Baby Witching Hour: What It Is and How To Handle

Your sweet baby has been calm all day, but suddenly, around dinner time, they start crying and nothing works. Welcome to the witching hour baby phase that nearly every parent faces.

The witching hour is a daily period of fussiness that typically happens in the late afternoon or early evening when babies cry more than usual, even when all their needs are met.

This challenging time usually lasts one to three hours and affects most babies between 2 weeks and 4 months old. Your baby isn't sick or hungry during these episodes. They're simply going through a normal developmental phase that can test even the most patient parents.

This guide will explain exactly what the witching hour is, why it happens, and give you practical strategies to get through it.

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Quick Takeaways:

• What it is: A predictable window of evening fussiness in the first months, peaking around 6–8 weeks and improving by 3–4 months.
• Why it happens: Overstimulation, overtiredness, an immature nervous system, cluster feeding, and shifting circadian rhythms.
• What works now: Reset the day (shorter wake windows), dim lights, contact naps, babywearing, white noise, swaddle, warm bath, cluster feed or top-off feed, and burp well.
• When to call the doctor: Fever, poor weight gain, projectile vomiting, bloody/black stools, persistent high-pitched crying, unusual lethargy.
• It’s temporary: Build a calm evening routine and protect parent rest; it gets easier.

📌 Also Read: How to Soothe a Crying Baby: Proven Calming Tips for Parents

What Exactly Is the Baby Witching Hour?

The baby witching hour is a real and predictable period when your little one becomes extra fussy and hard to comfort. This isn't your fault, and you're not doing anything wrong.

Most babies go through this difficult time every day. It usually happens in the late afternoon or evening hours.

Common Timing

The witching hour typically occurs between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Some babies start earlier, while others begin later in the evening.

Classic Signs of a Fussy Baby During the Witching Hour

Your baby may show these behaviors:

• Crying that's hard to soothe - Nothing seems to calm them down
• Fighting sleep - They act tired but won't settle down
• Wanting to feed constantly - This is called cluster feeding
• General fussiness - They seem unhappy no matter what you try
• Being more sensitive - Normal sounds or touches might upset them more

This period can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Some newborn babies wake frequently at night as part of their normal sleep patterns.

The good news is that this phase is temporary. Most babies outgrow their witching hour by 3 to 4 months old.

Remember that experiencing this with your baby is completely normal. Many parents go through the same challenging time each day.

📌 Also Read: How Often to Change Newborn Diaper to Keep Baby Comfortable

Why Do Babies Get Extra Fussy at Night?

Several factors combine to make evenings harder for babies. Tiredness builds up throughout the day, their senses become overwhelmed, they need more food, and their digestive systems struggle with gas.

1. Overtiredness and Short Wake Windows

Babies have very short wake windows compared to adults. A newborn can only stay awake for 45 to 90 minutes before getting tired.

When babies miss their sleep window, they become overtired and irritable. Sleep debt accumulates throughout the day. By evening, even a well-rested baby can hit their limit.

Signs of an overtired baby: 

• Red or rubbing eyes
• Yawning frequently
• Fussy crying that's hard to soothe
• Fighting sleep even when tired

The key is catching sleepy cues early. Follow age-based wake windows and offer contact naps or carrier naps when needed. This prevents the sleep debt from building up to witching hour levels.

2. Overstimulation and Sensory Overload

Babies take in everything around them. Light, sounds, textures, and movement all affect their nervous systems.

During the day, regular activities can overwhelm a baby's developing brain. Grocery store trips, bright lights, loud voices, and too many visitors add up. By evening, their system is overloaded.

Common overstimulation triggers:

• Bright overhead lights
• Television or loud music
• Multiple people holding the baby
• Busy, chaotic environments

Create a calm environment starting around 4 PM. Dim the lights, speak softly, and limit visitors. This gives your baby's nervous system time to settle before bedtime.

3. Hunger Spikes and Cluster Feeding

Many babies cluster feed in the evenings. This means they want to eat more often than usual, sometimes every 30 to 60 minutes.

Growth spurts increase hunger, especially in the late afternoon and evening hours. Your baby's stomach is also very small, so they need frequent refills.

Cluster feeding patterns:

• More frequent nursing or bottle requests
• Shorter time between feeds
• Fussiness that calms with feeding
• Normal daytime eating but evening hunger spikes

Respond to your baby's hunger cues even if they just ate. This is normal behavior, not a sign that you're not making enough milk or giving enough formula.

4. Digestive Immaturity and Gas

Baby digestive systems are still developing. They swallow air while eating, and their gut bacteria are still forming.

