Decoding the Baby “Witching Hour”: What’s Behind the Evening Fuss?

This can be exhausting, especially if you’ve had a long day and you’re dead on your feet, but understanding what’s behind this fussy phase can help you and your baby get through it without permanently damaged vocal cords.

The baby “witching hour” might sound exciting—but it’s not. This is a period during the day when babies tend to be especially fussy and prone to crying.

Despite the name, it’s not really a singular hour. Reportedly, these sessions can last anywhere from half an hour to two hours, and they usually happen sometime between 5 and 11 pm.

Babies typically become prone to the witching hour when they’re around 2–3 weeks old. The phase peaks around 6–8 weeks, and (thankfully) tapers off by 3–4 months.

Note that this hasn’t been extensively scientifically studied, which means that most of this information comes from (anecdotal) parental reports. The witching hour is a common phenomenon that many parents experience, but not an actual, medical diagnosis.

If your baby’s usually agitated and unconsolable during this time, it may be because of several factors:

• Overstimulation: Everything’s new for your newborn—each sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound. Her brain can get overwhelmed trying to process all that new information. Evenings can be especially bad because they’re often the time when families are most active (preparing and eating dinner, chatting, watching TV, etc.).
• Fatigue: Newborns spend most of their time sleeping, typically averaging 8 or 9 hours during the day. 1 If, for any reason, your baby falls behind on her daytime naps, she might be completely worn out by the time night rolls around, which can lead to increased fussiness and (paradoxically) trouble winding down.
• Hunger: Babies often go through a phase known as “cluster feeding,” meaning they need to eat more frequently. 2 Even if you’re feeding her as often as she wants, she might get frustrated because she feels like she isn’t getting enough to eat.
• Growth spurts: Your baby might also need to feed more if she’s going through a new development phase (she’ll go through several of these in her first half-year of life). During these times, she might be even fussier. 3

While it’s not as common in the first few weeks of life, babies can go through a sleep regression at any time. This is when a baby who once slept soundly suddenly has trouble sleeping or resists bedtime altogether. If you think your baby may be going through a sleep regression, speak with your pediatrician.

Witching hour vs. colic vs. PURPLE crying: what’s the difference?

You may have encountered the term “colic,” which, like the witching hour, refers to excessive crying in babies. Despite their similarities, colic and the witching hour aren’t the same thing.

The baby “witching hour” describes a normal and temporary case of fussiness generally lasting up to a few hours. Colic is a more severe condition marked by prolonged and intense crying that:

• Lasts for a substantial period of time (sometimes defined as 3 hours)
• Happens more than three days a week
• Goes on for more than three weeks in total 4

In everyday conversation, people often use both terms interchangeably, along with the term “PURPLE crying,” which stands for: 5

• P: Peak of crying (which often occurs around weeks six to eight)
• U: Unexpected (brought on suddenly and seemingly without cause)
• R: Resistance to soothing (meaning your baby seems inconsolable)
• P: Pain-like face (i.e., a scrunched expression)
• L: Long-lasting (going on for hours at a time)
• E: Evening (the time when many babies are fussiest)

Although PURPLE crying, colic, and the witching hour are distinct concepts, they all boil down to the same thing: your baby crying a lot. However, the witching hour predominantly occurs in the evening and has unknown causes, whereas colic typically involves gastrointestinal changes (i.e., tummy aches).

While every baby is different, there are several soothing strategies you can try to calm your little one and make the witching hour more manageable.

Create a calming environment

If your baby’s feeling agitated, here’s a few things you can try to avoid overwhelming her senses:

• Dim the lights: Bright lights can be overstimulating. Try dimming your lighting or using curtains or blinds to block outside light sources.
• Reduce noise: If your baby’s a light sleeper, try eliminating any sources of noise, like your TV. If you can’t (you have noisy houseguests or neighbors, live near heavy traffic or construction, etc.), try closing the windows, moving to a quieter part of your home, or going for a walk with your baby.
• Use white noise: Sometimes, adding a little noise can also be helpful. Try getting a white noise machine or turning on a fan in the background.
• Swaddle your baby: A snug swaddle mimics the comfort and security of the womb. However, it’s important to remember not to swaddle your baby if she’s capable of rolling over onto her stomach, as this can put her at risk of suffocation. 6
• Try a warm bath: A warm (not hot) bath can help your baby feel more relaxed. Remember to check the temperature of the bath first before placing your baby in the tub, and keep her umbilical stump dry until it heals completely. 7

