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It’s four p.m. and you feel yourself starting to brace for the inevitable newborn tantrum as the clock inches towards five. Every night the anxiety of evening looms over your head, haunting your waking hours with dread that you’ll face another sleepless night of an inconsolable baby. As if prompted by an unseen force, your sweet daytime baby becomes a whole new creature. This is it. It is time. It is The Witching Hour.
What is the Witching Hour for Babies?
The witching hour is a time of day, usually evenings, where you may notice your baby becoming more difficult to soothe. Telltale signs of the witching hour are increased fussiness, crying and irritability.
One of the most difficult parts of the witching hour is the inability to soothe or calm your baby.
Though the name implies it is an hour long, this phenomenon can start in the late afternoon/early evening and last up to three hours. It usually peaks around five p.m.
Babies usually begin showing signs of having a witching hour at two to three weeks old and it usually resolves by 12 weeks.
What causes the witching hour?
It can be tricky to fully pinpoint what is causing your baby to succumb to the witching hour, but often there are three major contributing factors.
- Overtiredness: When the baby has gone past the sleepy phase into exhaustion, it can be difficult to soothe them and get them down to sleep.
- Overstimulation: It can be tempting to have the TV on and bright lights all around, but this can cause your little one to have trouble processing what is happening and push them into irritability.
- Clusterfeeding: Many babies will clusterfeed during this time to prepare for longer stretches of sleep overnight.
What’s the Difference between Colic and Witching Hour?
Colic is an issue that arises around the same time as the witching hour sets in, so it can be hard to differentiate between the two. With Colic, there is more of a pattern. Babies will cry for three hours or more a day, for more than three days a week, for three or more weeks.
Though both the witching hour and Colic are extremely trying for parents and babies alike, with the witching hour though it may be difficult to soothe your little one, you are able to for short bursts, whereas Colic is more unrelenting. It is important to trust your gut and check with your pediatrician if you’re worried your baby may have colic.
Eight Tips to Help Manage the Witching Hour (and get your Newborn to Sleep!)
1. Prioritize daytime sleep and wake windows.
It can be tricky to get your baby on anything even resembling a schedule this early, but making sure they’re up during their wake windows and taking naps before they become overtired is a great way to set yourself up for success.
2. Set a bedtime routine.
Although we recommend using an Eat Play Sleep approach for newborn sleep to adjust to your baby’s natural rhythms, it can also be helpful to create a bedtime routine.
Working within a 12 hour schedule of day vs nighttime sleep is recommended to start healthy sleep patterns for your baby, from day one! This allows you to set a standard bedtime (i.e. 7 p.m.) and know the difference between daytime and nighttime sleep and feedings!
2. Change the environment:
If your baby is struggling during witching hour, try moving to a new room or stepping outside. Changing the environment can be a reset that calms their nervous system down. Even giving a bath during this time can help!
3. Baby wear or walk around/cuddle.
Sometimes the best way to soothe your baby is with your physical self. The closeness of their parents helps regulate their nervous system and movement helps settle their bodies. Skin to skin is a great way to connect during this time as well, or you can babywear to give your arms and back a break while keeping baby close.
4. Check for “obvious” things.
Changing a diaper, double checking if they’re hungry (even if you just fed them) or if they need a cat nap can help pinpoint any irritants.
5. Swaddle them:
If you’re comfortable using a swaddle, this is a great time to bring it out! Swaddling babies can help them feel safe and secure and emulate being in the womb, allowing them to calm down and relax.
6. Create a relaxing environment:
This is one of the biggest pieces of advice we can give, having a soothing environment is just that, soothing! Dimming the lights, turning off the TV and putting phones away helps create a calm atmosphere that will make transitioning into bedtime much easier.
7. Use sleep tools:
If you’re open to it, using white noise and a pacifier can help calm your baby down. Much like the swaddle, white noise helps create the womb-like experience. Pacifiers can help with the sucking reflex and can also help you differentiate between actual hunger and need to suck.
8. Ask for support–or hire professionals!
Remember, some days may seem more difficult or like nothing is working but that is not a reflection on you or your baby. Some days as parents and tiny humans are just harder than others and that’s okay.
Self-care is important during this time, remember to take care of yourself. The witching hour can be emotionally draining, so recharge and unwind when you can. Step back if things get too frustrating, know it’s okay to place your baby in a safe space and take a moment to reset and breathe.
One of the best ways to practice self-care is to ask for help. It can also be one of the harder things to do as parents. That’s why Well Supported Family exists, to help parents get through the hard parts so they can enjoy the best parts of life with a new baby.
If you’re struggling with The Witching Hour and want a Newborn Care Specialist or Postpartum Doula to come to your home and help soothe baby through these fussy times, book a consultation to discuss our daytime, overnight, and 24/7 newborn care support!
