Fussy baby in the evenings at 3 months: still the witching hour?

Evening fussing at 3 months is usually still normal, and for most babies it's fading. Here's why it hangs on (overtiredness, cluster feeding, a busier brain), what helps tonight, and the signs that mean it's time to call the doctor.

Father walking along a path at dusk with his baby in a front carrier

Your baby is around 3 months old, and mornings go fine. Then late afternoon rolls around. From then until bedtime it's crying and feed after feed, and nothing settles them.

You'd heard the witching hour would be over by now.

At this age, evening fussiness is usually still normal. Crying tends to peak at about 6 to 8 weeks and then tapers off slowly, so most babies cry a lot less by 3 to 4 months.

Watch which way it's going. Evening fussing that keeps shrinking means your baby is on track. Crying that's getting worse, or a settled baby who suddenly starts crying again, is a reason to check in with your doctor.

Could it still be colic at 3 months?

Doctors call it colic when a baby who's otherwise healthy and growing well cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week. It's usually at its worst in the late afternoon and evening. Most colic is gone by 3 to 4 months, though for some babies it hangs around until about 6 months.

Babies without colic follow the same curve, just lower. At 6 weeks, 2 to 3 hours of fussing and crying a day is typical. By 3 to 4 months that drops to roughly 1 to 2 hours, and much of it lands in the evening.

So one grumpy hour before bed is pretty standard at 3 months. If it's hours of crying every night, ask your pediatrician to look for other causes.

What's behind the evening fussiness

Overtiredness. Lots of 3-month-olds can stay awake for about 1½ to 3 hours at a stretch. Late-afternoon naps tend to be short or get skipped, so by evening your baby has been up too long and struggles to drift off. Tired signs at this age include whining, frowning, staring, wanting to be held and jerky arm and leg movements.

Cluster feeding. Plenty of babies feed on and off for a few hours every evening. It's normal, and usually not a sign of low milk supply. Three-month-olds are also suddenly fascinated by the world, so daytime feeds turn into quick, distracted snacks. Once the house goes quiet, they catch up.

A busier brain. Your baby takes in far more now than a newborn does. A whole day of faces and noise can be too much, and it comes out as crying after dark. For other changes happening around now, see why your 3-month-old might not be laughing yet.

Feeding problems, reflux or milk allergy. Spitting up is common, and it's fine as long as your baby is happy and gaining weight. In a baby who is otherwise well, reflux isn't a common reason for crying. Talk to your doctor if your baby often arches or seems to be in pain during feeds, refuses them or isn't putting on weight.

Fussiness plus eczema, vomiting, diarrhea or blood in the poop can point to a cow's milk allergy. Don't switch formulas or cut foods from your own diet without your doctor's okay. Those changes rarely help unless your baby really has an allergy.

Teething gets blamed a lot, but it rarely causes long crying spells.

How to get through the evening

Guard the late-afternoon nap. A short snooze on your chest, in the stroller or in the carrier still counts, and it can make the evening noticeably easier.

When the crying builds at the same time every day, try an earlier bedtime. Go by your baby's tired signs, not the clock.

Keep evenings low-key with dim lights, the TV off, quiet play and some white noise or gentle shushing. Let your baby feed as often as they want after dark. If daytime feeds keep getting interrupted, try feeding in a quiet, dim room.

Rocking, a carrier, a stroller walk or a warm bath can all calm things down. With two of you at home, split the evening so you each get a real break.

Whatever you try, keep sleep safe. Always lay your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface. That goes for babies with reflux too: the AAP says they should sleep flat, so never tilt the crib or slip anything under the mattress to raise it. Once your baby shows signs of trying to roll, stop swaddling. Gripe water and colic drops have little evidence behind them, so skip them unless your doctor recommends one.

If the crying is getting to you, it's okay to walk away for a bit. Lay your baby on their back in the crib, close the door and give yourself 10 minutes to breathe. Then go back and check on them. However frazzled you feel, never shake a baby.

What other parents say

The evening fuss often lasts beyond 3 months, but it gets gentler little by little. The two changes parents mention most are an earlier bedtime and a late-afternoon nap. Often, what looked like colic turns out to be an overtired baby.

When to get help

Get emergency help right away if your baby:

  • has a weak or high-pitched cry, or a cry that doesn't sound like their usual one
  • is floppy or hard to wake
  • is having trouble breathing
  • turns blue, gray or blotchy
  • has a rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass against it

Call your doctor right away about a fever. At 3 months or younger, that means 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Between 3 and 6 months, the US cutoff is 101°F (38.3°C) or higher; the UK and Ireland use 102.2°F (39°C) or higher.

Also call right away if your baby:

  • cries nonstop for more than 2 hours and nothing comforts them
  • cries when moved or held
  • feeds poorly, drinks very little for more than 8 hours or has fewer wet diapers (nappies) than usual
  • vomits forcefully, or brings up green or yellow vomit
  • has blood in their vomit or poop
  • seems unwell, or suddenly starts crying after weeks of being settled

Book a regular appointment if heavy crying is still going on after 4 months, your baby isn't gaining weight, or you're finding it hard to cope.

Call your pediatrician or doctor (UK: GP or NHS 111; Australia: healthdirect 1800 022 222; Canada: 811 in most provinces). For an emergency, call 911 (US and Canada), 999 (UK), 000 (Australia), 111 (New Zealand) or 112 (Ireland).

The bottom line

Evening fussing is common at 3 months, and for most babies it's already on its way out. If the fussy spells are getting shorter and easier, you're on track.

FAQ

When will the witching hour end?

Most babies ease out of it between 3 and 4 months, and a few keep it up until about 6 months. It tends to fade slowly rather than stop overnight.

Is my baby overtired or just hungry?

A hungry baby usually calms down once the feed gets going and is content by the end. A baby who takes a few sucks, fusses again and has been up for 1½ hours or more probably needs sleep, so try that first.

Will a different formula stop the evening crying?

Usually not. Changing formula rarely helps unless your baby has a milk allergy, so talk to your pediatrician before you switch. That matters even more if your baby also has vomiting, eczema, blood in the poop or poor weight gain.

Going through this right now? Talk to other parents in our Baby chat forum.

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