep with them on?! Uncomfortable to say the least!

OP if you can't bear to wear internal ear-plugs, then you need to look into getting away from the noise. If it's possible to move into the spare room, that's probably the easiest option - if it's not, you're going to have to talk to the parents about moving the baby into another room.

It's horrible for them, and you'll feel like an utter tool doing it, but you've got no other choice. You deserve to be able to sleep in peace, it's not your baby!

Blisterman · 06-04-2009 04:08PM

Dudess wrote: »

I mean the alarm clock. I'm a very light sleeper and earplugs have caused me to do so.
Incidentally, calling it noise pollution is too much all right, but if I had a baby, I'd put their cot in the room furthest from the neighbour's.

Oh right. When you said "Dangerous", I assumed that you meant Fire Alarm.

Well, that can be avoided by turning up the volume of the alarm/buying a louder one.

Dudess · 06-04-2009 04:26PM

Seniorpeazel wrote: »

I thought that any danger would be the ear plug getting stuck in your ear or something like that... wouldnt say they are Dangerous jsut because you may sleep through your alarm .

Blisterman wrote: »

Oh right. When you said "Dangerous", I assumed that you meant Fire Alarm.

Fair point - but what I mean by "dangerous" is if you have a particularly cruel boss.

kippy · 06-04-2009 04:30PM

kippy wrote: »

Move out(if you rent), complain to your landlord(if you rent) or get a builder in(if you own).
Personally, I think its a disgrace that the walls are that thin.
While it wont last forever I can appreciate the difficulty you are having.

Does anyone not think that its a bit of a disgrace that this type of thing should be a problem in modern overpriced housing(as I am assuming it is)

fabbydabby · 06-04-2009 07:28PM

laoisfan wrote: »

Noise pollution :rolleyes: You are a sad...sad...sad person. Baby crying due to teething problems, possibly maybe even colic and you're comparing it to a stereo playing. Sad...sad...sad....

I don't see how. Being kept awake by ANY noise which infringes on your right to live in peace and quiet is noise pollution imo. Where do you draw the line? babies are OK but what if the guy was beating his wife and you were trying to sleep? Or his kids? Or his lad?

Where do you draw the line I say.

Dudess · 06-04-2009 07:47PM

fabbydabby wrote: »

I don't see how. Being kept awake by ANY noise which infringes on your right to live in peace and quiet is noise pollution imo. Where do you draw the line? babies are OK but what if the guy was beating his wife and you were trying to sleep? Or his kids? Or his lad?

Where do you draw the line I say.

Well I think you drew it yourself by mentioning a crying baby along with a wife-beater. Surely it's deliberate disregard for others versus noise that ain't pleasant for all involved but can only be avoided to a certain extent - e.g. a crying baby? I think parents of babies should be considerate to their neighbours if living in very close quarters to them - i.e. the baby's room being as far from the neighbours as possible. But this isn't always feasible. Calling it noise pollution would be more reasonable if they could do something about it - what would you suggest they do, bearing in mind there might not be any other room for the baby to sleep in?

SarahSassy · 06-04-2009 07:49PM

laoisfan wrote: »

Noise pollution :rolleyes: You are a sad...sad...sad person. Baby crying due to teething problems, possibly maybe even colic and you're comparing it to a stereo playing. Sad...sad...sad....

If it was the dog howling at night etc then you would have a point....but a baby. You are a joke.

Mods - warn me if you want but this poster is taking the p*ss...

You obviously have kids... Dont everyone wants to hear other peoples little treasures whining all night long... If it was music it would be the same.. Parents should be thinking ahead and putting the baby as far away from the partition wall as possible.

fabbydabby · 06-04-2009 07:54PM

Dudess, I don't suggest they DO anything. I actually don't really care. I was simply stating a fact. Such a problem won't bother me because I live out the country and enjoy my peace, but I know it would if I lived in town again.

I don't have kids but I do have a nephew and I know how these things go, believe it or not. And I know red eyed yawning parents don't exactly want to listen to people giving out about being kept up.

But it's a reason, not an excuse and nobody should have to listen to a bawling child on a nightly basis if they elected not to indulge in kids themselves. As another poster siad:

You obviously have kids... Dont everyone wants to hear other peoples little treasures whining all night long... If it was music it would be the same

Mike 1972 · 06-04-2009 08:09PM

kippy wrote: »

Does anyone not think that its a bit of a disgrace that this type of thing should be a problem in modern overpriced housing(as I am assuming it is)

Absolutley :mad:

Zzippy · 06-04-2009 10:25PM

SarahSassy wrote: »

You obviously have kids... Dont everyone wants to hear other peoples little treasures whining all night long... If it was music it would be the same.. Parents should be thinking ahead and putting the baby as far away from the partition wall as possible.

And what if its a small house only one room wide? Or a terraced house, where moving the baby to another room means waking the neighbour on that side? I live in a terraced house one room wide, what would I be supposed to do if I had a crying baby?
Its not like music or other noise intentionally made, its a crying baby for gods sake.

Baby next door

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