The "witching hour"

Olivia is a GREAT baby all day long. Even when she's awake, she's good. She NEVER cries unless she is getting a dirty diaper changed or getting dressed from her bath. She's wonderful.

Then, "witching hour" starts. I wish it was only an hour. Honestly, it's not super bad b/c she's not crying...but she just gets fussy (grunts around alot), restless and nothing seems to really soothe her for very long. It usually starts right around the time we are getting the twins to bed around 8 pm adn will sometimes last until 10-11 pm. I alternate between the bouncer, swing, seeing if she's hungry, holding her, walking around, etc. She just doesn't want to "settle." But, it's NOT colic b/c she doesn't cry. She will wail for a second or two every now and again, but nothing that consistent crying.

I Guess this is pretty common, but I don't remember the twins doing this. I think part of it has to do is that she isn't awake for more than 2-3 hours (tops) from 8 am - 7 pm and then when she is awake for a long time in the evening, she's getting bored and doesn't even know what to do.

So, give me some ideas about what to do to settle her during this time.

 

at that age the twins we both colicy from 5pm-9Pm Or later.. Dh would come home and find me in the rocking chair with 2 screaming babies. There was nothing i could do but sit and rock. So thats what i did. WHen they were a little older we introduced baby einstein. And now at 7.5 months thats what i use to get thru 5-7pm.
(mine never ended just got shorter..)
GL!

 

I just had to respond after reading your subject...my husband used to call our colicky cranky time with the twins the witching hour! Ours would start at about 5 or 6 pm and last at least until 9 or 10pm, sometimes until 11:30 when DH would get home from work. After this happened for probably about 2 months, I switched them to Nutramigen and changed their bedtime to 6:30 - 7 pm. I usually start getting them ready for bed at 6. That stopped the problem (knock on wood) because now they are asleep during that time.

There are days now when my 3 year old goes to be early and although I love them all dearly...I am in heaven! That's the time I whip out my Wii, plug in Dance Dance Revolution and dance for hours...with the TV muted and head phones on of course! :a_smil09:

 

My boys were fussy all evening, every evening. Then, one day, a lightbulb just went off... maybe they were tired, and just wanted to go to bed? So, instead of keeping them up with DH and I, we take them up to bed! Bedtime routine starts at 7:30, with lights-out by 8:15. Baths, dressed in pj's, swaddled, nursed, then laid down. They usually are asleep within minutes from the time they are laid down, and they usually sleep until around 2 a.m.

 

DRINK! :laughing:

Seriously, though - I'm sorry - I don't really know. I must have blocked it. Remember to ask yourself if she's hungry or wet etc.....swing, bouncy etc.... swaddle tightly...I hope she passes this phase. Maybe play some nice music?

 

Mine are fussy from 5pm- about midnight. So I now sit on the couch with them. I do not try to put them down b/c it doesn't work. I have the tv and my laptop and I hold them, or just sit w/ them on their newborn loungers. I wish they would sleep!

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Apr 18 2008, 12:52 AM) [snapback]726928[/snapback]
DRINK! :laughing:


I was going to say the same thing!

 

There's nothing you can do except get through it any way you can.. There is no solution but TIME. They will get older and it will get better.. We had this big time untili 4 mos old. Now it's easy! Bedtime is no later than 6 pm tho-- we'd be in trouble if it was any later!!

 

Put them on your knees on their tummy, spank their bottom, swing your knees. (watch T.V with drink)

or put them on there tummy on your arm with their face in your hand & legs strattling your arm (better yet have your husband do this walking around.) It was always daddy's job in my house.

Heather