Baby’s Witching Hour
Your baby is finally home in your arms, and you feel so blessed! You knew that having a new baby would be difficult, but no one ever really explained why. But now you think you know. Because now every day, like clockwork, at 6pm your baby cries and cries! You have tried everything and nothing seems to work…feeding, pacifier, fresh diaper. They just keep crying. Your baby may be passing through a phase called the “witching hour”.
The witching hour is a time of day when babies can cry inconsolably for seemingly no reason. This usually happens in the evening, between the hours of 5PM to 11PM. The crying can last for 30 minutes to a few hours.
What causes my baby’s witching hour?
No one really knows what causes the witching hour. We can make well informed assumptions, and it could differ from baby to baby. But no one knows for certain. The usual suspects are hunger, gas, overstimulation, undeveloped ability to self-soothe and being overtired.
How can I stop my baby’s witching hour?
Because experts are not certain what causes the witching hour, there is no hard and fast solution. It is always best to check all your boxes when you are caring for a crying baby. Are they hungry, do they need a diaper change, are they gassy, do they just want to be held?
- Feeding: Make sure to follow your baby’s hunger cues when they are going through the witching hour. They could be cluster feeding, and this means that they will not adhere to scheduled feeds. Babies do a lot of growing, and they need nourishment to support this growth. Crying is your baby’s final hunger cue. Before crying you may see them rooting, moving their head from side to side looking for a nipple, sticking out their tongue, making fists with their hands. Your baby could also be overfed and uncomfortable, which is another reason to learn and follow their hunger cues.
- Gas: Gassy babies will let you know that they are uncomfortable. Try feeding them in an upright position (like the koala position) to promote digestion. If bottle feeding, you can practice paced feeding to reduce air intake and make sure they aren’t eating too quickly. You can help free trapped gas with belly massages and bicycle legs
- Swaddling: Swaddling your baby will help them feel safe and comforted. The feeling of being swaddled mimics that of the restricted movement in the womb. It also prevents their startle reflex from…startling them.
- Comfort: Babies may suckle for comfort. If they are latched to your nipple long after they have finished their feed they may be suckling for comfort. They may also suckle your clean finger, or a pacifier. Be sure to give your baby a pacifier only when their hunger has been satisfied.
- Coregulation: Holding your baby will help them coregulate with you. They can hear your heartbeat, feel the warmth of your body. These things help them regulate their own heart rate and body temperature. But coregulation doesn’t stop there. Your calming presence can also help them regulate their emotions. Babies can feel lonely and frustrated and holding them to reassure them goes a long way. Even if they don’t stop crying just from being held, it helps your baby immensely to know that you are there to support them.
- Reduce Stimulation: Babies can get overstimulated easily. Lights and sounds can easily cause them to feel overwhelmed by sensory input, and make them upset. Find a calm, dark and quiet place to bounce or rock gently with your baby.
*Important Note*
If you have tried everything and your baby won’t stop crying it is okay to put them down in a safe place and walk away. Even if you have tried nothing you can give yourself permission to walk away from your crying baby to take a moment for yourself to regulate before going back to help your baby. When doing this make sure your baby is in a safe and secure area, like their bassinet or crib (with a tightly fitted sheet and no additional blankets or stuffed animals, to prevent SIDS).
Ask for help. Switch off with your partner when you are feeling overwhelmed. Hire a postpartum doula to help you through rough patches. Call your doctor if you feel there might be bigger concerns like colic, reflux or illness.
Shaken baby syndrome is a serious and sometimes life threatening occurrence. If you are feeling frustrated and overwhelmed it is very important to put your baby down safely and walk away. Never shake your baby, no matter how upset you are. It takes a village to care for a baby. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
When do babies outgrow the witching hour?
As a newborn your baby will be sleeping most of the time. You might see signs of the witching hour phase starting around a few weeks old. Your baby will outgrow their witchinghour when they are around three to four months old. The worst of it can occur around 6 weeks of age. If you start to see a pattern of them crying at a certain time of the evening, it might be a good idea to enlist help. A trusted family member, friend, or a postpartum doula can relieve you for those few hours of the evening. This could help you avoid burnout and frustration.
Do all babies have the witching hour?
Though it is quite common, not all babies will have a witching hour phase. There is no certain reason why babies might become so fussy in the evening. For some babies the witching hour can be such a short period of their lives, that the parents soon forget it, or don’t realize what it is when it’s happening. Whatever you are passing through with your baby it is important that they know you are there with them to support them, even if you don’t quite understand what it is.
Witching hour vs. colic
In conclusion
Your baby’s witching hour can be a very difficult time for a parent or primary caregiver. Hearing your baby cry and feeling unable to help is heart wrenching. Making sure that other possible causes are ruled out can reassure you that you have done your best for your baby. Always check with your doctor if you feel your baby might be sick or have another underlying cause for their crying.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated make sure to take space, while leaving Baby in a safe and secure spot (like a bassinet). Reach out to family members for help when you are feeling overwhelmed, or hire a postpartum doula. It may seem like there is no end in sight when your baby’s crying is a daily occurrence. But your baby will soon outgrow this phase in a few weeks when they have matured a little more. Remember you are not alone!