Motherhood
How to Get Through the Newborn Witching Hour
After hours of feedings, diaper changes, and snuggles, you’re ready to wind down at the end of the day. And that’s when the crying ramps up. That stretch between late afternoon and our bedtime routine, usually between 5 and 10 p.m., can feel endless. Your sweet newborn suddenly becomes fussy and inconsolable, and there’s not much to do but ride it out. This is what we call the witching hour, and if you’re in it right now, you are not alone. As a mom of three, I want to share my experience and what I desperately needed to hear when I was a first and even second-time mom.
My experience was so different with my third because of how I handled it, and I truly believe that my approach helped us both stay calm through it. So if you’re holding a screaming baby right now and wondering what you’re doing wrong, I want you to know—it’s not you. It’s hard, but I hope this will make you feel less alone, and give you a few tools to make it a little less hard to get through. If you found this post while holding a screaming baby in the middle of the evening, it’s going to be ok. That long, hard stretch between late afternoon and bedtime, also known as the newborn witching hour, is one of the worst parts of having a newborn. But it will get better, and I’m here to share what helped me survive it.
Photos by Katie Kett
How to Get Through the Newborn Witching Hour
I know what it’s like to feel hopeless as the sun goes down. I’ve been the mom convinced I wasn’t enough. But I promise you, you are. You’re doing everything right. Your baby is not broken. You don’t need to do anything to fix this—it’s just a season, and like all seasons, it will end. And you will get through this.
When I had my first, I thought I was failing. Everyone talked about how magical the newborn days were, but for me, the nights felt like something to survive. She cried every evening, no matter what I did. I rocked her, fed her, changed her, swaddled her, bounced her—nothing worked. We both cried, and I paced the room in the dark, feeling completely hopeless and helpless. I thought I was doing something wrong because I couldn’t fix it, and that was my first mistake. The goal of the witching hour isn’t to fix it. It’s to get through it. My second was born during the pandemic, so we were fully alone. I did the only thing I could do—I put the baby in a carrier, grabbed my mask, and walked up and down the block while we both cried. Getting outside, moving my body, and breathing in fresh air—I started to feel just a little less trapped. But still, I had this perspective of wanting to make it stop.
What Is the Newborn Witching Hour?
The witching hour is the stretch of time between 5 and 10 p.m. when your baby won’t stop crying, and there’s nothing you can do to fix it. One minute they’re fine, and the next, nothing works. You’ve fed them, changed them, rocked them, swaddled them, bounced them. And still, they cry for no apparent reason. This fussy period usually starts at 2–3 weeks old, peaks at 6 to 8 weeks, and starts to fade by 12 to 16 weeks of age. No one knows exactly why baby’s fussiness peaks then, but common causes include overstimulation, fatigue, growth spurts, cluster feeding, and your baby’s immature nervous system trying to process a full day of sounds, lights, and sensations. It’s exhausting—but it’s also normal. And most importantly, it’s temporary.
It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. I wish I had known that with my first. It’s easy to feel like you’re failing when nothing helps, but this is just something so many babies go through. They’re not broken—and neither are you. The best thing you can do is stay close, stay calm (or at least try to), and remind yourself that this won’t last forever. I promise, it really does get better.
Why I Chose to Formula Feed My Third Baby
My New Approach to the Witching Hour
By the time I had my third, I was in a very different place. We were no longer isolating, my daughter was done with treatment, and I knew how temporary it all was. I could do this. If you’re in the thick of it right now, here are a few things that helped me survive those long evenings iwth a fussy baby.
I stopped trying to fix it
Not everything needs to be solved. During the witching hour, your baby might just need closeness. Let go of the urge to fix, and lean into just being. I knew that my son was going to fuss, so instead of trying to “fix” it, I decided to “embrace” it. Does that mean I enjoyed his crying? No, of course not. But I accepted it and went with it. I put him in the baby carrier and went for a walk outside. Having my hands free and my baby close helped both of us regulate. And getting outside is good for everyone. I did the same with my second baby, but I went into it feeling like I failed because I couldn’t get her to stop crying. There was a huge shift when I took that piece away.
Use your headphones
Noise canceling headphones will save you. I love these in-ear headphones and these over-ear ones. Both really drown out the noise around you. Whether it’s music or a podcast, tuning out the excessive crying just enough to stay calm is okay. It isn’t cold to try to drown out the noise, especially if it’s keeping you calm. The best thing you can do is regulate your own nervous system and hold baby close. You are their safe place, but if you’re stressed out and anxious, they’re going to feel that. I know without any uncertainty that this is part of why the witching hour was so much better with my third. You can’t stop your baby from crying, but you can take care of your baby and yourself, making the witching hour a little better for both of you.
Step outside, even for five minutes
I get it. Sometimes you don’t want to walk down the block with a screaming baby. But there’s something about fresh air that feels like a reset—for you and your baby. Even a short walk can help both of you. Walks became part of our routine, and I swear they made a difference. A change of scenery—stepping outside, moving to a different room, or even just turning off the lights—can be surprisingly calming for young babies who may be overstimulated after a full day of sounds and sensations.
Lower the lights and the stimulation
Evening overstimulation can be a real trigger for fussy babies. Dim lighting, a white noise machine, reducing background noises, and a quiet room help create a more soothing environment. And again, this is where your headphones come in. You’re creating the right atmosphere for you and your baby.
Take turns if you can
If you have a partner or support person, hand the baby off—even for 10 minutes. I needed this with my first and second, but didn’t feel the need to hand off my third when he was fussy. Not once. My husband took care of our girls, and I’d head outside with our crying baby. And because of my perspective shift, and headphones (seriously, can’t stress the importance of headphones), I felt ok.
Remind yourself that this is a phase
And that it’s out of your control. As a parent, it is your job to make things “better” for your baby. Nothing feels worse than not being able to soothe them. It feels endless, and when it’s your first, you might feel like you’re failing. But it isn’t endless, and you’re doing a great job. So take a few deep breaths, ride the wave, and remember that the best thing you can do is regulate your own nervous system and hold your baby close.
You can’t fix the witching hour—no amount of bouncing, rocking, or Googling will make it disappear entirely. But there are things you can try to make it a little better. Sometimes a warm bath can soothe a fussy newborn, especially if stomach acid or gas might be contributing to their discomfort. Paying attention to awake windows during the day can help prevent an overtired baby by evening, which often makes the fussiness worse. These won’t stop the crying entirely, but small shifts like these can help make this tough stretch just a little easier for both of you.
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