Why does my baby cry every evening?

Evening crying in babies is very common and is often called the “witching hour” or evening fussiness. It usually happens because babies get tired, overstimulated, hungry again, or uncomfortable from gas or reflux as the day goes on. In many babies, it improves on its own over the first few months.

Common reasons include:

• Overtiredness
• Overstimulation from noise, light, and activity
• Hunger or cluster feeding in the evening
• Gas, reflux, or other tummy discomfort
• Colic in some babies

Things that may help:

• Try the 5 S’s: swaddle, side/stomach hold while awake, shush, swing/rock, and suck
• Reduce noise and bright lights in the evening
• Offer a feeding, burp breaks, or a pacifier if your baby takes one
• Try gentle movement, a warm bath, or a quiet dark room

Call your pediatrician sooner if the crying is unusual for your baby or comes with fever, vomiting, poor feeding, poor weight gain, blood in stool, trouble breathing, or signs of pain. If you feel overwhelmed, place your baby safely in the crib and take a short break.