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How do you manage the "witching hour"?

meg211meg211
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

LO is not yet 2 weeks but has already established a cranky 1-2 hours in the late afternoon/early evening, going between fits of screaming and calm staring. Even after she feeds well for 40 mins, she starts crying within 20 min after and giving cues she's still hungry (chewing hands, moving her mouth, burrowing her head against my boob through my shirt) and BF seems to be the only way to console her.  Is it possible she is extra hungry this time of day and the extra feeding is ok?  Is having a short break before feeding again ok?

I've been trying to keep her to a rough 2.5-3hr eating schedule, but reading all kinds of conflicting info about it being ok to feed her if she's asking for it on demand, particularly when she's this small and in the cranky time.

What are you doing to calm your LO during their cranky time of day? 

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Re: How do you manage the "witching hour"?

  • Jaimels78Jaimels78
    It could be a growth spurt.  If feeding is the only thing that works, do it.  Some babies feed every hour.  Demand feed, don't try to schedule it.   Have you tried a pacifier?  DS loved to suck and the pacifier saved me. 
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  • McAllie5McAllie5

    Give her the boob! :) 

    When you're BFing, it's very important to feed on demand! This is key in establishing and keeping up your supply. Don't worry about feeding LO "too much" as she will regulate what she needs. That's the great part about BFing: the foremilk quenches thirst, while the hindmilk sates hunger. In the beginning it can be frustrating to have her on you for what feels like 24/7, but if you push through she'll even out. Growth spurts will be trying as well, but stick it out and you'll be glad you did. :)

    Also, if you are ever worried that there "isn't enough milk", don't be. As long as you're getting the right number of wet and dirty diapers, if LO is attached to you for hours and you're worried that there just can't be enough... there is. Your body makes more as is needed. And you don't need 2 hours to "fill up". There's more milk after 10 minutes, or even less.

    If you do need a break because you feel like your nipples are about to fall off, it won't be the end of the world to introduce a paci. As long as she's been fed recently. Just watch for cues that she may be hungry and not just need the sucking (she'll let you know!).

    As far as the "witching hour" is concerned, we go through this every evening. After feeding him, changing, and bathing, he's a happy camper. He usually gets that way because he's tired and wants to start his bedtime routine.

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  • JennDave+1JennDave+1
    DS #1 did this around 5:30/6:00 for about an hour. What worked for me - taking him out for a walk. Once we got going he would come down.
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  • lucygoosey815lucygoosey815
    we started giving LO a bath it seemed to sooth her and distract her from being cranky, now its just part of our bedtime routine.  the bed time routine seems to have interrupted the "witching hour" pattern and now it does not happen as often. Good Luck!!
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  • meg1974meg1974 member

    2 weeks is way too early for a feeding schedule. I would feed based on her cues. Also, it's common for them to eat more frequently before bedtime to get ready for a longer stretch at night.

    DD#1 was fussy at night, and the 5 S's worked miracles (Happiest Baby on the Block). 



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  • CarlaAndJamesCarlaAndJames member

    She may be eating to store up so she can sleep longer stretches at night. Definitely feed her to so you can get that sleep! 

    I also highly recommend the 5 s's :) When she won't calm down, they are a miracle!  

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  • IOmommy2005IOmommy2005 member
    I put her in the ergo and continue on my evening routine....she usually falls asleep for half an hour..enough time to get my DS down for bed and any light cleaning from the day
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  • meg211meg211

    thanks for the reassurance.  the 5 s's worked like a charm until yesterday, now she fights the swaddle and prob cant hear our shh since she is screaming so loud!  the paci only works sometimes.  we r going on a 5 hour rant at this point.  i even took her temp to be sure she isnt sick!  my parents were here all day, maybe the over ztimulation and longer than usual naps in arms threw her off.  

    really hoping we wake up with a clean slate tomorrow.  its so frustrating not knowing why she is so upset, and why she wont eat a full meal but want to keep latching on just to snooze. 

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  • LexGatorLexGator member
    I nurse. If you are BF, feed on demand! Don't worry about a schedule at such a young age. BFing helps soothe while you bond with your LO!
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  • pinkflipflops44pinkflipflops44 member
    she is most likely hungry and wants to nurse more. 
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  • h2ojock13h2ojock13 member
    As the PP's said, feed on demand. How you are able to get your almost 2 week old to go 3 hours between BF'ing is beyond me. I was feeding my LO for an hour every hour and a half at that stage in the game. When you see the hunger cues give the boobie. :) You might get more sleep or at least not have a screaming baby with your ears ringing in the middle of the night. Too many nights of that will make you crack.
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  • kimevekimeve

    Regarding the witching hour, I go ahead and get him ready for bed then nurse him to sleep. He usually melts down between 7-8 so that's when we go to bed. We like going to be early and getting up early, so it works for us.

    And at 7 weeks we're continuing to nurse on demand and that's working too.

    I hope you find what works for you!

     

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  • dairygirl19dairygirl19 member

    Mine does this too! I just feed her. It's what she wants and saves everyone's sanity. I've always been one to feed on demand though. I think mine cluster feeds becuase she's prepping for a long stretch of night time sleep.

    Other than that I just keep moving her from place to place and talking to her. I also hop in the shower with her on the bathroom floor. She likes the water,I get something done and honestly, if she cries she cries for a bit, I'm not going to make her happy during that time anyways.

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  • genekellygenekelly member
    I offer LO the boob if it looks like he wants it or if he's fussy.  I was worried after talking to his ped that if he was gassy, that I'd be making the problem worse but he seems calmer after getting the boob.  Our witching hour usu starts about 6 and lasts anywhere from 1 hr to 3 hrs but not every night, thank goodness!  He gets the boob alot in that time frame.    She might be trying to "tank up" prior to going to bed at night(so my sister, who has 5 kids, told me the other night when she was over).
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