Colic and the witching hour

If your baby cries inconsolably, often in the evening, and nothing you do seems to help, you may be dealing with colic — or the closely related “witching hour”. It’s exhausting and can leave you feeling helpless, but it’s common, it’s not your fault, and — crucially — it passes. Here’s what’s going on and how to get through it.

What colic is. Colic is generally described as a healthy baby crying a lot — often for hours, frequently in the late afternoon or evening, hard to soothe — for no obvious reason, in the first few months. A common rule of thumb is crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week. Doctors don’t fully know the cause, but it’s a phase, not an illness or a sign you’re doing anything wrong.

The “witching hour”. Many babies, colicky or not, have a fussy, unsettled stretch in the evening — the so-called witching hour (often longer than an hour). It’s thought to be down to an overtired, overstimulated baby at the end of the day, and it’s very normal. Cluster feeding often happens around the same time.

Ways to soothe. Nothing works every time, but a rotating toolkit helps:

Hold and move — cuddle, rock, sway, walk, or use a baby carrier/sling for closeness
Motion and sound — a gentle pram walk, “white noise”, shushing, or a calm hum
Suck — offer a feed or (once feeding is established) a dummy
Warmth and touch — skin-to-skin, a warm bath, gentle tummy massage
Reduce stimulation — dim lights, quiet, and a calm wrap/swaddle
Fresh air — sometimes a change of scene settles everyone

Feeding-related settling. Winding your baby during and after feeds, keeping them a bit upright after feeding, and checking their latch or bottle flow can help if wind or feeding is part of it. Don’t rush to change formula or cut foods from your own diet without advice — talk to your child health nurse or GP first, as it’s often not the cause.

Look after yourself — this is the hard part. Relentless crying is genuinely distressing and can fray anyone’s nerves. Take turns with a partner, put the baby down safely and step away for a few minutes if you feel overwhelmed, and call someone. Never shake a baby — if you feel you might lose control, place your baby in their safe sleep space and take a break; it’s the safest thing you can do.

When to see a doctor. Colic is a diagnosis of a well baby, so it’s worth getting your baby checked to rule other things out — and see your GP if your baby: has a fever, is vomiting (especially green or forceful), has blood in their poo, is feeding poorly, not gaining weight, or seems unwell; if the cry sounds different, high-pitched or weak; or if you’re worried in any way. Trust your instincts — crying that seems like pain or illness deserves a look.

Getting support. You don’t have to white-knuckle this alone. Your child health nurse is a great first port of call, and services like Tresillian or Karitane (parenting/sleep support) help many families. If you’re struggling to cope or feeling low, tell your GP or call PANDA (1300 726 306) — supporting you is part of caring for your baby.

It really isn’t a reflection of you. Colicky babies aren’t crying because you’re doing something wrong, and a calm, easily-settled baby isn’t a sign someone else is a “better” parent — it’s largely luck of the draw with a baby’s temperament and gut maturity. Try to tune out any implication that you just need to try harder; you’re already trying everything.

Colic and the witching hour are one of early parenthood’s toughest stretches, but they are a phase that almost always eases by around three to four months. Work through your soothing toolkit, share the load, look after yourself, and get your baby checked if anything seems off. You’re doing better than you think — and it really does get easier.