Having a baby is a blessing for many people. Some couples spend years trying to have children and when they finally do, they feel as though it is an incredible gift. However, sometimes, other people are impacted by a couple’s decision to have kids.
Everyone knows that babies can be loud.
Whether or not you have kids, all adults know that new babies love to cry. And, to be honest, those cries can be loud! All new parents know the deal — newborn babies are a lot of work.
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When you live in close quarters or a small neighborhood, things can be complicated.
When you have a newborn but live close by to neighbors — like in a building or a small neighborhood — your newborn’s cries can disturb others without you even realizing it.
Recently, one Reddit user asked for some advice after sharing a story about his neighbors and their new baby.
The Reddit user wrote into the popular, “Am I The Asshole?” subreddit asking if he was wrong for, “… wanting to ask my neighbors with a baby to keep it inside,” when it cries.
The Reddit user said that his neighbors across the street have a new habit.
“Basically my neighbors across and left one house had a baby. They have this annoying habit of taking it when it’s crying outside where it cries for an hour or more,” the Reddit user wrote.
The neighbor decided to write them an anonymous letter.
“I sent them an anonymous letter asking them to please keep it inside and not annoy everyone in a 3-house radius. I’ll just type in here what I wrote,” he continued.
He congratulated them on their baby and was kind.
“Hi, congrats on your kid! I wanted to ask of you could please keep the crying baby inside. We hear it cry from quite far away. Thanks for considering it, neighbor,” the letter said.
Apparently, the couple was not happy with the letter.
“Yesterday evening they were knocking on all their nearby neighbor’s doors and asking them if they [sent] the letter and they were pretty irate about the whole thing,” he continued.
It turns out, however, other neighbors felt the same way.
“One of their other neighbors was yelling back at them and saying they would have sent a longer [sic] letter about how annoying their baby was,” the Reddit user said.
While the Reddit user felt he was in the right, others did not.
The Reddit user’s wife said that he “took it too far” by sending the letter. So, he asked the online community for some words of wisdom.
The Reddit user asked the community if sending the letter was wrong.
As it turns out, Reddit said that this guy is “not the asshole.”
“We all know babies cry. Being outside with the baby isn’t helping obviously. It isn’t your fault they decided to have a baby,” one person said.
Overall, many people said this guy handled it politely and nicely.
“You were simply letting your neighbors know your concerns in a very curt and polite way. I don’t think you should just have to bear it without being able to voice your concerns.
They don’t have to agree with what you say or act in any way, you’re not forcing them to do anything. How else would they have preferred for you to let them know?” another person said in the comments.
Others had some “advice.”
“Sounds like a good time to mow your lawn. And edge. And run the leaf blower. And rent a wet saw for new tile work you’re doing. Maybe you need a tree cut down,” one person said.
However, some said that their neighbors are equally loud.
“My neighbors had to listen to my colicky baby and we had to listen to the neighbors scream at each other every night, my baby eventually quit screaming and they didn’t. I’ll take a colicky baby over that neighbor’s bulls***, every time,” one Reddit user said.
But, many were confused why they continued to take the baby outside.
“It’s one thing if they take the baby outside and are able to soothe it within a few minutes or take a walk around the neighborhood during that hour.
Sure, going on a walk means more people overall hear the crying, but at least it’s only for a few minutes while the parents and baby pass your house.
Bringing it outside and keeping it in the same spot for 1+ hours clearly is not working, so there’s no point in even taking it outside during a crying spell in the first place. I’d be pissed too if my neighbor kept bringing their crying baby outside to scream for 1+ hours when it’s literally pointless to do so,” one Reddit user added.
Do you agree with this or was sending a letter to the family going too far?
