How to Manage “The Witching Hour”

What is the Witching Hour?

Before our first son, J. Morgan, was born, I had heard about the “witching hour”—that tricky period from about 4 to 7 pm when infants often become inexplicably fussy. I was prepared for this challenge, but nothing quite prepared me for the reality.

After picking J. Morgan up from daycare, where he’d supposedly had a “wonderful day,” we’d come home, and he would immediately become unsettled. Despite offering snacks, toys, and other distractions, nothing seemed to help. 

The stress in our home would mount, and what should have been a pleasant evening often turned into a struggle.

The Epiphany

Then, during a treatment session with one of my little clients, I had an epiphany. I was using a swing to help transition the child into the gym space when it hit me: J. Morgan might need a similar transition to help him move from daycare to home.

I decided to change our routine to better support J. Morgan’s transition. Instead of diving straight into evening activities, we headed to the master bedroom for some quiet time. This space became our sanctuary where we could both relax and unwind. I introduced leg massages and soft singing while he was nestled comfortably on the bed.

The Result

Just 20 minutes of this peaceful transition was enough to help J. Morgan calm down and adjust to being home. This new routine made our evenings more enjoyable, allowing him to better engage in activities like dinner and bath time, and ultimately helping him to relax and prepare for sleep.

By incorporating this calming period into our daily routine, we were able to ease the stress of "The Witching Hour" and make our evenings more pleasant for both of us.