The Witching Hour: Yes, You Can Survive It
“The Witching Hour” is used to describe a period in the day, most commonly the early evening or dinner time hours, during which babies may become irritable, fussy, and difficult to soothe. This may happen around the same time each night. It is thought to be caused by the baby being overtired, overstimulated, hungry, having digestive discomfort, or a combination of these factors. The witching hour, which in reality can be more than a single hour, can be an extremely challenging time of day for parents as they frantically try anything and everything to soothe their baby. The baby, very obviously, doesn’t enjoy it either. Many parents look back on the witching hour as one of the more challenging aspects of their baby’s early months.
As a new parent, I didn't know this was a common occurrence. Oh, boy, was I in for a surprise as my husband and I learned the hard way. Even though constant fussiness and occasional full-on screaming from your little one every evening is hard, it's important to remember that this phase typically starts around 2-3 weeks old, peaks at 6-8 weeks, and dissipates between 3-4 months.
So, what can a tired parent do about newborn evening fussiness?
Use the 5Ss - You Might Need All Of Them - Dr. Harvey Karp introduced the world to the 5Ss in his book Happiest Baby on the Block, but in reality, these techniques have been soothing infants for thousands of years. The 5Ss are Swaddling, Sucking, Swinging, Shushing, and Side Position. Stay tuned - a full in-depth post on the 5Ss is coming and you will not want to miss it. Until then, check out our article on White Noise, which covers the benefits of the “Shushing” technique.
Be Aware of Cluster Feeding - You may notice that your newborn wants to nurse frequently during this time. This is what's known as cluster feeding. Both breastfed babies and formula-fed babies may want to eat more during this time. Some say they are “tanking up” for a longer stretch of sleep. Whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed, don't worry about creating a bad habit by comfort feeding, and keep that pacifier handy. During The Witching Hour, it's important to respond to your baby's needs and feed them as often as they need. Studies have shown that babies cry less overall when they are held often and responded to quickly. Don't forget to burp your little one often to prevent extra gas pain, as gas can quickly add to the challenge of The Witching Hour.
Manage the Overtiredness Loop. One issue with The Witching Hour is that many newborns have a hard time calming down enough to nap in the evenings. If they're awake for hours on end during this time, they're likely to get very overtired and have an even harder time sleeping at night. So, do your best to help your baby nap, even if it's just for a short period. Try wearing your baby in a carrier, going for a walk in the stroller or carrier, or rocking them in your arms. Overtiredness from a full day of activity is believed to be one of the contributing factors to The Witching Hour and is why it may occur in the evenings rather than other times of the day.
Limit Overstimulation. Newborns cry in the evenings because they may be overstimulated from all the new experiences they encounter during the day. To help them calm down, limit stimulation during this time. Save visits for another time unless your visitor is happy to help soothe your baby. For example, you may want to prepare dinner in the morning and limit other distractions during this time.
Although this time period can be stressful, remember that there's nothing quite like cuddling with your newborn. Some babies have reflux and colic, which can make the evening fussiness even more challenging. However, even years later, parents may look back and realize that the newborn stage was their favorite. The memories of the difficult moments tend to fade away, leaving only the beautiful moments. Hang in there, parents, and remember that this too shall pass!
If you’re looking for guidance with what comes right after the witching hour - baby’s bedtime - and any other aspect of infant sleep, be sure to check out our recent post on Understanding The Basics of Sleep Shaping For Newborns or check out our eBook, Sleep Shaping For Newborns.