Gas bubbles can cause real discomfort, especially when babies lie flat. The pain often gets worse in the evening when trapped air has had all day to build up.

Ways to reduce gas and digestive discomfort:

• Use slow-flow bottle nipples to prevent gulping
• Try paced feeding with breaks for burping
• Keep the baby upright for 15-20 minutes after eating
• Gently massage their tummy in clockwise circles
• Do bicycle leg movements to help gas pass

If bottle feeding, make sure the nipple size matches your baby's age. Too fast of a flow causes them to swallow excess air.

📌 Also Read: How to Hold a Newborn: Essential Tips for First-Time Moms & Dads

9 Effective Soothing Strategies During the Witching Hour

These proven techniques can help calm your fussy baby during those challenging evening hours. Each method works by reducing overstimulation or meeting your baby's basic comfort needs.

1. Embrace the 5 S's: (Dr. Harvey Karp's method)

Dr. Harvey Karp created the famous 5 S's method that mimics the womb environment. This approach can trigger your baby's natural calming response.

✓ Swaddling wraps your baby snugly in a blanket. Keep their arms close to their body but allow room for hip movement. The tight feeling reminds them of being in the womb.

✓ Side or Stomach Position means holding your baby on their side or stomach while you comfort them. Never put them down to sleep in these positions. Always place them on their back to sleep.

✓ Shushing creates loud white noise sounds near your baby's ear. Make a "shhhh" sound as loud as your baby's crying. You can also use apps or machines that make similar sounds.

✓ Swinging involves gentle rhythmic movement. Rock your baby side to side or bounce them gently up and down. Keep movements small and controlled.

✓ Sucking gives your baby something to suck on, like a pacifier or clean finger. This natural reflex helps them feel calm and secure.

Try combining two or three S's at once for better results. Research shows that soothing techniques can effectively calm crying infants when appropriately used.

2. Take it Outside

Fresh air and a change of scenery can reset your baby's mood quickly. The outdoor environment offers natural distractions that indoor spaces lack.

Step onto your porch, balcony, or take a short walk around your yard. Even opening a window can help if going outside isn't possible.

The gentle breeze, different sounds, and natural light work together to calm overstimulated babies. Many parents find this works when nothing else does.

Benefits of going outside:

• Fresh air helps both you and your baby breathe easier
• Natural sounds like birds or wind are soothing
• Temperature change can interrupt crying cycles
• Movement from walking adds gentle motion

Bundle your baby appropriately for the weather. A quick five-minute trip outside often breaks the fussy cycle completely.

3. Wear Your Baby

Baby carriers, wraps, and slings keep your baby close while giving you free hands. The upright position and constant gentle movement naturally soothe fussy babies.

Choose a carrier that supports your baby's head and keeps their airway clear. Make sure their knees are higher than their bottom in an "M" shape.

Your heartbeat, breathing, and body warmth create a familiar environment. This closeness helps regulate your baby's temperature and stress levels.

Popular carrier types:

• Soft structured carriers: Easy to use with buckles and straps
• Ring slings: One-shoulder option for quick wearing
• Wrap carriers: Fabric that ties around your body
• Meh dai carriers: Asian-inspired tie-on style

Start wearing your baby before the witching hour begins. The prevention often works better than trying to calm them after they have started crying.

Walk around your house or do light household tasks while wearing your baby. The combination of closeness and movement often stops fussiness quickly.

4. Dim the Lights

Bright lights can overstimulate your already fussy baby during evening hours. Reducing light levels helps signal that bedtime is approaching.

Turn off overhead lights and use lamps or dimmer switches instead. Avoid phone screens, tablets, and TV screens around your baby during this time.

Create a calm environment by dimming lights about 30 minutes before your baby's usual fussy period starts. This preparation helps prevent overstimulation.

Light reduction tips:

• Use blackout curtains in the nursery
• Switch to warm-colored bulbs in evening lamps
• Keep nightlights red or orange rather than blue or white
• Turn off electronic devices with bright screens

Soft lighting tells your baby's brain to start producing sleep hormones. This natural process can reduce witching hour intensity.

Your baby's nervous system is still developing. Gentle lighting supports their natural daily rhythms and reduces stress.

5. Try a Warm Bath

Warm water relaxes tense muscles and creates a peaceful environment for your fussy baby. The sensation mimics the amniotic fluid from the womb.

Fill the baby bathtub with 2-3 inches of warm water. Test the temperature with your elbow or a bath thermometer. Water should feel warm but not hot.

Support your baby's head and neck throughout the bath. Pour water gently over their body using a cup or washcloth.

