The baby witching hour is a common term parents use to describe a period when a baby becomes unusually fussy, cries frequently, or seems difficult to comfort, often in the late afternoon or evening. It can be exhausting, especially when feeding, diaper changes, rocking, and cuddling do not seem to work.
Although the term sounds mysterious, there is usually nothing supernatural about it. Evening fussiness is a common pattern during early infancy. Babies may be tired, hungry, overstimulated, uncomfortable, or simply going through a normal phase of increased crying. The regular fussy periods commonly occur between about 6 p.m. and midnight and often improve as babies mature.
Understanding what baby witching hour means, why it happens, and how to respond can make this challenging part of the day easier for both baby and parents.
What Is Baby Witching Hour?
Baby witching hour refers to a recurring period, usually during the late afternoon or evening, when a baby becomes particularly fussy, cries more than usual, or is difficult to settle.
It is not a medical diagnosis. Instead, it is a popular parenting term used to describe a pattern of infant fussiness.
Some babies may cry for a short period, while others can remain unsettled for several hours. The crying may happen even after the baby has been fed, changed, burped, and held.
Evening crying is particularly common during the first few months of life. Babies often cry more during the afternoon and evening, while crying generally increases during the first weeks and gradually decreases around 3 months.
When Does Baby Witching Hour Usually Happen?
There is no exact time that applies to every baby. For some babies, fussiness begins around:
- 4 p.m.
- 5 p.m.
- 6 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
Others may become unsettled later in the evening.
A common fussy period between approximately 6 p.m. and midnight. The important point is that “witching hour” does not necessarily mean exactly one hour. It may last 30 minutes, several hours, or vary from one day to another.
The baby witching hour usually occurs during the late afternoon or evening, but the timing and duration can vary from baby to baby.
| Age | What You May Notice |
|---|---|
| 0–2 weeks | Some babies begin having periods of evening fussiness, although crying patterns may still be unpredictable. |
| 2–6 weeks | Evening fussiness often becomes more noticeable and may occur around the same time each day. |
| 6–8 weeks | Crying may be at its most frequent or intense during this period for some babies. |
| 2–3 months | Many babies gradually become easier to soothe as their ability to regulate themselves develops. |
| 3–4 months | Evening crying and fussiness commonly decrease considerably. |
| After 4 months | Most babies have largely outgrown the typical early-infant witching-hour pattern, although occasional evening fussiness can still occur. |
Why Does Baby Witching Hour Happen?
There is no single explanation for evening fussiness. Several factors may contribute at the same time.
1. Overtiredness
A baby who has been awake too long may become increasingly difficult to soothe. Instead of appearing sleepy, an overtired baby may cry, fuss, turn away, or resist being settled.
2. Hunger
Babies have small stomachs and need frequent feeds. Evening hunger can sometimes make fussiness more noticeable, particularly during periods when babies are feeding frequently.
3. Overstimulation
By the end of the day, a baby may have experienced many sounds, lights, movements, faces, and activities. Some infants become overwhelmed by this stimulation and respond by crying.
4. Need for Comfort
Sometimes a baby simply wants to be held, rocked, or close to a parent. Crying is one of the main ways babies communicate their needs.
5. Gas or Feeding Discomfort
Some babies become uncomfortable around or after feeding. Burping and keeping a baby upright during feeds may sometimes help, although not every episode of crying is caused by gas.
6. Immature Self-Regulation
Young babies are still developing the ability to regulate their emotions and settle themselves. The immature nervous-system regulation may contribute to periods of intense fussiness.
7. Colic
Some babies have colic, which involves prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy infant. Colic often becomes worse during the evening and generally improves by around 3 to 4 months.
However, not every baby who cries during the evening has colic.
Baby Witching Hour vs. Colic
Baby witching hour and colic are related but are not the same thing.
| Baby Witching Hour | Colic |
|---|---|
| Informal parenting term | Recognized pattern of excessive infant crying |
| Often occurs in the evening | Can occur at different times, often worse in the evening |
| May last a short or variable amount of time | Traditionally involves prolonged crying |
| May be related to tiredness, hunger, or stimulation | Often has no obvious cause |
| Usually improves as the baby matures | Commonly improves by 3–4 months |
The colic as crying for more than 3 hours a day, on at least 3 days a week, for at least one week in an otherwise healthy baby.
Common Signs of Baby Witching Hour
During an evening fussy period, your baby may:
- Cry more intensely than usual.
- Become difficult to settle.
- Pull their legs toward their tummy.
