How can I respond to a neighbor who complains about my daughter crying?

[Freethinker]

This neighbor says she is working double shifts and is complaining about my 10 month old daughter crying during the day when she is trying to sleep. I am tempted to call BS on this because I know my little girl does not literally cry "all day" as my neighbor claims. She is an active 10-month old - she crawls, speaks baby-gibberish, she's teething and can be loud when she wants to be but no more than any other healthy happy kid her age. She sleeps through the night, every night. In any case though, I would also like to at least try and and keep the peace.

It is worth noting that this same neighbor has 3 children of her own who make more than their share of noise. She also has a boyfriend with whom she argues frequently. There is a lot of swearing and yelling, both at the boyfriend and the children. My husband and I have learned to deal with this by using white noise and a thunder CD at night. We do our best to ignore it during the day. She blasts (obnoxious and offensive) music during the day (when she is supposedly sleeping) while my husband is working from home.

I don't want to antagonize anyone. We live in a messed up world and you never know what people will do, especially hypocrites like this lady seems to be. I guess I need advice on how to make it clear that she just has to deal with it without coming off like a jerk.

Thanks

 

[Nikki]

its not your fault your neighbor has to sleep during the day.

with young babies, I could see how she would complain of the crying at night (even though he doesn't really have a right to) but during the day?

that's ludicrous. you shouldn't have to be quiet in your own apartment because your neighbor works a wacky shift.

especially all that you've said she's done, she really has no right to complain.

you could try to write a cordial letter? but even then argumentative people will take it the wrong way. my only other advice is to possibly get the landlord involved.. but then again I've never lived in an apartment, only a dorm which is like one but we have RAs that handle the problems.

best of luck with whatever you do!