Recently, I had a situation where my neighbor complaining about child noise outside. At first point, I didn’t know what to do! No one wants to be the neighbour that everyone hates. I also don’t want.
Instead of panicking, I followed the six steps below to resolve the issue. If your neighbour constantly complains about the noise your children are making outside, here are seven things you can do to help solve the problem.
Before discussing the six points, I want to answer two important, relevant questions. They are:
Are your neighbor’s accusations valid? / What is inacceptable noise from a toddler?
Some more questions may come to our minds regarding this issue. Such as:
Can you complain about the children’s noise? Or can your neighbor complain about your child’s noise?
The answer is that it depends on the reasonableness of the noise and the time of making it. Child noise law also varies from state to state. If your child makes noise outside in the afternoon, your neighbour can’t complain. But if your child makes noise outside at midnight, your neighbour has all the right to complain for this nuisance.
You should check your state’s law and talk to an attorney to be sure. In most cases, though, your neighbour probably won’t have a valid legal complaint as long as the noise isn’t too loud and isn’t happening at unreasonable hours.
Constant thumping around at all times of the day by toddlers and small children can be a valid ground for complaint. So, the validity of the neighbour’s complaint must be checked before working on the solutions.
Neighbour making false noise complaints is a serious problem. If you think your neighbour is making false complaints about the noise, you should talk to an attorney.
Neighbor Complaining about Child Noise Outside: 7 Steps to Resolve
Now let’s come to the main point of today’s discussion- what 7 steps should you take when your neighbour complains about child noise outside?
#1. Take it easy:
It’s normal if your child, aged between 1 to five years old, to make noise. Because at this age, they don’t know how to control their voice. It’s very hard to keep them calm and quiet all the time.
As a parent, you should understand this fact and try not to be too hard on your children when they make noise. At the same time, you also need to remember that screaming and shouting all day long is unacceptable.
But stay calm and relaxed. Try not to be defensive and listen to what they have to say. Keep the communication lines open between you and your neighbour. If someone gets excessive noise from neighbours, they might complain. It’s normal.
Moreover, some sensitive neighbours always get bothered by noise or anything you do. So, try to be more understanding and neighbourly.
People react differently to noise. What seems like a normal noise level to you might be incredibly loud to your neighbour. Try not to take it personally, and remember that your neighbour may be more sensitive to noise than you are.
If you show them a little patience, they will understand that children make noise and it’s not a big deal. In most cases, your neighbour will get used to the noise after some time and stop complaining.
#2. Rearrange the playing time for the child:
If your child likes to play outside, see if there’s a way you can rearrange their playing time so that they’re not making noise when your neighbour is trying to sleep or relax. Maybe they can play earlier in the day or later in the afternoon.
It might not be possible to avoid all noise, but if you can minimise the amount of noise they’re making, it will go a long way towards keeping your neighbour happy. I applied this method to my kids.
#3. Talk to your neighbour:
The best way to resolve any issue is by talking. You can’t just ignore them. Try to have a calm conversation and explain the situation. If you have a good relationship with your neighbour, they’ll understand that children make noise, and it’s not a big deal.
You can also ask them if there’s anything you can do to help reduce the noise. In most cases, your neighbor will be happy to work with you to find a solution that works for both of you.
Try to convince the neighbour that you are doing your best and they are just the kids. They need to understand that it’s normal for children to make noise.
If your neighbour is not receptive to talking or if they’re constantly making noise complaints or calling the police, you might need to take more drastic measures.
You can also talk to the parents of the other children who are making noise. If several families are involved, it might be helpful to have a meeting so everyone can discuss the issue and come up with a solution that works for everyone.
#4. Write an apology letter to the neighbour:
A sincere apology can go a long way toward mending fences with a disgruntled neighbour. Explain that you didn’t realize how loud your child was being and assure them that you’ll do your best to keep the noise down in the future.
