"Sorry for the Baby’s Crying": New Parents Apologize First, Neighbors’ Replies Are Heartwarming

Parents of a 3-Week-Old Newborn Ask for Kind Understanding
Residents Respond: "It's Okay to Cry Out Loud"

A story has been warming hearts after it was revealed that new parents, worried their newborn’s crying might disturb their neighbors, posted a letter of apology in their apartment building’s elevator. In response, fellow residents wrote messages of congratulations and encouragement, saying, "It’s okay if the baby cries a lot." On September 17, a post titled "Baby, It’s Okay to Cry Loudly" was shared on social media and other social networking sites, drawing public attention.

The photo revealed in the story showed an A4-sized notice posted on the wall of an apartment elevator, surrounded by handwritten messages left by residents. SNS

The photo revealed in the story showed an A4-sized notice posted on the wall of an apartment elevator, surrounded by handwritten messages left by residents. The couple who wrote the notice live in apartment unit 501. In their letter titled "To Our Neighbors, We Ask for Your Understanding," the couple began by explaining, "A baby, born three weeks ago, has come into our family as a new member," and carefully added, "Since our baby is still so young, he or she often bursts into tears at any hour, and you may occasionally hear the crying." They continued, "We are also first-time parents and quite inexperienced, but we’ll do our best to take good care of our baby and minimize any inconvenience to our neighbors." They concluded by asking, "If you happen to hear our baby crying, we would really appreciate your understanding and patience."

What came back from the neighbors was not complaints or protests, but messages of congratulations and support. Around the notice, residents began writing their own heartfelt messages one by one.

One resident wrote, "Congratulations. It’s really okay if the baby cries a lot," while another wrote, "Congratulations. I hope the baby, mom, and dad are always healthy and become a family full of love." Other messages also expressed concern for the new baby and the parents, such as "Baby, grow up beautiful and healthy. May the world’s blessings be showered upon you," and "I hope the baby stays healthy, and mom takes care of herself too."

Especially notable was a brief but heartfelt message from a fourth-grade elementary school student who identified themselves as a child resident: "Your baby will be healthy." The person who posted the photo online commented on the parents’ letter, saying, "The first-time mom and dad must already be exhausted caring for their baby day and night; I can only imagine how uneasy and worried they must feel to reach out to everyone like this." They added, "It’s touching that the residents are offering words of encouragement. In today’s era of low birth rates, a baby’s cries are truly precious. Baby, don’t get sick and grow up healthy. You even have everyone’s permission to cry as much as you need."

As the story spread, congratulations poured in from internet users as well. Many commented, "A baby crying is unavoidable, but how wonderful it is that the parents asked for understanding first and the neighbors responded with such warmth," "This is what a real community looks like," and "I hope the baby grows up healthy."

This story has attracted even more attention as it comes amid Korea’s ongoing low birth rate crisis. According to the '2025 Birth Statistics' released last month by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of newborns in Korea last year was 254,300, an increase of 16,000 babies (6.7%) compared to the previous year. The birth count has risen for the second consecutive year.

The total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, also increased by 0.05 to 0.80 last year from 0.75 in 2024. This is the first time in four years since 2021 that the fertility rate has risen above 0.8. However, it still remains the lowest among OECD member countries. Although there are signs of a slight rebound in birth numbers, the prolonged period of low birth rates has underscored the growing importance of social support and nurturing environments for families raising children.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.