what would you do?

FatVonD

You haven't mentioned yet whether the floors are concrete or wooden, OP, that might make a big difference to people's perception of how noisy it might be.

I often see offcuts of carpet outside the big carpet retailers from around £40. As someone else said, you don't need to have fitted carpet or exactly what you would choose as your 'forever' carpet, just enough to cover the central areas. You could start with a piece in the main room he plays in and maybe cut it down later to fit a smaller room so it's not wasted money when you eventually carpet that room.

Or of course try Freecycle.

Greenqueen_2

Years ago when my children were little and funds limited we made our own "carpet" from big cardboard boxes opened out and sellotaped together. It was not a pretty sight especially as the corners got scruffed up, but it served a purpose. The room felt warmer as well.

thorsoak

Have you thought about these? https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=interlocking+foam+mats+uk&rlz=1C1SAVI_enGB508GB508&oq=interlocking+foam+mats+uk&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.50038j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=interlocking+foam+mats+uk&tbm=shop

You might be able to afford enough to do one part of his room - or you could move them from the living room to bedroom as he plays!

January20

QuackQuackOops wrote: »

How can you possibly know that the neighbours are overreacting?
You aren't the one below the noise and you don't know how noisy it is.

When people live in flats then yes, they need to be aware of neighbours and be considerate when it comes to noise.
If that means restricting the noise and running a 2 year old does because there is no carpet, then so be it. A carpet would be a priority.

It's a case of teaching children from early on to be respectful of others and adjust behaviour to suit.
No parent can expect their child to just run around and makes as much noise as they want to when it is annoying neighbours.

Well, I was going to answer you but Morglin put it so much better than I would have!

Morglin wrote: »

Two year olds run about, and are much too young to grasp the concept of being quiet and respecting the neighbours!

They are still babies.

Toddlers are normal noise, and anyone living in flats needs to accept normal noise, and I say that as someone living in a ground floor flat.

There is no way I would spend all day out of doors, with a toddler, this weather, to pacify the neighbours...:eek:

Live and let live, until the OP can get a carpet, when that should muffle a lot of it.

Lin

And then when the OP adds they complain even when the child is just crawling around playing with his cars, I'm even more convinced they are over-reacting!

Hearing that their child is noisy and they do nothing about it reinforces my feeling that they have got in a habit of complaining about the OP. It's like a form of bullying, because you are so nice and apologetic about it, OP. I bet if you complained about their child being noisy (why haven't you?) or let your partner deal with this in his way (strongly but not starting a war), the dynamics of the situation might change.

notanewuser

Morglin wrote: »

Two year olds run about, and are much too young to grasp the concept of being quiet and respecting the neighbours!

They are still babies.

Toddlers are normal noise, and anyone living in flats needs to accept normal noise, and I say that as someone living in a ground floor flat.

There is no way I would spend all day out of doors, with a toddler, this weather, to pacify the neighbours...:eek:

Live and let live, until the OP can get a carpet, when that should muffle a lot of it.

Lin

Exactly my thoughts. Children grow up too young as it is. Keeping them still does nobody any favours. Let him be a child!

sulkisu

The noise from a child runnng about can be horrendous - I was in that position myself (many years ago), and the 'kids will be kids' arguement, while true, does nothing when you are the person on the receiving end. Unless the people above you also have a two year old child, the sounds that you hear will be completely different. Unfortunately my neighbour had two pre-school age children and the noise went on all day every day. I was sleep deprived, stressed and depressed. However, if as you say, your son is only running around for an hour or so in the evening, then I do think that your neighbours are being unreasonable. I doubt if they are being vindictive (okay, they might be) - but they probably just haven't experienced the noise before. I now have three toddlers and even I bristle at the sound of my neighbours son stomping around when mine are quiet. It is hard when you are social housing tenants,as you don't have the option of just moving somewhere else (neither of you). It might be worth getting your LA EHO around to check the level of soundproofing. In my case the situation improved signficantly when the landlord was forced to soundproof - the soundproofing was wholly inadequate.


