I agree walking around and opening/closing doors constitutes normal noise, but if they are slamming doors or clomping around in shoes, then that is not reasonable, and like I said they may just not be giving thought to how loud it is downstairs.
Talking to them could easily resolve the situation and make them tread and close things more softly once they realize how loud it is... that is (or should be) perfectly reasonable.
I use normal ones so I don't have this issue as yet, but I know people who bought custom moulded ones and they fit perfectly. Best thing to do would be go to a pharmacy and ask for advice.
Thanks for suggesting the use of custom-moulded earplugs. I guess I hadn't even realized/remembered that they exist.
Does anyone know where I would go here in CH to get some? (Specifically, I live in Greifensee -- near Uster). I did find some do-it-yourself custom molded earplugs on Amazon.com*, but I guess I'm not sure if you (Richdog) was referring to something that is more professionally molded(?).
In Edinburgh we lived in an old tenement building which was all floorboards. The old woman downstairs - who played hymns badly, loudly and incessantly on the piano once complained to our landlords about people walking around in high heels.
I was able to assure the landlords that at no time have I worn stiletto heels around the flat - they get caught between the floorboards and break for a start.
I'd suggest calling the guys listed under Uster here
If they don't have the earplugs, ask them for recommendations. When you get recommendations, ask them if you can return the earplugs if they don't fit, if there is a warranty etc.
I commiserate - good thing my neighbors are very nice and quiet. Noise that early in the morning when one is a night owl can really destroy your day and, if things get bad and you can't adapt, your health which might also influence your child. So please OP, get this sorted ASAP.
Experiment a little (including the moulded ones you linked to, I may try a pair myself) and if all else fails then go for the expensive ones fitted to your ear.
I can't follow Richdog'd links, for some reason, but I use wax earplugs. I find them much more comfortable than foam ones, so long as you get them nice and warm and soft before inserting them, and also better at blocking out noise. Unfortunately, I bought my current stash from Boots and brought them with me, so not sure where you can get them in CH.
I commiserate. It is a hard thing when one starts to KNOW they will consistently be woken up and not have enough sleep to make it through the day (thinking of my "baby days" here).
By all means speak to your neighbours, but having lived in a few such old buildings I know how the most minor of actions can be surprisingly amplified to neighbours living above, below and beside you. I am not convinced that even rugs down and more consideration will make the difference you need to sleep through their morning schedule. I hope I am wrong. If it were me in your shoes I would invest in some good earplugs (as has been suggested already). I used them when I lived with a couple of teenagers who respected nobody's need for sleep - and they saved my sanity.
I used to commute from Basel Claraplatz to Zurich Flurstrasse each day - approx 2 hours door-to-door which meant getting up at 5am which was a right killer.
Working in one's pyjamas was not really an option so having a shower, making a bit of brekkie was really not avoidable. We also lived in one of the busier parts of Basel so nobody gave a toss about a bit of basic sound.
The point being, I am sure there are things OPs neighbours would rather be doing than getting up at 5:45am to get ready for work. So raise the subject but do it diplomatically.
It reminds me Fasnacht is coming up so better start playing piccolo in earnest.
So, let's say you need to get up at 6:00 for work. Based on your "argument," if someone living above you needed to get up at 4:30 every morning for work, and while doing so, they woke you up and kept you awake one and a half hours earlier than you usually need to get up, then you'd have no "right" to complain about it?
I can understand if, for example, they were waking up at 7:00 and I had been hoping to sleep until 9:00. But that's not the case. I just don't want to be woken up at 5:45 every morning (including Saturdays!!!) simply because my neighbor has to... or chooses to.
Yeah, I realize that they probably have to get up at 5:45, so of course I don't expect them to change that.
In fact, I've decided to try sleeping on a spare mattress in my little boy's room tonight, to see if it's any better. I also just bought some self-molding ear plugs to see if that helps, because of course I'd much prefer to be able to sleep in my own room, in my own bed, than on a mat in my toddler's room for (perhaps) the rest of my life.
But if I do approach the neighbors, I will definitely do it nicely. There's really no "fault" here. It's just a bad situation -- an early riser with hardwood floors living above a light sleeper. (And sadly, I guess we tend to sleep even less deeply the older we get ). It's just that they probably have no idea how much noise their footsteps cause in the morning, and of course, I can't expect that they've really been bearing in mind that someone is sleeping (or trying to) directly below them. But perhaps if I do eventually mention it, then they could be a bit more mindful of the way they walk, instead of rushing around from room to room.
You seem to be now talking yourself out of speaking to them about it... what are you so afraid of? It's not "confrontation" unless you or they make it so.
I think now would be a perfect occasion to go upstairs with a little piece of swiss chocolate and to start a conversation like "happy new year! we haven't officially introduced ourselves to you, etc" and then smoothly bring up the topic. I am sure you can work out a good solution together, if they are reasonable folks.
Many clubs and concerts give away this kind of earplug*; if you see an AXA Winterthur representative handing out earplugs, TAKE THEM, they are this kind and work really well. (And they're free.) I can wear them for extended periods without issue.
*In Switzerland, all music events whose average volume exceeds some limit (they're required to have a dB meter at all times) must give away earplugs at no cost. They're generally at the coat check and/or bars, either in a bin for self-service, or upon request. Some places have the wretched foam ones, some have better soft foam, and many have the silicone christmas tree kind. I hoard the latter and always keep a pair in my backpack just in case.
I have those! They are the ones that saved my sanity a few months ago. Very uncomfortable in the ear that touches the pillow but i was sleeping wearing only one and not moving and it was good. Not ideal but i was desperate
It is quite simple, as others have mentioned, speak to them about it first. They may not be aware that you can hear them so much and be quite willing to make efforts to be a little quieter that early