The Witching Hour

Somewhere around 2 to 3 weeks old, many babies develop a pattern of intense fussiness in the late afternoon or evening. It happens reliably, often at the same time each day. Your baby may cry for extended periods, refuse to settle, and seem inconsolable despite being fed, dry, and otherwise healthy.

This is the witching hour. It's one of the most stressful parts of early parenthood, and also one of the most temporary.

What the witching hour looks like

Typically starts between 5pm and 7pm. Can last anywhere from one to five hours. Your baby may:

• Cry intensely, sometimes for long stretches
• Seem impossible to comfort
• Arch their back or pull their legs up
• Want to feed constantly without being satisfied
• Fight sleep despite obvious tiredness

It usually peaks around 6 weeks and gradually fades by 3 to 4 months.

Why it happens

The honest answer is that no one knows for certain. Several factors likely contribute:

Nervous system immaturity. Newborns spend all day processing new sensory information. By evening, their developing nervous system is overloaded. They don't yet have the ability to self-regulate, so the overload comes out as crying.

Accumulated tiredness. If wake windows have been slightly too long through the day, the effect compounds. A baby who was 10 minutes overtired at each nap transition is significantly overtired by 6pm.

Lower milk supply in the evening. Breastfed babies may find that flow is slower in the late afternoon. This isn't a supply problem (your body is still producing enough over 24 hours), but it can make babies feed more intensely and seem unsatisfied. This is often when cluster feeding kicks in.

Digestive discomfort. A baby's gut is still maturing. Gas and minor digestive discomfort may be worse after a full day of feeding.

Witching hour vs colic

The two terms describe overlapping things. Colic is traditionally defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks (the "rule of threes"), in an otherwise healthy baby.

If your baby's evening fussiness meets that threshold, it may be described as colic. If it's less severe or less frequent, people tend to call it the witching hour. The underlying causes and the timeline are broadly the same.

Either way, it does not mean something is wrong with your baby or that you're doing anything incorrectly.

What helps

Nothing will eliminate it completely while it lasts, but the following can reduce its intensity:

Reduce stimulation. Dim the lights, lower noise levels, and limit visitors during the fussy period. A calmer environment gives the nervous system less to process.

Movement. Gentle bouncing, swaying, or walking. A sling or baby carrier keeps your hands free. Rhythmic motion is one of the most reliable soothers for a dysregulated newborn.

White noise. Steady, low-pitched sound mimics the womb environment and can help cut through the distress.

Skin to skin. Hold your baby against your bare chest. This regulates their temperature, heart rate, and stress levels.

Warm bath. Some babies respond well to a warm bath during the fussy window. It can serve as a reset, though not every baby finds it calming.

Feed on demand. If your baby wants to feed, let them. Evening cluster feeding is normal and may be their way of loading up before a longer stretch of sleep.

Take turns. If you have a partner, alternate. Twenty minutes of sustained crying can feel endless on your own but manageable in shifts.

What doesn't help

Switching formulas. Unless your baby shows clear signs of allergy or intolerance (mucus in stool, rash, blood in stool), formula switching rarely addresses evening fussiness.

Over-supplementing. Offering extra bottles to a breastfed baby during this window can interfere with supply regulation. The fussiness is not a reliable indicator of hunger.

Blaming yourself. Evening fussiness in a healthy newborn is developmental, not caused by something you're doing or not doing.

When to speak to your GP or health visitor

The witching hour is normal and resolves on its own. However, see a healthcare professional if:

• Crying is accompanied by fever, vomiting, or refusal to feed
• Your baby seems in pain rather than just fussy
• The fussiness is worsening after 12 weeks rather than improving
• You notice blood or mucus in their stools
• You're struggling to cope and need support

There's no wrong time to ask for help, even if the answer turns out to be "this is normal."

Frequently asked questions

When does the witching hour happen?

Usually between 5pm and 7pm, lasting until 10pm or midnight. It most commonly affects babies from 2 to 12 weeks, peaking around 6 weeks.

Is the witching hour the same as colic?

They're related. Colic is defined by more severe, frequent crying (the "rule of threes"). The witching hour may be a milder form of the same thing, or it may meet colic criteria. The timeline and approach are similar.

When does it stop?

Most babies improve significantly by 8 to 12 weeks, with the fussiness largely gone by 3 to 4 months. It resolves gradually rather than all at once.

Does the witching hour mean my baby has reflux?

Not necessarily. Some fussy babies do have reflux, but evening fussiness alone isn't diagnostic. If your baby is gaining weight well, feeding without distress during the day, and doesn't have frequent vomiting, reflux is unlikely to be the cause.