How to manage the “witching hour” with your baby
As a new parent, trying to learn what your newborn’s cries mean can be overwhelming. Once you have ruled out that your baby is not hungry, does not need a diaper change, or is not too warm or too cold, you may be left feeling confused and defeated with a baby that is still crying.
Or maybe you have also noticed that the things that would typically help throughout the day (such as rocking) are no longer soothing your crying little one in the evening.
If this sounds familiar, it is possible that your baby is stuck in what we call the “witching hour.”
While this sounds a bit scary, the good news is that there is no need to panic. This is normal for newborns (and sometimes older infants) to experience in the evening. The witching hour is a peak fussy period which occurs in the evening, and for the majority of babies, the witching hour typically happens between 6-9pm.
Usually this peaks when your little one is around 6 weeks of age, and thankfully the witching hour will pass as your baby gets older.
But until you get to that point, here are a few things that can help during your baby’s witching hour…
Give your baby a warm bath. Similar to how adults enjoy a warm bath after a long day, babies do as well. The warm water allows your baby to relax. You can also try rubbing your baby’s head or dabbing their face with a washcloth.
Babywear. Your baby just spent nine months in your cozy tummy, so they love to be close to you. By utilizing a wrap or baby carrier, your little one can be cozied up to you. And as an added bonus, baby wearing can allow you to have your hands free while still having your baby be close to you.
Allow your baby to nurse more. Sometimes this is the only thing that calms your baby, and that is okay! Cluster feeding is normal in the newborn stage, so no need to stress.
Walk around while holding your baby. While in the womb, your baby was constantly in motion, so rocking, bouncing, or swaying can help soothe your baby when they are overly fussy. Your little one may even enjoy the new scenery.
Turn on the white noise machine or shush your baby. A consistent sound can be comforting to your newborn, as it recreates the sound your baby heard in your womb. It can also help to block out other background noises that may be stimulating to your little one.
Lower the lights. Newborns are adjusting to all kinds of new things, including their new environment, and can easily become overstimulated. By dimming the lights, your baby can unwind from the stimuli from their day.
Utilize appropriate awake windows. Ensuring your little one is not overtired can make your evening smoother as you transition to bedtime. Awake windows during the newborn stage are only 60 to 90 minutes, so missing your baby’s ideal sleepy time can increase their fussiness.
Take a deep breath. If you are upset, your baby can sense this and will react accordingly. If you need to take a break, please do so. Allow for your partner to step in and attempt to soothe your little one while you take a break.
While it can be exhausting and frustrating trying to find ways to help your fussy little one, try to stay calm and remember that this too will pass. Creating a calm environment for your little one in the evening can be beneficial for everyone in the family after a long day. If you need more information about newborn schedules and sleep, our blog post “Sleep & Your Newborn: What to Expect & How to Help Them” may be helpful. For additional help, check out our newborn sleep class or book a one-on-one consultation with us.