Bath time soothing steps:

1. Keep the room warm to prevent chills
2. Speak softly or hum while bathing
3. Use gentle, slow movements
4. Let them splash lightly if they enjoy it
5. Wrap immediately in a warm towel afterward

Some babies prefer baths earlier in the day rather than during witching hour. Try different timings to see what works best for your baby.

The warm water, followed by cozy pajamas, often leads directly to better sleep. This routine can become a reliable way to end difficult evenings.

6. Pass the Baby

You don't need to handle the witching hour alone. Fresh arms and a different voice can sometimes calm your baby when you can't.

Tag team with your partner, family member, or friend. Sometimes babies respond better to a new person who isn't feeling stressed or frustrated.

Take breaks every 15-20 minutes if possible. Your own stress levels affect your baby, so staying calm helps both of you.

When to pass the baby:

• You feel overwhelmed or frustrated
• You've tried several techniques without success
• Your baby seems to cry harder with you
• You need a bathroom or a food break

Step outside or into another room during your break. Take deep breaths and remind yourself that this phase will pass.

The person taking over should try a different soothing method. What doesn't work for one person might work perfectly for another.

7. Don't Watch the Clock

Staring at the time makes the witching hour feel longer and increases your stress. Focus on comforting your baby rather than tracking minutes.

Put your phone face down or leave it in another room. Clock watching creates anxiety that your baby can sense and absorb.

Play soft music or audiobooks to pass the time without focusing on duration. This distraction helps you stay patient and calm.

Instead of watching time:

• Count your baby's breaths
• Sing

8. Practice Skin to Skin

Your baby rests bare-chested against your bare chest, then you both get covered with a light blanket. This simple cuddle helps steady temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It can lower stress for you and your baby. Stay awake while holding them.

Try skin-to-skin when:

• Baby is fussy and hard to settle
• After a feed or bath
• During growth spurts or after shots
• You feel overwhelmed and need a calm reset together

How to do it safely:

• Baby in a diaper only, chest to chest, upright on your torso
• Keep the face visible, head turned to the side, airway clear
• Cover both of you with a light blanket or robe
• Aim for 15 to 60 minutes. If you get sleepy, place the baby in a safe sleep space first.

9. Check the Diaper

A wet, dirty, or tight diaper can cause instant fussiness. The fix is quick. Keep changes simple and gentle.

Signs to change now:

• You smell poop or see the wetness line
• Red or damp skin at the waist or thighs
• Baby fusses right after a feed or wakes up
  

Change tips that help:

• Wipe front to back, then pat dry
• Use a barrier cream if skin looks pink; zinc oxide works well
• Fit check, Two fingers should slide under the waistband, leg cuffs tucked out
• Choose soft, fragrance-free diapers and wipes if your skin is sensitive.

When to call the doctor:

• Rash lasts more than two days or has blisters or open spots
• Rash comes with fever or thrush in skin folds.

You have got this. Keep it simple, stay calm, and rotate these tips as needed.

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Is It the Witching Hour or Colic? Knowing the Difference

Many parents struggle to tell if their baby has the witching hour or colic. Both involve crying, but they are very different problems.

The Witching Hour happens at the same time each day, usually in the evening. Your baby gets fussy and cranky, but you can often calm them down. This fussiness is normal and happens to most babies.

Colic is much more intense. Doctors use the "Rule of 3s" to identify colic:

• Crying for more than 3 hours a day 
• Happening more than 3 days a week
• Lasting for over 3 weeks

The crying sounds different, too. Colic crying has a sudden onset and is more difficult to calm than regular fussy periods.

With colic, your baby will seem truly upset and nothing you try will help. The crying sounds like they are in real pain.

Some mothers describe colic as different from normal infant behavior, calling certain times "the witching hour" when babies cry for long periods.

If your baby cries for hours every day and nothing helps, talk to your doctor about colic.

📌 Also Read: 5 Best Diapers for Babies with Sensitive Skin

When Does the Baby Witching Hour End?

The good news is that the witching hour does not last forever. Most parents see big changes by the time their baby is 3 to 4 months old.

The fussy evening hours usually get worse before they get better. The witching hour typically peaks when babies are around 6 to 8 weeks old. This is when your fussy baby might cry the most during those evening hours.

Here's what you can expect:

• By 6-8 weeks: Peak fussiness and crying
• By 10-12 weeks: Noticeable improvement begins
• By 3-4 months: Most babies show major improvement or the witching hour ends completely

Your baby's nervous system is still developing during the first few months. As it matures, your little one will become more adept at handling the sights, sounds, and feelings from the day.

Self-soothing skills also develop around this time. Your baby will learn ways to calm down without needing as much help from you.

