Last update: October 2026
Introduction
If your newborn cries every evening like clockwork — even after feeding, changing, and holding — you’re probably wondering:
How long does the newborn witching hour last?
Because when you’re inside it, it doesn’t feel like a “phase.”
It feels endless.
The reassuring truth?
For most babies, the witching hour peaks around 6–8 weeks and gradually improves by 12–16 weeks.
Understanding how long evening fussiness lasts — and why it happens — makes it easier to survive without assuming something is wrong.
What Is the Newborn Witching Hour?
The newborn witching hour is a period of intense crying or fussiness that usually happens in the late afternoon or evening.
It often includes:
- Crying at roughly the same time each day
- Refusing to settle despite being fed
- Increased clinginess
- Short naps or skipped naps
- A sense that nothing is working
This pattern is common in the first 6–12 weeks of life and is linked to immature nervous system regulation.
→ If you want to understand how newborn regulation works, read Signs Your Newborn Is Overtired (And How to Help).
It is not a parenting failure.
It is developmental.
When Does the Witching Hour Start?
For many babies, evening fussiness begins around 2–3 weeks old.
It often becomes more intense between:
Weeks 4 and 8
This period coincides with:
- Rapid neurological development
- Increasing sensory awareness
- Immature digestion
- Accumulated overtiredness
→ If you’re unsure whether your baby is overtired or hungry, this guide may help: Newborn Tired vs Hungry: How to Tell the Difference.
Even if your baby seems calm during the day, evenings can feel completely different.
If you’re in the early postpartum weeks and constantly wondering “is this normal?”, I put together a simple guide that walks you through what to expect — without the overwhelm.
Get the free guideIt Doesn’t Have to Happen at the Same Time Every Night
The name “witching hour” makes it sound as though babies have an actual appointment with the evening meltdown.
They don’t.
Some babies become fussy around the same time most evenings, while others have a broader late-afternoon/evening period that shifts from day to day. What matters more is the pattern of increased fussiness, not whether the crying begins at exactly 6:17 PM.
Evening is simply a particularly common time for babies to become difficult to settle. (NHS.uk)
How Long Does the Newborn Witching Hour Last?
This is the question most parents search for.
For most babies:
- It peaks around 6–8 weeks
- Gradually improves between 8–12 weeks
- Often fades significantly by 3–4 months
Some babies stop earlier.
Some take a little longer.
There is a well-established early-infant crying peak around roughly 5–6 weeks, with crying generally declining afterward. But research doesn’t support a precise, universal “witching hour peaks at 6–8 weeks” timetable. One systematic review specifically found no universal crying peak at exactly 6 weeks, although crying generally decreased after 8–9 weeks. (PubMed)
With both of my babies, the witching hour eased around 15–16 weeks. I survived it — twice. It wasn’t nice. It was loud and exhausting and repetitive. But it ended.
That matters.
What feels permanent is usually nervous system maturation unfolding in real time.
A Typical Newborn Witching Hour Timeline
Although every baby is different, evening fussiness often follows a similar pattern:
2–3 weeks
Evening crying or fussiness begins to appear.
4–8 weeks
Witching hour often becomes most intense during this stage.
8–12 weeks
Many babies begin to settle a little easier in the evenings.
12–16 weeks
For many families, the pattern fades significantly as the nervous system matures.
Of course, some babies move through this phase faster and others take a little longer. But understanding this general timeline can help parents see that what feels endless now is usually temporary.
Many parents search for how long the newborn witching hour lasts because when you’re living through it, the pattern can feel relentless and unpredictable.
Why Does It Happen in the Evening?
Evenings are when:
- Sensory input has accumulated
- Wake windows stretch too long
- Parents are tired
- Stimulation peaks
By late afternoon, a newborn’s immature nervous system can feel overloaded.
Crying becomes the release valve.
And there isn’t necessarily one single reason. A newborn can be hungry, tired, overstimulated, seeking contact and simply having a period of normal developmental fussiness at the same time. Evening crying is often the result of several ordinary things overlapping rather than one hidden problem that needs to be solved.
It’s not manipulation.
It’s regulation.
→ You can read more about this pattern in Why Newborns Cry When Put Down (And What Actually Helps).
Is It Colic or Just the Witching Hour?
Colic is often defined as:
- Crying more than 3 hours a day
- More than 3 days a week
- For at least 3 weeks
But many babies with evening fussiness do not meet strict colic criteria.
Witching hour crying is usually:
- Time-specific
- Developmental
- Gradually improving
The two can overlap. A baby can have a predictable evening period of fussiness and also meet criteria for colic if the overall amount and pattern of crying are excessive. “Witching hour” is an informal description of a pattern; colic is used clinically to describe excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant. There isn’t a medical test that confirms “witching hour.”
If your baby is crying intensely for long periods beyond the evening, is difficult to console throughout the day, isn’t feeding well, isn’t gaining weight, or seems unwell, it’s worth looking beyond the label and talking with your pediatrician. (NHS.uk)
If crying feels extreme, constant all day, high-pitched, or painful, consult your pediatrician to rule out medical causes.
What Helps During the Witching Hour?
You may not eliminate it completely.
But you can soften it.
Helpful strategies may include:
- Preventing overtiredness earlier in the day
- Contact naps
- Baby wearing
- Dimming lights before evening
- Holding upright after feeds
- White noise or rhythmic movement
The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s containment.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Newborn Witching Hour
How long does witching hour last in newborns?
For many babies, evening fussiness is most intense during the first 1–2 months and gradually becomes easier over the following weeks. Many babies are noticeably calmer by 3–4 months, although some improve earlier and some take longer.
Does the witching hour happen every night?
It often happens daily for a period of weeks, usually at roughly the same time in the late afternoon or evening.
When should I worry about evening crying?
Seek medical advice if your baby has fever, vomiting, poor weight gain, or crying that lasts all day and does not ease.
Does the witching hour mean my baby has colic?
Not necessarily. Many babies experience evening fussiness without meeting clinical colic criteria.
When Evening Crying Doesn’t Fit the Usual Pattern
A baby who is fussy for a couple of hours in the evening but feeds well, grows normally and is otherwise behaving like themselves is very different from a baby whose crying is suddenly much more intense or different from normal.
Seek medical advice if your baby has a fever, difficulty breathing, repeated/projectile vomiting, poor feeding, markedly fewer wet diapers, is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake, seems to be in pain, or has a weak, high-pitched or otherwise unusual cry. (nhs.uk)
You don’t need to diagnose what’s happening yourself. A change from your baby’s normal pattern is enough reason to ask.
Final Thoughts
The newborn witching hour stretches evenings in a way that tests patience and confidence.
But it is temporary.
For most families, it eases somewhere between 8 and 16 weeks.
For us, it was closer to 15–16 weeks.
It wasn’t beautiful.
But it passed.
Your baby’s nervous system is maturing.
And so is your resilience.
You are not failing.
You are in a phase.
And phases end.
You Might Also Find These Helpful
If evenings with your newborn feel overwhelming, these guides may also help:
• Signs Your Newborn Is Overtired (And How to Help)
• Why Newborns Cry When Put Down (And What Actually Helps)
• Newborn Tired vs Hungry: How to Tell the Difference
Note: The information shared in this article is for educational purposes only and reflects personal experience and research. It is not intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about your health or your baby’s health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
