When your baby was first born, they slept almost constantly. Just a few weeks later, they might be screaming for hours at a time. This fussy period is often called the witching hour, even though it can last for up to 3 hours. Crying is normal for all babies.
It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks. It will typically completely resolve by 3-4 months.
If your baby has missed a nap or two over the previous days, this can lead to exhaustion which can quickly lead to fussing at the end of the day. #3 Stomach Discomfort: Gas or acid reflux can certainly contribute to the witching hour, and this is especially true for very young babies with immature digestive systems.
It's important to take care of yourself. If your baby's crying is getting to you, it's fine to put them in a safe place (like their crib) and let them cry for a bit. Take a few minutes to calm down and call a friend, family member, or parenting hotline like the National Parent Helpline at 1-855-427-2736.
Colic is different than the normal witching hour and is defined as a baby who cries for 3 or more hours a day, 3 or more days a week, for 3 or more weeks at a time. Colic can begin in the early weeks and often fades by month 3 or 4.
Formula-fed babies also get evening fussiness, and may want to eat more during this time, as well. Some say they are “tanking up” for a longer stretch of sleep. Of course, when bottle feeding you want to be careful of overfeeding, so offer the pacifier or your pinky if you think it's a sucking for comfort need.
Assuming your baby's circadian rhythm is scheduling a 6 A.M. wake up, then her body starts to secrete cortisol three hours prior to that. And at this point, the melatonin production has ceased for the night. So baby hits the end of a sleep cycle around 3:00.
At nighttime, there's less movement and the gas can build up and get trapped. Additionally, babies tend to feed close to bedtime, and air introduced during this feed can become trapped. Also, our digestive systems are still very active at night and the results of digestion can be… gas!
Feeling hungry, having a wet or soiled diaper, or being too hot or too cold are all reasons your baby may cry and act a bit fussy at night.
What Is PURPLE Crying? PURPLE crying is a stage that some babies go through when they seem to cry for long periods of time and resist soothing. Your baby may find it hard to settle or calm down no matter what you do for them. The phrase PURPLE crying was coined by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.
The witching hour could start in the afternoon or during the night and can make your little one whiney and tired. This usually sets in when your baby turns three to four months and faces sleep regression. These difficult instances make it tough for young mothers to cope.
To top it off, there is also commonly a growth spurt happening at six weeks. A growth spurt may cause a baby to want to eat more often, day and night. All of these things put together means you will likely experience some extra fussiness and your baby waking even more often at night.
Other causes of fussiness in babies include diaper rash, thrush, food sensitivities, nipple confusion, low milk supply, etc. Babies normally fuss for many reasons: overtiredness, overstimulation, loneliness, discomfort, etc. Babies are often very fussy when they are going through growth spurts.
Baby keeps pulling away while breastfeeding
Once the let-down starts, some breastfed babies struggle to keep up with the fast flow of milk. If they're overwhelmed, this can make them pull away. Your baby could also be suffering reflux, which can also cause symptoms such as pain, fussiness, and unsettling behavior.
Babies have an immature digestion so if they take in excess air as they feed (for various reasons) then it sits in the gut, creating an uncomfortable and bloated feeling. This results in your baby squirming, wriggling and crying as they try and dispel the gas that is in her tummy.
Wind is air that your baby has swallowed when they were feeding, crying or yawning. Wind is common from the newborn stage to about 3 months, as your baby's digestive system matures. Common signs of trapped wind include: squirming or crying during a feed.
The witching hour is when your baby starts to get fussy and upset for no apparent reason at about the same time every day. This period of increased fussiness usually occurs in the late afternoon and early evening for most babies. The witching hour is also often called the period of purple crying.
3-Week-Old Baby Development
As your baby develops more of a personality, they will be experiencing more cranky moments. Many parents observe that this coincides with extra tummy issues as well. “By three weeks, some babies are having more gassy, fussy periods,” Dr. Burgert says.
Gently rub their back. If your baby goes to sleep, remember to always lay her down in her crib on her back. Turn on a calming sound. Sounds that remind babies of being inside the womb may be calming, such as a white noise device, the humming sound of a fan, or the recording of a heartbeat.