Some babies improve earlier, while others take a bit longer. Every baby is different. But most families notice their evenings become much calmer by 4 months.

The crying behavior of human infants changes as they grow and develop better coping skills.

Remember that this phase is temporary. Your baby will outgrow the witching hour as their brain and body continue to mature.

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Final Thought

The baby witching hour is a completely normal phase that countless parents experience. This challenging time does not reflect your parenting skills or abilities.

Remember these key facts:

• Evening fussiness stems from overstimulation and overtiredness
• You are not doing anything wrong
• This behavior is part of normal baby development

Your toolbox of soothing techniques can help you through tough evenings:

• Swaddling provides comfort and security
• White noise blocks overstimulating sounds
• Babywearing offers closeness and movement

Be patient with your baby, but most importantly, be kind to yourself. This is a temporary season that will pass.

You know your baby better than anyone else. Trust your instincts and the bond you share.

The witching hour occurs near the end of the day when babies are most tired. Understanding this timing helps you prepare and respond with confidence.

You are doing a great job. Every parent faces these same challenges during their baby's early months.

This difficult period will end as your baby's nervous system matures. Until then, take breaks when you need them and ask for help when available.

A comfortable baby is a happier baby. Ensure their diaper isn't adding to the irritation:

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FAQs About Baby Witching Hour

Many parents wonder if their baby will experience fussy evening periods and when these challenging times might end. Understanding feeding schedules and coping strategies can help families navigate these difficult hours more effectively.

Does every baby have a witching hour?

Not every baby experiences a witching hour. Some babies remain calm throughout the day and evening without regular fussy periods.

Most babies do go through some form of increased crying or restlessness in the late afternoon or early evening. This happens in about 70-80% of newborns during their first few months.

The intensity varies greatly between babies. Some may have mild fussiness while others experience intense crying sessions that last several hours.

Your baby's temperament, health, and environment all play roles in whether they develop a witching hour pattern. Premature babies or those with colic are more likely to have pronounced evening fussy periods.

At what age do babies stop having a witching hour?

Most babies outgrow their witching hour between 3 to 4 months old. This timing matches when their nervous systems become more mature.

Some babies may stop having fussy evenings as early as 8 weeks old. Others might continue until they are 5 or 6 months old.

The witching hour often becomes less intense as babies develop better sleep patterns. Their circadian rhythms start to regulate around 12 weeks of age.

You may notice gradual improvement rather than a sudden stop. The crying periods typically become shorter and less frequent over time.

If your baby continues having severe evening fussiness after 6 months, talk to your pediatrician. This could indicate other issues that need attention.

Can I prevent the witching hour from happening?

You cannot completely prevent the witching hour in most babies. It is a normal part of infant development related to their immature nervous systems.

However, you can reduce the intensity and duration. Keeping your baby well-rested during the day helps prevent overtiredness that makes evening fussiness worse.

Creating a calm environment before the usual fussy time starts can help. Dim the lights, reduce noise, and limit stimulation in the late afternoon.

Some parents find that starting evening routines earlier helps. Begin bath time, feeding, or calming activities before your baby typically becomes fussy.

Watch for your baby's early tired signs like yawning or rubbing eyes. Responding quickly to these cues can prevent overstimulation.

Is it okay to let my baby cry during the witching hour?

Brief periods of crying are normal and will not harm your baby. However, leaving them to cry alone for long periods during the witching hour is not recommended.

Young babies need comfort and soothing during these difficult times. Their nervous systems are still developing, and they cannot self-regulate their emotions yet.

Try different soothing methods like swaddling, gentle rocking, or white noise. Some babies calm down with skin-to-skin contact or a warm bath.

If you feel overwhelmed, it is okay to put your baby in a safe place and take a short break. Call a family member or friend for support if needed.

Evening fussiness tends to worsen during what experts call the witching hour. This is when babies need the most patience and comfort from their caregivers.

Can feeding patterns affect a baby's 'witching hour' experiences?

Yes, feeding patterns can make the witching hour better or worse. Hungry babies often become more fussy and difficult to soothe in the evening.

Cluster feeding is common during the witching hour. This means your baby may want to eat more frequently than usual during late afternoon and evening hours.

Breastfed babies might cluster feed to increase milk supply at nighttime. This is normal behavior and does not mean you have a low milk supply.

Overfeeding can also contribute to fussiness. Some babies become uncomfortable from too much milk or formula, leading to gas and crying.

Pay attention to your baby's hunger cues rather than watching the clock. Feed them when they show early signs of hunger, like rooting or putting their hands to their mouths.