Is there a time of day that your screaming newborn just won’t calm down?
If you have a screaming baby in your arms who doesn’t want to calm down (even with the tried and true methods you use during the day), chances are they’re in the witching hour—and you’ll want to keep reading to learn about the best ways to handle it!
Newborns are neurologically immature, and there’s a limit to how much stimulation they can handle during the day. When they’ve reached their cap, it’s easy for them to become overwhelmed—bring on the witching hour. A period from about 5:00 and 11:00 pm when nothing seems to calm your fussy baby down!
Whether you’re expecting or have a newborn in the house, chances are you’ve heard about the witching hour—and even if you no longer have a newborn, the witching hour probably left its mark! But what is the baby witching hour, and why is it such a difficult time for babies and parents?
Keep reading; we’ll walk you through everything you want to know!
What is the witching hour?
Traditionally, the ‘witching hour’ or the devil’s hour is a time of night associated with supernatural events. Although there may be nothing supernatural happening in your household, if you’ve ever experienced the witching hour with your little one, it’s easy to understand why it’s called that.
Generally speaking, the witching hour is a stretch in the evening—usually between 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM—when your baby just becomes fussy; it seems like they’re losing their mind, and you’re on the verge of it, too. Methods that usually work to calm them during the day go entirely out the window, and nothing seems to be working.
This fussiness usually kicks in around 2-3 weeks, hits its peak around six weeks, and resolves by 3 or 4 months. So, in simple terms, prepare yourself—it’s nothing something that goes away overnight.
But why does the witching hour happen?
There’s no clear consensus as to why babies go through the witching hour, but there are several theories:
- Overstimulation: Your baby’s nervous system hasn’t fully developed, and overstimulation can quickly happen. Newborns can only handle so much stimulation. If your baby has been too stimulated during the day, it can lead to fussiness and irritability in the evening.
- Overtired: An overtired baby is usually an unhappy baby. If your baby has been going through activity after activity without a beak, chances are they’ve missed a couple of naps and are overtired. The result? Exhaustion, which can quickly lead to fussiness.
- Stomach discomfort: Gas or acid reflux can lead to a fussy baby, especially for newborns with immature digestive systems.
- Cluster feeding: Some newborns will cluster feed at night in preparation for a longer stretch of sleep, but cluster feeding at night can worsen the witching hour, as overloading your baby’s digestive system can lead to serious discomfort at night.
How to Handle the Witching Hour
- Prevent your baby from getting overtired
Although it’s not always possible to prevent your newborn from being overtired, try your best to avoid it (and maybe you can avoid the witching hour). Despite how much they sleep, newborns up to 12 weeks can become overtired quickly, especially in the late afternoon and evening. When your baby is overtired, their body starts pumping out cortisol and adrenaline, putting them in flight-or-flight mode. Imagine trying to fall asleep with stress hormones coursing through your body—it becomes virtually impossible. That’s when the nasty cycle of no sleep and overtiredness kicks in.
Watch for their sleep cues and get them to sleep ASAP!
- Get outside
Babies are very sensitive to the emotions and energy of their caregivers, and if you’re frazzled and stressed, they’re going to feel it! When we can remain calm and centered, it’s easier for them to relax. Getting outside for a walk can be a game-changer if things tend to get hectic in the evening. It takes the focus off everything you need to do in the house and allows you to breathe. Slowing your heart rate, breathing, and clearing your head will immediately impact your baby’s emotional state.
You’re also getting the added benefit of light exposure during the late afternoon and early evening, which can help your baby sleep at night!
- Avoid overstimulation
Being bombarded by loud sounds and bright lights, it’s easy to see how you can get overstimulated—especially as a newborn. Your baby has been in a (somewhat) quiet and calm environment for the last nine months, and the bright, noisy, and colorful world around them now is a lot to take in. Start limiting sound and visual stimulation in the late afternoon or early evening to prevent your baby’s nervous system from going into overdrive.
- Use motion
Your baby spent nine months rocked and swayed when you moved, which can be soothing! To help calm your fussy baby, put on a carrier or sling and walk around with them, or put them in a swing—you want motion!
- Take a bath
Taking a warm bath with your baby is not only a great way to bond with them, but it can also be calming. The sound of running water is great for calming a fussy baby. Place them on your chest or stomach and cover them with a warm washcloth to ensure they stay warm. Studies show that a warm bath with lavender essential oil.
- Start a bedtime routine
Despite what you may think, it’s never too early to start a bedtime routine with your little one! Babies thrive on routines, and implementing a short bedtime routine is a great way to cue your baby that sleep is coming—it marks a clear transition from a busy day to a calm, quiet night.
A newborn bedtime routine could look like this:
- Bath or washcloth wipes (5 minutes)
- Diaper change and lotion
- Feeding (10-15 minutes)
- PJs
- Book (2-3 minutes)
- Crib and lights out
Bedtime routines are incredibly powerful for children of any age, as they teach them that a bath and the following steps mean bedtime.
Try implementing a routine; after a few nights, you may be pleasantly surprised to see they are less fussy!
- Ask for help!
A fussy baby who doesn’t want to sleep can be hard on parents, so never be afraid to ask for help! Whether it’s from your partner, mother or father-in-law, sister, neighbor, or friend, you are not alone. There is no shame in admitting defeat and giving yourself a moment to collect yourself and breathe.
People want to help, so take them up on their offer. Their cries likely won’t have the same effect they do on an overtired, stressed parent—and they will be able to manage it!
The witching hour is common in babies, but it doesn’t have to happen. Follow these steps as treatment or prevention to slide through the witching hour easily.
For more sleep tips and giveaways, be sure to follow @little_sleeperz on Instagram!
