One of my neighbours has a newborn and they CONSTANTLY walk the baby up and down the hall when it’s crying/screaming trying to console it. Throughout the day and into the night (currently happening right now and it’s just past 10PM).
I’m dealing with multiple chronic health conditions and work from home, and I’m at my wits end. I have a polite note written ready to stick to their door asking if they can please soothe their baby INSIDE their apartment and not in the hallway, as this is a shared space and the sound carries into nearby apartments.
I hate confrontation, so I feel like leaving a note on their door is my best option lol.
I understand that living in an apartment isn’t always going to be quiet, but imo it’s extremely rude to disturb everyone else with screaming at all hours. KEEP THE CRYING BABY IN YOUR DAMN UNIT.
AITA?
Edit – note/letter I am planning to stick to their door:
Hi there,
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to kindly mention something that’s been affecting others on the floor.
There have been frequent instances of a crying baby being brought into the hallway, and the noise echoes and carries very easily into nearby apartments. Because the hallway is a shared space, the sound impacts others much more than it likely seems.
I completely understand that caring for a baby is challenging, and this isn’t meant as criticism. Some neighbours work from home and others are managing health conditions, so the repeated noise in the hallway can be extremely disruptive. This is simply a request to please keep soothing time inside your apartment whenever possible.
Thank you very much for understanding and for being considerate of your neighbours.
NTA. I have 2 kids and I would never take them into a shared space when they are crying. Perhaps they wrongfully assume that the sound would travel less in the hallway as opposed to through the walls to their neighbors, so I think your note will help them recognize this.
NTA. Keep it polite. If they continue, complain to management. I bet you won’t be the only complaint.
Look I’ve got a child who screams and taking him outside can quickly change his attitude. The change in location within seconds turns screams into calm.
My suspicion is their above or below neighbour already made a complaint about them.
NTA, write them a note, just be kind. Parenting is hard.
It doesn’t sound like taking the baby out is soothing it though because it continues to cry
So take the child outside or down to the lobby and away from other residents. It isn’t that hard.
NAH, I guess. I would suggest actually being honest in your note, though. Acting like you’ve had some building-wide meeting and are speaking for anyone more than yourself is just cowardly.
This is what always gets me about these notes. Writing for “some people” when the note is from only you. Nothing wrong with saying it is effecting *me*. And imo makes the note sound more personal and have a better chance of working.
Send the note to management not the parents
NTA
Your note is polite and acknowledges their challenges and outlines why it is a problem.
Just make sure you put it in an envelope so it is a private message to them.
NTA, i was a little on the fence, seeing as babies are definitely tough, and often taking them outside makes a big difference, which might be their method (doesn’t sound successful if they’re still crying a lot in the hallway though), buuut, your letter is very polite, and it doesn’t hurt to point out that it’s disturbing people.
Maybe you could also mention actually taking them outside the building if they need to leave the room; fresh air is even more likely to sooth the baby, and it won’t be so disruptive to others.
NTA
As a mom of several and someone who has nannied professionally for dozens of families, this is not “your problem.” Yes, parenting **is** hard, and it’s especially difficult when baby is colicky, has some medical/GI issue, and/or is simply “in a mood.” But it’s not appropriate to walk a screaming baby in a shared space and disturb others’ peace. It’s just not. Pass the note, and then escalate to mgmt if necessary. I’m sorry *everyone* in this situation has to deal with this!
Edited for typos
Absolutely NTA and anyone saying you are is out of their minds. It’s incredibly rude and inconsiderate to use a shared space to soothe a crying baby. That being said I wouldn’t leave the note, let management handle it.
NTA. For the sake of diplomacy i would also include that you will continue to do your best to offer the same consideration and limit noisy activities that may disrupt/disturb the baby.
It reinforces that you’re happy to reciprocate neighbourly behaviours and are not having a go at them. . . Hopefully it will also remind them how easily they themselves can be disturbed by a noisy hallway if the behaviour continues.
Personally I think you should make management aware of it. It’s their job to ensure that shared spaces are to be respected, along with regular waking hours. I understand being kind to people, and you can try once with your letter, but common sense dictates that they know what they’re doing. They know their baby is impacting others. They can go outside. They can go for a car ride. There are other soothing methods they can try. If this is rare, then let it go, but if it’s constant, that’s a problem they need to be responsible for.