Hi,
We live in a complex with three different apartments, one on the first floor, one on the second and two on the third floor, (including us) The problem is that our neighbors across the hall constantly slam their front door which happens to be right outside our baby's bedroom. (We actually swapped rooms with her because these same neighbors often party out back near our bedroom) She is 9 months old and still a pretty terrible sleeper so she does not need the extra help waking up at night. We have spoken to these people before. We very nicely explained the situation. The female tenant was apologetic and even had the landlord "fix" their door so it wouldn't stick. Yet, the slamming continues. They just seem to be very loud people in general or maybe the walls are very thin. (Although the female tenant told me she never hears us) We have a white noise machine cranking in my daughter's bedroom but I think the slamming actually creates a vibration which causes her to stir. We have even posted signs throughout the apartment complex pleading with our neighbors to try to be considerate. Am I asking to much of my neighbors to simply close their doors normally? What else can I do? I don't want to have a bad relationship with my neighbors but I'm beyond frustrated. At this point it just seems rude and we want our little girl to get some sleep! I have always been considerate of others. We are not generally complainers. Actually, we never complained about anything until we had our daughter and only asked nicely about the door. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
A.
A. we use both a white noise machine and a CD of ocean waves. The combination of the two really drowns out a lot of noise.
Hi
Unfortunately when you live in a complex there is not much you can do. People can close their doors how they want. You don't want to nag them that could make the situation worse. I lived w/ my inlaws when my son was born and his bedroom was across the hall from my brother in law's room who is down syndrome and autistic. Which means he does not talk he just very loudly yells all the time all night. I had no choice I could not tell him to stop. I used a fan for my son. It's a little Holmes one, it's $20 at walmart and when you put it on high it's pretty loud and basically blocks out all noise. I bought another one now for my daughter, even though we have our own home now we are all loud and it works great.
Hi A. - Not sure what more you can do aside from make the request... But I have a couple of thoughts on the subject in general:
Most importantly, the gift in this is that your daughter will be trained to sleep through anything and that's a wonderful thing! I am one of 10, and believe me, I can sleep standing up if I have to.
Another thought is that you might casually run into the landlord and ask him if he had a chance to "fix" the neighbors door as it seems to stick, slam, wake the baby, etc...
Lastly, by law, you are entitled, as a tenant, to "quiet enjoyment" of where ever you pay to live. If this is not the case and your landlord can't remedy it, then you may well have grounds to break your lease and move.
However - this too shall pass. It is just one short season in your child's life. Soon you will move past it and you will be on to the next issuse.
So do what you can, and then either accept it or change it. But be active in whatever you decided to do. Don't just sit and be the victim! (i.e. If you decide to accept it, do so with the energy behind it of acceptance, not grudgingly.)
This is another gift for your daughter. You will teach her who to be in the world by who you choose to be. Remember - she is ALWAYS watching!
Ugh. What is it with neighbors slamming doors unnecessarily?? Our downstairs neighbors do the same thing. The first neighbors that lived there did it when we first moved in, and, since I didn't know them well, I asked the landlord if there was something wrong with the door and if she could ask them if something about it needed to be fixed b/c they vibrated the whole building when they closed it. After she spoke with them it got better. Then they moved and new people moved in. They got in a huge fight one (of several) nights and slammed it so hard that now I think it really IS broken. My husband works nights and is frequently woken during the day by their slamming door. It's such a touchy situation. Since you have already politely asked your neighbors to be more careful, I would talk to the landlord about it. Maybe they sell some sort of buffer (rubber strips or something) that could be installed. I don't know if the solution is that east, but I think the landlord should know.
Goodluck!
You and your baby go to a hotel for a few nights. Then, have your husband wait up and wait for your neighbors to go to bed. As soon as they hit the sack, have him start playing alternative rap very loudly. He should sing along too, as off key as possible.
While it will not solve the problem, it will make you feel a lot better.
Hi A.- ugh. my heart goes out to you. how frustrating! I have not been in your situation, but I like Gina's suggestion of putting a note on your door as a reminder...and we also use a fan in our daughters room. We have a relatively small house and she seems to be a pretty light sleeper- the fan seems to help as white noise in drowning other things out...good luck.
Hi A.. Just be happy your neighbors were sorry. I brought the same issue up to my neighbors and even told them what time my kids go to bed hoping that they would try to be a little more considerate w/ the noise and now as soon as 7 rolls around they knock on the walls night after night. I don't think you are asking too much of your neighbors to be normal and just close the door especially after they had the landlord "fix" the door. The only thing I can suggest is move when your lease is up and speak to them if they continue speak to your landlord. There is no reason to slam doors especailly at night. Good luck. I feel for your my neighbors are no better.
If the landlord will allow it, and the tenants are agreeable (especially the woman), would you be willing to pay for an automatic door closer similar to what is on a screen or storm door? The door will close automatically, and if someone tries to slam it, the pressure from the device causes some resistance and it can't be slammed. They aren't very expensive, although a nice looking one might be easier to "sell" to both landlord and tenant. Maybe it's just a habit with them. While you're at it, install one on your own door so it doesn't look like you are singling them out for being excessively noisy?
I'm sure posting signs may have helped with some people, but others might be put off. See if the complex has a noise ordinance but be aware that, the more you ask, the more some people might be pushed the other way. People without kids sometimes don't think about the problems of people with kids, and sometimes they don't want to have to adjust. On the flip side, as your child gets older, she'll be the one making more noise, dropping toys, stomping across the floor, screaming with delight, and so on, and maybe some of your neighbors will wish they didn't have to put up with so much noise! You may be right about thin walls and sound traveling easily.
Good luck!
UGH. We had a similiar problem. Our neighbors screen door is broken and is SLAMS everytime they go in and out of the house. Since they are retired they are home and go in and out all day long.
I have to say it wakes me more often than it wakes my 1 year old daughter and it is terribly annoying.
I have a fan AND a humidifier in my DD's room. The humidifier is at the foot of her crib, and the fan is next to it (turned away from her so it is not blowing in her face) and I put up heavy curtains to block out the street noise. I even rolled up small towels and put them on the window sill. All of this helped ALOT.
I also often put a note on my front door when my LO goes down for a nap hoping they'll see it and be quiet.
Lastly, if you think the slamming causes a vibration, try putting your white noise machine against the wall so it actually vibrates and maybe it will mask the slamming door vibration.
I sure hope this helps.
Good luck!
