--- title: "Why does my baby cry every evening? Colic and the witching hour" description: "Evening crying is common in young babies. Learn how it differs from colic, what to check and try, and which signs mean it is time to call a doctor." canonical: https://plumi.app/blog/baby-cries-every-evening-colic/ author: "The Plumi Team" author_url: https://plumi.app/authors/plumi-team/ date_published: 2026-09-22 date_modified: 2026-09-22 category: "Health" publisher: Plumi --- # Why does my baby cry every evening? Colic and the witching hour Evening crying is common in young babies. Learn how it differs from colic, what to check and try, and which signs mean it is time to call a doctor. It is late afternoon. Your baby has fed, has a clean diaper and was calm an hour ago. Now the crying starts again, just as it did yesterday. Parents sometimes call this the *witching hour*. The name can make it sound predictable, but the experience rarely feels that way. Some babies have a fussy stretch in the evening and settle afterward. Others cry for longer and are much harder to comfort. Start by checking what your baby needs and whether anything about the crying or their health has changed. ## Is evening crying normal? An evening fussy period is common in the first months. The [American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx) says regular fussiness often peaks at around six weeks and usually eases over the following months. The [NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/) also notes that afternoon and evening are common times for harder-to-soothe crying. That pattern can be reassuring when your baby feeds, has wet diapers, seems well between spells and is growing as expected. A change from their usual cry, poor feeding or other signs of illness need attention even if the clock says it is the usual fussy time. ## Witching hour or colic? “Witching hour” is an everyday name for a repeated fussy stretch, often in the evening. It is not a diagnosis. Colic describes prolonged crying in a baby who otherwise appears healthy, without an obvious cause. The [NHS says colic may be considered](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/) when an otherwise healthy baby cries for more than three hours a day, on three days a week, for at least one week. It can start a few weeks after birth and often improves by three to four months. Some babies clench their fists, arch their backs or pull their knees up while crying. You do not need to time every minute or meet a threshold before asking for help. A clinician can check feeding, weight gain and possible illness, and help you decide whether the pattern fits colic. ## What to check when the crying starts Try the simple possibilities first: hunger, a wet diaper, tiredness, a need to be held, or being too hot or cold. Some babies want to feed again sooner than expected, especially in the evening. If crying regularly follows feeds, mention that pattern to your pediatrician rather than assuming it is colic. Look at the rest of the day too. Are feeds going as usual? Is your baby alert between crying spells? Has the number of wet diapers dropped? Our [newborn wet diaper guide](https://plumi.app/blog/how-many-wet-diapers-newborn/) explains how diaper counts change in the first week and when to ask for help. If your baby feels hot or seems ill, check their temperature with a thermometer. A baby under three months with a fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher needs prompt medical assessment. See our [guide to fever in babies](https://plumi.app/blog/baby-fever-without-other-symptoms/) for age-based advice. Do not label a new, unusual cry as colic before checking for illness. ## What may help tonight There is no single soothing method that works for every baby. The [NHS suggests](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/) holding your baby close, gently rocking or walking with them, offering a feed if they seem hungry, and trying a calmer setting or gentle background noise. A short pause to burp after a feed may help some babies. If your baby falls asleep while you are comforting them, move them onto their back in a safe sleep space. Our [baby sleep rhythm guide](https://plumi.app/blog/baby-sleep-rhythm/) covers sleep patterns and links to safe sleep guidance. An unsettled evening does not call for a different sleep position. The crying can be exhausting. If you need a few minutes to regain your composure, put your baby on their back in a safe crib and step away briefly. Ask another adult to take over if one is available. Never shake a baby. ## Should you try colic drops or probiotics? Products promising colic relief can be tempting during a difficult evening. A small [trial of a synbiotic](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-024-05860-5), a mix of probiotics and prebiotics, compared one daily dose with two, but it did not include a placebo group. That means improvement over time cannot establish how much the product itself helped. The [NHS does not recommend routine colic drops, herbal remedies or probiotic supplements](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/) because evidence that they help is insufficient. If you are considering a supplement, a formula change or a change to a breastfeeding parent's diet, discuss your baby's symptoms with a clinician first. The useful first step is to check that there is not another reason for the crying. ## When to get medical help Contact your pediatrician promptly if the crying is new or unusually intense, your baby is feeding less, wet diapers have decreased, they are not gaining weight as expected, or you are finding it hard to cope. Ask for advice if the crying continues beyond four months. The [NHS colic guide](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/) recommends getting help when you are worried, even if the baby seems otherwise well. Seek urgent medical care if your baby is difficult to wake, has trouble breathing, looks blue, gray or unusually pale, has a seizure, has repeated forceful vomiting, or has a weak, high-pitched or very different cry. The [NHS urgent-care guidance](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/health/when-to-get-urgent-medical-help-for-babies-and-children-under-5/) lists these and other warning signs. A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher in a baby under three months also needs urgent assessment. ## Keep a short record if the pattern repeats If you talk with a clinician, a few days of notes may be more useful than trying to remember a difficult week. Write down when crying begins and ends, feeds, naps, wet diapers, any temperature you measured and what seemed to help. The [NHS recommends recording when and how often a baby cries](https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/) to help spot a pattern. Plumi can keep feeds, sleep, diapers and a short note together in the day's timeline. Use it to describe what happened, not to decide whether the crying is medically safe. If something feels wrong, call for help without waiting to complete a log. This article provides general information and does not replace advice from your baby's clinician.