- Clench their fists.
- Turn their head away.
- Fuss during feeding.
- Want to be held constantly.
- Become quiet briefly and then start crying again.
- Appear tired but resist sleep.
- Become more sensitive to noise, light, or movement.
These signs can overlap with normal hunger, tiredness, colic, reflux, or illness, so parents should consider the baby’s overall condition rather than assuming every evening crying episode is simply witching hour.
How to Soothe a Baby During Witching Hour
There is no single method that works for every baby. You may need to try several approaches.
1. Check the Basics First
Before trying complicated soothing techniques, check whether your baby may be:
- Hungry
- Wet or soiled
- Too hot or cold
- Tired
- Uncomfortable
- Experiencing feeding difficulties
- Overstimulated
These are among the common reasons babies cry.
2. Hold Your Baby Close
Holding your baby against your chest can provide warmth, physical contact, and reassurance.
Some babies calm when they are gently carried or walked.
3. Reduce Stimulation
Dim the lights, reduce background noise, and move away from busy environments.
A quieter evening routine can help a baby who is becoming overstimulated.
4. Try Gentle Rhythmic Movement
Slow rocking, walking, or gently swaying may help some babies settle. The AAP recommends gentle movement as one possible calming strategy. Avoid vigorous shaking or bouncing.
5. Use Gentle Background Noise
Some babies respond well to consistent, gentle sounds such as white noise.
Keep the sound at a safe level and avoid placing loud sound sources close to your baby’s head.
6. Burp After Feeding
If your baby seems uncomfortable after feeding, burping may help release swallowed air.
Holding the baby upright during feeding may also reduce swallowed air for some babies.
7. Consider a Calm Bath
A warm bath can be relaxing for some babies, although others may become more stimulated by bathing.
Watch your baby’s response and choose whatever seems calming rather than forcing a particular routine.
8. Try Swaddling When Appropriate
Some young babies find safe swaddling comforting.
If you swaddle, follow safe-sleep guidance and stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of trying to roll. A swaddled baby should always be placed on their back for sleep.
9. Offer a Pacifier if Appropriate
Some babies find sucking soothing. If your baby uses a pacifier, it may be useful during periods of fussiness.
10. Create a Predictable Evening Routine
A simple routine may include:
Feed → burp → diaper change → dim lights → cuddle → quiet sounds → sleep
A consistent sequence can help signal that the active part of the day is coming to an end.
What Should You Do If Nothing Seems to Work?
Sometimes a baby continues crying despite your best efforts.
This does not mean that you are doing something wrong.
The parents cannot successfully console their baby every time they cry. If you become overwhelmed, place your baby safely on their back in an appropriate crib or other safe sleep space and step away for a few minutes to calm yourself.
Ask a partner, family member, or trusted caregiver for help when possible.
Most importantly, never shake a baby. Violent shaking can cause severe brain injury or death.
Is Baby Witching Hour Normal?
Evening fussiness can be a normal part of early infancy, particularly when the baby is otherwise feeding well, growing normally, and appears comfortable between crying episodes.
Babies commonly have periods of unexplained crying during their first months. Crying often peaks during the early weeks and decreases as babies become more mature.
However, parents should not automatically assume that persistent crying is normal.
When Should You Call a Doctor?
Contact your baby’s pediatrician if the crying is persistent, unusually intense, or different from your baby’s normal pattern.
Medical evaluation is particularly important if your baby has symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Repeated or projectile vomiting
- Poor feeding
- Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking
- Poor weight gain
- A swollen or unusually firm abdomen
- A rash that does not fade when pressed
- Significantly fewer wet diapers
- Blood in the stool
- A cry that sounds unusually weak, high-pitched, or painful
- A baby who cannot be consoled and seems unwell
For very young infants, fever requires prompt medical attention. The AAP advises contacting a pediatrician for a baby younger than 2 months with a fever, while its symptom guidance identifies a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher as concerning in young infants.
Trust your instincts if your baby’s behavior seems significantly different from normal.
How Long Does Baby Witching Hour Last?
Despite its name, witching hour does not necessarily last one hour. It can last 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the baby and the day. Some babies may become fussy for a short period, while others may cry throughout much of the evening.
The pattern may also change from day to day. A baby might be particularly fussy one evening and relatively calm the next. For many babies, evening fussiness is temporary.
Crying often increases during the first several weeks of life and gradually decreases as babies mature. Colic, when present, commonly improves by around 3 to 4 months, although some babies may experience symptoms longer.
