Disturbing sounds coming from downstairs

It is possible if the child is mentally ill... but if thats the case the parents can't really be *mad* about a neighbor calling the cops. If I had a screaming kid I would assume that might happen at some point as well. Either way, its your obligation to call.

A call to child protective services is completely confidential. I hope you have called them already so that they can do an investigation

Yeah team, in the end we all care. This happened in my building although it was with adults. I felt like a deer in the headlights and was paralyzed (and scared if I said anything). Thank GOODNESS someone else in the building spoke up. And the individuals are gone.

Kat Sloper wrote: Hey All, thanks for your concern. I put in a call to social services yesterday and they said that they'd investigate, and that if I hear anything else to call 911. I'll also ring his buzzer if I hear it again, if anything to get him off the kid and maybe scare him.

I haven't heard anything since the last time. I'll keep you guys updated.

I know that was difficult. Good for you - you did the right thing! Any idea how long it takes to have them come out and investigate?

Well, I hope that Kat Sloper will get some information soon and post it here. I can't stop thinking about this thread.

Just want to say that its important not to jump to conclusions. I have a friend whose son has hemophelia. She had to deal with children's services several times when he was a child because of reports of child abuse. In fact, he would fall, develop bleeds under the skin which would create large lumps and bruises. She was stopped in public and asked to explain his condition on several occasions. She finally took to having him wear a helmet at all times until he was about 5 so as not to have head bleeds that would shock the neighbors or strangers.

Not saying that you didn't do the right thing, but just pointing out that things aren't always what they seem.

Though my initial reaction would be "report" to any agency that could help a child that was being abused, I also have a personal story that bespeaks caution in such a situation.

A long time ago I split with my husband and rented an apartment in a multi- dwelling. My kids were 6 and 8 years old. The building had about 20 units and I was in apt 1A and there was someone who lived in 2A. At some point these apartments were one. That is significant detail because the dividing wall was the thinnest. Sound carried and the direction of the sound was not clear.

In the middle of the night I can began to hear noises that sounded like a child crying and adults being abusive. I thought it was coming from the adjoining apartment. It woke me up a few times .

One particular night the sounds were so disturbing that I went in to the hall in the middle of the night and I met my neighbor , apt 2B, the adjoining wall. We listened in the hall and realized that the sounds were coming from the apt. ABOVE us. We went upstairs and realized that it was an apartment on the second floor.

We both reported this incident because we were in a state of fear for the welfare of a child. BUT my neighbor on the first floor explained to me that tlll that middle of the night when we met in the hall he had thought that the sounds were coming from MY apartment.

I can't imagine what havoc he would have caused me if he had reported ME to social services off of this false perception.

My point... be very sure that there is a real situation be fore you call in the authorities.

If you are really sure about a case of potential child abuse, it is your moral obligation to link to any authority that might help. Just be absolutely sure that you have anecdotal and correct evidence when you take this step.