I agree with the part about your place being quieter so you notice the noise more. I am the same. I dont have kids and sometimes its just me here as I live alone. i notice every noise they make dwnstairs and I know they have made me over sensitive to noise since this hell began over a year ago since they moved in...but I think that will improve over time.

Maybe just turn your tv up a bit louder, make a bit more noise yourself, not excessive but just to try and block theirs out. also can you sound proof any of the adjoining walls or put furniture there to thicken the walls?

its not silly niknak, we all do pause the tv or listen for their noise. its ridiculous but I do it too...but am trying not to. I am wary of my tv being too loud as this causes them to put theirs up louder. but its just the bass I cant stand. have you tried the white noise machines? like you know bird sing or something. its better in summer as I have windows open so traffic noise and kids playing on grass out back is a nice sound!

if he put that much energy into finding a job as he does to having sex, he would have job offers pouring out every orifice haha sorry!!

Thanks everyone.

The past few days it has been on the verge of being at unacceptable levels (children screaming and running around, sounds like a piano being chucked down the stairs) and after another lot of prolonged banging this morning I decided I needed to go over and have a nice word.

Neighbour was OK about it, I think he's protective of the time he has with his kids which is fair enough... he's trying to squeeze being a dad and everything that comes with it, into a few days visitation. But that shouldn't mean that it's ok for them to scream, shout, and bang around (I saw whilst I was in there that the kids are literally jumping along the floor, like a rabbit) so I said that I appreciated that he didn't get to see them a lot but the walls and flooring are very thin and transmit a lot of sound. We have a cellar so the sound vibrates through to there rather than dissipating through, down to the ground. He seemed to take it on board and was pleasant, and it has been a lot quieter with the occasional yelp which is only just audible over the TV (at a decent level).

I feel a bit better about it now as I've made him aware and if it gets worse then I think I'm within my rights to turn the TV up/pop some music on to drown it out and he should get the message... hopefully it won't come to that though.

Sorry for the self serving post but thought you might appreciate an update. 

Atleast he is reasonable and willing to try and sort things out and it sounds like you are understanding also, what I wouldnt do though is to turn music and TV right up to the point of making a point, because then its going to get tit for tat.

The problem with kids is that often you can't do anything untill the commit the crime, and then sometimes the message doesnt get through.

For instance, my 2 year old will run up and down the house, it drives me MENTAL, I stop him walk off and then 5 mins later hes doing it AGAIN, and its very hard to reason with a 2 year old, things like banging toys are easy you take them off them, but this is usually followed by crying and screaming.

Not trying to patronise you, just trying to give you perspective from a parents side.

What is absoloutely out of order is noise after 7-8pm from kids, they should be in bed and asleep no later than 9pm and noise from 1-3 years olds should only be very occasional, as they go through phases.

Thanks for the advice Mantis, I think you are correct. It's very difficult to see the point of view of a parent when you're not one yourself!

I was all set not to say anything but we visited friends last night who have 4 children and yes they did run around but they didn't shout and scream and when they started to raise their voices in excitement their parents would just remind them to quieten down. I remember the same when I was younger, from my mum. But at the same time you don't want to be constantly going on at your kid to keep it down... So it's a really difficult situation to be in I reckon...

Next door's children are about 3 and 6 by the way... it was mainly the 6 year old.

Did you speak to the parents?, they might be as fed up with the kids noise as you, lol believe me I've come home to a crying wife where the 5 year old has pushed her to the limit