My husband has actually run into the guy in the parking lot and has apologized for our daughter a couple of times and both times the guy said "it really isnt a problem, my fiancee gets more annoyed" There were times that I went downstairs seriously P.Oed after they actually had followed my daughters footsteps banging along her trail, which frightened her. I mean this is just F*cked up isnt it?? the banging is loud enough to startle me, let alone a 3 year old!

I'm going to be blunt here. Neither side in this matter seems to be dealing with the situation well. Remember, I don't know you or your neighbors and can only work with the information you have given us in your posts.

I will also say that living below small, running children is hard--they make a lot of noise, and it can be very bothersome. If they are banging on their ceiling in the middle of the day, it most likely means that the noise is loud enough to interrupt their regular activities.

The downstairs people won't admit to your face that they are upset with the noise--they keep saying it's the other person who is upset. It's a shame they won't come to the door and discuss the matter--you all might be able to work something out if you could only talk about it.

But on the other hand, veggieturnover, you don't mention a single thing that you have done to reduce the noise level coming from your apartment, other than that you sometimes try to get your daughter to tiptoe, but you admit that you can't do that all the time.

You're complaining to the office. I'll bet they are too.

Ideally, you should ask the office if you could move to a bottom floor apartment. Then your kids could run around as much as they wanted to. It would take a lot of stress off you and the kids.

If that's not possible, you can do some things to reduce the noise that is traveling through your floor.

1. No shoes on in the house. Especially on the kids.

2. Add soundproofing to the floors. Nothing fancy, just some area rugs and padding underneath them to block the footfall sounds. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, put some area rugs down over it in the areas where your daughter runs the most--the hallway perhaps, and the living room or wherever she plays the most.

3. Get the kids outside the home daily to run around somewhere where their noise won't be noticed--a playground, a mall play area, a kids' gym. If the kids are tired out from running around outside, they may run a little less indoors.

4. Set "Quiet Hours," even if your lease doesn't require them. Say from 8 pm to 8 am, during which time your entire family tries to be as quiet as possible, even the adults. Carry your daughter around if that's what it takes.

5. Go to the office. Explain that you are aware that your downstairs neighbors are unhappy with your child's walking/running. Explain the steps you have taken to reduce the noise and ask if they have any other tips you can use. They have dealt with this problem before and might have some suggestions.

6. If you can't talk to the downstairs people to explain what you are doing, write them a polite note, in which you admit that your family makes some noise. Then list the steps you are taking to reduce that noise.

Sometimes landlords don't address problems like this. They just don't renew the leases of problem tenants. Based on the description you have given, you sound like a problem tenant. If you want to stay in that apartment for a second year, try to get along with your neighbors.

WOW, camlan GREAT advice.

I had a little dog above me in my last apartment, and would never had thought such a small dog would make as much noise as it did.

Thank goodness it usually quit by the time I went to bed.

Nother good thing, I moved. :)

Moni

Seriously...the above posters are idiots. Thanks though for the "tolerant" advice, I'll try to keep my noise down for my irrational, volitile neighbors that think it's ok to bang at me for walking around my in my own space that I pay good money for anytime I please. Anyone that has been apartment living for awhile knows the trade off between walking up the stairs and having to deal with noise.

Might help to switch with your neighbors for an hour or two to see what the other person is dealing with.

These discussions are the reason why I would never, ever move into an apartment without testing how sound proof it is.

hi my name is hazel for the past 8 years the guy above me as been aloud to take my gaden from me he as hit me 3 times the police wont go near him they just give me log number up to date i have 100 85 with no onecoming to see me and so fighted am 66 he is 49 yet not one person from the homembusman as told the saix home home to pay me for the pain and suffering but reuse to pay me i dont wont there cash i just wont it gone he grows weed in his loffed and even in his back bed room the police also no this and nether as seix homes he just does what he wont no matter what the time is but the police come to my door saying i was playing loud music when i dont have any like that i was watching a film and it was not loud it sounds grazy to me am old but they wont help and just to let you no i have never been in a court in my life he as 1.21 times what can i do i have no family as there all gone now so if some can help me i would so greatfull for the help am at the end now they have even blocked my going some where eles only if i move 1 mile from in yet i have nothing wrong plz hep