We don’t have partners in the Jewish lingo- Bh we have spouses. Let’s try not to let the tumah and immorality off the outside world come into our writings and articles. Otherwise, great tips!
My reaction as well!
Also bath bonding? Hmm what happened to kimchis.
I don’t know what kimchis are. I do know that bath bonding does wonders for a child. And the bonding starts from when they are born. If you are lucky enough to have a child then please try this! It’s an amazing form of connection
Kimchis was a woman who merited to have seven sons who were Kohanim Gedolim because of her modesty in always covering her hair even in the house. The Lubavitcher Rebbe King Moshiach Shlita says that we should all follow her example, keeping a high standard of modesty and we will merit to have very holy children. We shouldn’t say we are satisfied with children that are not as holy, rather strive for them to be on the highest level of holiness.
What’s kimchis?
Kimchis was a woman who merited to have seven sons who were Kohanim Gedolim because of her modesty in always covering her hair even in the house. The Lubavitcher Rebbe King Moshiach Shlita says that we should all follow her example, keeping a high standard of modesty and we will merit to have very holy children. We shouldn’t say we are satisfied with children that are not as holy, rather strive for them to be on the highest level of holiness.
You can wear a snood if you want. I guess you don’t breastfeed either? Maybe no vaginal delivery?
It’s laughable how mixed up people are when it comes to what’s right and wrong
i feel the same way!!
it seems like our magazines and books also are lately espousing this idea of being partners. I read magazines every week, but whenever i see partners being bought up i cringe. i wonder what values will our daughters grow up with? maybe bcp can do a post on this…
also, i personally think that using the idea of parnters is misleading anad all it does is it to make women resentful…
Resentful of what?
Not everyone has a spouse. I’m happy for you that you do
Not everyone has a spouse! Please be mindful that your comment can be hurtful! A partner is a little softer for some.
Chaya – “Bh we have spouses”? First of all how do you know that? Not all frum people need to live exactly like you do. Also do you actually care about morality? Because I don’t remember any rabbi saying shaming someone is moral. Putting down others is literally the reason the beis hamokdash was destroyed. You tried to embarrass someone publicly. Find me a rabbi that says that’s ok to do, in the name of protecting us from hearing such a disgusting word like “p a r t n e r”. You literally brought the tumah into the comments.
To all the other readers – don’t get discouraged. Try to remember that there are indeed thoughtful frum people with middos out there.
Bh YOU have a spouse! Please don’t write BH WE have a spouse when a lot of us don’t
What is happening? Cant we all just appreciate the article? It has so many brilliant tips. Who actually cares about a word like partner? Who has time to be search an article for a potentially less ideal word?
@chaya I thought the same thing when I read that last part!! kol
Hakavod for speaking up.
You also thought to hurt women that don’t have spouses? Or you also thought that it’s ok to shake a frum women’s article publicly? Or in general you also think like her-that your circle is the only circle that reads these articles?
Anyone here read books to a newborn? Gimme a break! If a mom has 2-3 minutes she should read her other kids a book…;)
Yes! I’m a busy mom and the reading of a book is super soothing to a newborn. You should try it before you mock it
Yes, I make it priority the same way I make sure to dress him.
Everyone should do what works for them. No need to make fun of the author’s ideas. There is a real person who wrote this.
I LOVED this article. I have a 8 month old and I’m really excited to try these tips on my baby!! I am speechless regarding the above comments that only zoomed in on the word ‘partner’. You get free brilliant advice from an amazing sleep coach and all you can comment on is the word ‘partner?’ Instead of bcp doing a post on ‘partners’ how about they do a post on basic middos?
I have a 4 month old and sometimes when I want to sleep late I put him in the bouncer and my 4th grade daughter plays with him. She actually reads him books and he loves it. Try it!
Thank you so so so much for this article!! I have tried these tips and I really do see a difference!! I’m excited to have found pennys contact! Thank you bcp for posting such an informative article! PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING!!
Side point I’m confused as to why people who don’t like the use of the word “partner” because it doesn’t have the Jewish taste also feel comfortable publicly bashing a frum women’s great article. Is the word partner or lashon hara worse to god? Hmm
Thank you so much for this wonderful article! I’m excited to try !!!
Thank you for this!! I love penny! She does wonders for my baby!!
So cool! Great article
Keep these articles coming!
Pen is the best coach iv ever used! My nights are back!!! I’m scared to share her with everyone lol
Such great tips!
thank you for being all inclusive in the article. It means a lot
My son is sensory and the skin to skin makes such a difference!!. I can see the positive reaction right away! So calming for him! Happy to know that a professional recommends this
I am flabbergasted that such an ultra religious community can try to tear down someone’s article because they don’t like a word in the article.
Isn’t this the opposite of what religion stands for ? To tear their people down because a word was too inclusive and out there?
Can someone please explain this to me?
Penny saved our life! Best sleep coach out there!!
Skin to skin is the best tip in the article. It sounds cheesy and not the usual tip you hear from a frum coach but I have to say it made a world of a difference for my little one! More people should try it!
Thank you for such a great read!
Excellent tips!!! Thank you! I bathed my baby every night for months and definitely saw a dramatic difference in her sleep. Love these baby articles. They are so helpful! I somehow forgot with each new baby bh what I did that worked in the past…
A note about partner/spouse – i think the assumption is that a Jewish woman who has a newborn very likely has a spouse. There are exceptions, but it’s not the norm. Terminology sensitivity is nice, but public forums may not be right place to call on about it. Do the authors have a way to direct message? Do the editors of the blog allow editing once published? If so, those are excellent methods to employ if one has a comment about word choice, unless it’s absolutely offensive, then speaking up may be a good choice.
Thank you, this is a great post!