Use comforting techniques

Sometimes, all your baby needs is some extra love and attention. You can provide that by offering:

• Skin-to-skin contact: When you hold your baby, it helps her regulate her temperature and heartbeat, and the intimate contact may calm her down. 8 If you need to move around, consider using a sling to keep your baby close while you’re on the go.
• Gentle movement: A rocking or swaying motion in a chair or in your arms can be very soothing for your baby. You can also consider taking her for a walk in her stroller or taking her for a car drive.
• Pacifier: Some infants settle down by sucking, so you can offer yours a pacifier to keep her mouth busy. It might require a few tries before she takes to it, as the mouth placement for latching onto a breast nipple is a bit different. You can also offer your baby a clean pinky finger as a substitute. 9
• Baby massage: Similar to calming her down with rocking or swaying, you can try lightly stroking your baby’s back, belly, or forehead. You can also try gentle pats to see if that helps.

Address underlying needs

Sometimes, your baby might be fussy because she’s trying to communicate a need. If you’ve already checked for a soiled diaper and assessed that she isn’t too hot or cold, then you can look at other possible causes:

• Hunger: As mentioned, your baby might be cluster feeding. If you’re breastfeeding her (instead of formula-feeding), you can try offering extra feeding sessions throughout the night and regularly expressing your breasts to keep a steady flow of milk.
• Gas: Sometimes, babies get gassy, especially during and after feedings. If you’re struggling to burp yours with pats or tummy rubs, try the “bicycle legs” technique where you lay your baby on her back and move her legs as if she’s pedaling.
• Food sensitivities: If you thought you were in the clear to eat whatever you wanted after pregnancy, you’re in for a bit of a disappointment. Garlicky or spicy foods can change the flavor of your breast milk, which your baby might not like. Moreover, your baby has a 3% chance of developing a sensitivity to the dairy in your own diet. 10 If your baby’s been especially fussy lately, try changing up what you eat.

Establish a bedtime routine

A consistent bedtime routine can signal to your baby that it’s time to wind down for the night. As mentioned, a calming bath can relax her. You can also dim the lights, offer another feeding session, and swaddle her.

Your voice can also have a pacifying effect, so reading a story or singing your baby to sleep can help. You can also record yourself so that she can fall asleep to your voice even when she’s in the care of other family members or friends. 11

Creating a predictable routine can instill proper sleeping habits in your baby, which can make bedtime a little easier for the both of you.

Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. No matter how much your baby cries, make sure you don’t:

• Use screen time: It can be tempting to load up something visually stimulating to distract your baby when she keeps crying, but this can make your problem worse. In fact, the World Health Organization warns against screen time at all—meaning no TV, phone, or computer—for babies less than a year old. 12
• Use untested sound machines: Some white noise machines will be too loud for your baby, which can affect her hearing. It’s best to test your sound machine’s volume levels first and to place it at least seven feet away from where your baby’s resting. 13
• Shake your baby: It probably goes without saying that you shouldn’t do this. However, frustration is one of the most common triggers for shaking babies. This can cause shaken baby syndrome (SBS), which can result in permanent brain damage, blindness and death. If you get overwhelmed, just walk away for a minute, then come back once you calm down.

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—parenting is a 24/7 job that you can’t do while running on fumes. Here’s a few tips for managing your self-care during this challenging time:

Take breaks

Again, if you feel like you’re reaching a breaking point, put your baby down in a safe place (like her crib) and walk away. Take a few minutes to practice breathing exercises and indulge in something you enjoy, like listening to music or having a hot shower.

Ask for help

Maternal anxiety can make it nearly impossible to leave your baby with others. However, having an extra set of hands can make a big difference. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner (or a family member or trusted friend) to take over caregiving duties so you can get some rest. Just make sure you vet them carefully beforehand so you know you can trust them with your baby.

Find a support group

Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, especially if you’re doing it alone. If you don’t have anyone who can take some of the burden off your shoulders, consider connecting with other parents at local community centers or online through parenting groups. These are often great places to get advice from experienced parents.

You can also look into nonprofits or support groups that can provide emotional and financial assistance if necessary.

While you’ll need more than a magic potion to survive the baby witching hour, remember that it’s a temporary phase. You’re doing a great job, and with a little consistency, some calming techniques, and a lot of patience, you’ll soon be back to those peaceful nights (hopefully). Hang in there!