The exact timeline varies from baby to baby. A baby who is very fussy at 6 weeks may be noticeably calmer a few weeks later.
Tips for Parents During Baby Witching Hour
The evening crying period can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Looking after yourself is part of looking after your baby.
1. Prepare Before the Usual Fussy Period
If your baby typically becomes unsettled around 6 p.m., try completing some tasks beforehand so you can focus on your baby.
2. Keep Essentials Nearby
Have diapers, feeding supplies, burp cloths, and anything else you regularly use within easy reach.
3. Take Turns
If another adult is available, take turns holding and soothing the baby.
4. Eat and Drink Enough
Parents can easily forget their own basic needs during a difficult evening. Keep water and an easy meal or snack nearby.
5. Accept Help
If someone you trust offers to hold the baby while you shower, eat, rest, or simply sit quietly, accepting help can make the evening more manageable.
6. Remember That Crying Does Not Mean You Are a Bad Parent
A crying baby can make parents feel as though they are failing, especially when nothing seems to work.
But crying is one of the primary ways infants communicate. A difficult evening does not mean you are doing something wrong.
Can You Prevent Baby Witching Hour?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent evening fussiness.
However, some parents find it helpful to:
- Watch for early signs of tiredness.
- Offer feeds according to the baby’s needs.
- Keep the evening environment calm.
- Avoid excessive stimulation.
- Follow a consistent bedtime routine.
- Give the baby opportunities to sleep during the day.
- Respond to hunger and discomfort early.
- Keep a record of when crying occurs.
Keeping a simple crying diary can help identify patterns, such as crying after feeds or consistently beginning at a particular time. The NHS recommends keeping track of when and how often a baby cries when discussing persistent crying with a healthcare professional.
Final Thoughts
Baby witching hour is a common term for periods of increased infant fussiness, particularly during the late afternoon and evening. It can be caused by a combination of tiredness, hunger, overstimulation, the need for comfort, and normal developmental changes.
Gentle holding, rocking, reduced stimulation, feeding when appropriate, burping, and a predictable evening routine may help. Most importantly, parents should remember that they do not have to solve every crying episode immediately.
If crying is unusually severe, persistent, or accompanied by signs of illness, seek medical advice rather than assuming it is simply witching hour.
FAQ’s
What do babies do in the witching hour?
During the witching hour, babies may cry more intensely, fuss, resist sleep, want to be held constantly, feed more frequently, pull their legs up, or be difficult to soothe, usually during the late afternoon or evening.
Why does my baby cry every evening?
Evening crying may be related to tiredness, hunger, overstimulation, feeding discomfort, or normal changes in infant development.
How can I calm my baby during witching hour?
Try feeding if appropriate, burping, holding, gentle rocking, reducing stimulation, using quiet sounds, and following a calming bedtime routine.
Is baby witching hour the same as colic?
No. Witching hour is an informal term for evening fussiness, while colic refers to a pattern of prolonged, excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant.
Does witching hour mean my baby is hungry?
Not necessarily. Hunger can contribute to fussiness, but babies may also cry because they are tired, overstimulated, uncomfortable, or seeking comfort.
Does witching hour happen every day?
It can happen daily in some babies, while others experience it only occasionally. The pattern may also change as the baby grows.
When does baby witching hour stop?
Many babies become less fussy as they mature, with significant improvement commonly occurring during the first 3–4 months.
Should I let my baby cry during witching hour?
You can try soothing your baby, but if you become overwhelmed, place the baby safely on their back in a crib and take a short break. Never shake a baby.
When should I worry about my baby’s crying?
Seek medical advice if crying is unusual or persistent, or occurs with fever, breathing difficulty, poor feeding, repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness, fewer wet diapers, or other signs of illness.
When do babies outgrow witching hour?
Most babies gradually become less fussy as they mature, with evening crying often improving significantly by around 3–4 months of age.
At what age do babies get witching hour?
Witching hour is most common during the first few months of life, often becoming noticeable around 2–6 weeks of age and peaking during early infancy.
How do you know if it’s colic or witching hour?
Witching hour usually describes evening fussiness, while colic involves frequent, prolonged, and difficult-to-soothe crying in an otherwise healthy baby; a pediatrician can help distinguish the two.
Should you feed a baby during witching hour?
Yes, if your baby shows hunger cues, such as rooting, sucking their hands, or becoming increasingly hungry; frequent evening feeding can also be normal for some babies.
Sources / References:
Disclaimer:
This guide is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Contact your pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby’s crying, feeding, development, or health.
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