In my case, I got a well-written neighbour noise complaint letter from my neighbour. I sent a counter apology letter in my child’s name. It touched my neighbour very emotionally. I sent the letter in the morning, and they visited my house in the evening with a gift box for my child! Funny but true.
#5. Teach your child to respect others:
If your child is old enough to understand, you can explain to them that some people are sensitive to noise and they need to be respectful of others. Show them how to be quiet when necessary and praise them when they’re doing a good job of keeping the noise down.
It might take some time, but eventually, your child will learn to be more considerate of others, and the issue will resolve itself.
Making children quiet while playing outside is one of the most difficult tasks for parents. But, you have to find a way to make it work. Because you don’t want your child to be the one who’s making life difficult for their neighbours. Nobody wants that.
#6. Talk to the landlord:
Talk to your landlord or management company if you live in an apartment or condo. They might be able to help resolve the issue or at least mediate between you and your neighbour.
In some cases, they might even be able to move you to a different unit that’s further away from your noisy neighbour. It’s worth a try, especially if you’ve tried everything else and nothing has worked.
Landlords can be very helpful in this kind of situation. They have experience dealing with noise complaints and know how to handle them. So don’t hesitate to reach out to them for help.
#7. Get help from a professional mediator:
If you’ve tried everything else and nothing has worked, you might need help from a professional mediator. They can help you, and your neighbour communicates better and finds a solution that works for you.
It’s not an ideal situation, but sometimes it’s the only way to resolve the issue. And it’s better than letting the issue fester and causing more problems down the road. A mediator can help both sides air their grievances and develop a plan for moving forward that everyone can agree on.
Note: If your children make unacceptable noise, you may get complaints of violating FHA (Federal Housing Administration). You should consult an attorney to face the issue:
FAQs on Neighbor Complaining about Child Noise Outside
Is it wrong to call the police on the neighbors because their kids are playing in their yard too loudly?
No, it is not wrong to call the police but before involving the police, try to solve the issue by yourselves. You can directly complain to the parents of those kids, or you can talk to your neighbours about it. Surely, you will get a solution.
How do I deal with my neighbor’s screaming kid?
If the screaming is coming from a child, chances are there’s not much you can do about it. Children will be children, and they’re going to make noise. The best you can do is talk to the parents and see if there’s anything you can do to help them keep their child from screaming. If not, you’ll have to deal with it and hope they outgrow it eventually.
What are some good ways to soundproof my home from outside noise?
You can do a few things to soundproof your home from outside noise. You can install thicker walls, double-paned windows, and door sweeps. You can also use rugs or carpets to help absorb sound. And if all else fails, you can always try white noise machines or earplugs to help drown out the noise.
How can I stop worrying about noisy Neighbours?
If you’re constantly worrying about your noisy neighbors, it will affect your mental health. You may suffer anxiety. The best thing you can do is find ways to deal with the noise and minimise its impact on your life.
That might mean soundproofing your home or using white noise machines to help you sleep at night. Whatever you do, just ensure you take care of yourself first and foremost.
Downstairs neighbor complaining about noise toddler, what can I do?
If your downstairs neighbor is complaining about noise from your toddler, the best thing you can do is try to talk to them and see if there’s anything you can do to help mitigate the noise.
In some cases, they might be open to you using rugs or carpets to help reduce the sound. Or they might be willing to work with you on a schedule where your toddler is only allowed to make noise during certain hours.
If you can’t agree, you might need to consider moving to a different unit or building. If possible, change your floor to the first floor of a building or an apartment that’s not attached to any other units. That way, you won’t have to worry about disturbing your neighbour with noise.
Conclusion:
Dealing with noisy neighbours can be frustrating, but there are things you can do to try to resolve the situation. The most important thing is to stay calm and try to see things from your neighbour’s perspective. Sometimes a simple apology or conversation can go a long way toward resolving the issue.
However, if the problem persists or is beyond your control, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a mediator or even the landlord or management company . . . after all, we all deserve to live in peace and quiet!