Just to add, I would be surprised if your two year old doesn't understand what you say.


ETA - That was a bit of a ramble, the part in bold is what I would suggest you do.

notanewuser

sulkisu wrote: »

The noise from a child runnng about can be horrendous - I was in that position myself (many years ago), and the 'kids will be kids' arguement, while true, does nothing when you are the person on the receiving end. Unless the people above you also have a two year old child, the sounds that you hear will be completely different. Unfortunately my neighbour had two pre-school age children and the noise went on all day every day. I was sleep deprived, stressed and depressed. However, if as you say, your son is only running around for an hour or so in the evening, then I do think that your neighbours are being unreasonable. I doubt if they are being vindictive (okay, they might be) - but they probably just haven't experienced the noise before. I now have three toddlers and even I bristle at the sound of my neighbours son stomping around when mine are quiet. It is hard when you are social housing tenants,as you don't have the option of just moving somewhere else (neither of you). It might be worth getting your LA EHO around to check the level of soundproofing. In my case the situation improved signficantly when the landlord was forced to soundproof - the soundproofing was wholly inadequate.


Just to add, I would be surprised if your two year old doesn't understand what you say.

The OP has posted before about his potential developmental delays.

Millions of children grow up in terraced houses or flats. It is unreasonable to expect every child to be quiet when you want them to be.

It annoys me greatly when lazy tw*ts beep their car horns in the street instead of getting out and ringing doorbells, or when DH was working nights and people would be noisier than necessary. The answer to those issues is likely to be earplugs. Not sure why that isn't an option for the OP's neighbours, especially if all noise stops at a more-than reasonable 7pm!!!

shegirl

JemmaM91 wrote: »

Hi again.

Yes it is a housing association flat and there wasn't any carpets when we moved in.

Im afraid I can't guarantee il be able to carpet the entire flat by October as it is really expensive. Even with remnants each room will cost over £200.

Also it is a struggle to stop my son playing as 1) he's only 2 and 2) he doesnt understand what I say yet.

I really do try to keep him quiet but even when hes crawling around with his cars I get complaints. I hear upstairs running around so I do understand what they can hear. Also their child plays loudly outside my front door (shes friends with next doors) after DS has gone to bed. And I mean screaming and banging until 9pm most nights. So that just makes me more upset about complaints about DS. OH is currently ready for a war it seems so im now dreading the next knock on the door.

Sorry little rant over.

Really? Only if you want certain price carpets!!

https://www.online-carpets.co.uk a standard 4X4m room will come in at under 80.Underlay is cheap there too.

Most important is underlay fir the noise and to preserve the carpet.

If you are struggling to buy carpet don't be daft and insist on paying 200+ per room!!!Unnecessary and nuts.

notanewuser

shegirl wrote: »

Really? Only if you want certain price carpets!!

www.online-carpets.co.uk a standard 4X4m room will come in at under 80.Underlay is cheap there too.

Most important is underlay fir the noise and to preserve the carpet.

If you are struggling to buy carpet don't be daft and insist on paying 200+ per room!!!Unnecessary and nuts.

Could easily cost £200 to have carpet, underlay and door thresholds fitted.

System

shegirl wrote: »

Really? Only if you want certain price carpets!!

https://www.online-carpets.co.uk a standard 4X4m room will come in at under 80.Underlay is cheap there too.

Most important is underlay fir the noise and to preserve the carpet.

If you are struggling to buy carpet don't be daft and insist on paying 200+ per room!!!Unnecessary and nuts.

I think by the time you have paid for someone to come and fit the carpet you probably would not get much change out of £200. Rugs are ok, but could be a trip hazard.

Having lived in flats all my life since leaving home I am inclined to think that complaining about the noise of a small child playing during the day is a bit unreasonable.