Arsenic Hour

[Kirky]

I'm just after some feedback from other Mum's in regards to the infamous "Arsenic Hour". My 8 week old son is pretty much an angel, that is until about 5pm each night. From about then until he goes to bed around 8pm, he is grumpy and unsettled and just generally really cranky, and nothing seems to make him happy. This is regardless of whether he has napped during the day or not. No matter how much sleep he's had during the day, he's still cranky.

I feel really bad for my husband, as he's been at work all day and has to come home to this. I just wish he got to see the happy, smiley baby he is during the day (although he gets to see this on Sunday I guess). The poor man has to try to calm him down every night whilst I am getting dinner ready, having my shower etc. My husband is really good about it, and never complains, but I just wish this could be a relaxed, stress free time with his son every evening, instead of a battle.

We've tried everything - really warm baths, wrapping, music, dim lights etc, but nothing seems to work.

I was just interested if any other mums have the same problem and how you deal with it????

[red crayon]

We used to have similar problems. When my partner got home from work, we would put Spencer in the pram and go for a walk with the dog. Often Spencer would have a doze and then feel better by the time we got home. As he got older (closer to 2 months), a warm bath would do wonders.

It's gets better as they get older :o

[jamb]

It does get better as they get older. We just used to grin and bear it (at first I used to stress at not being able to "fix it"). By about 10/11 weeks he seemed happier being put in his cot and going to sleep without the big wind up beforehand. I think also I got better at reading the early warning signs that things were about to reach critical mass. The happy smiley times got longer with my bub (I guess this is as there awake times increase between sleeps??) so hang in there!

[annsam]

Im another to say its gets better as they get older. I think DS had practically grown out of this at about 4months or so. His period of having unsettled periods in the evening didn't last too long. Its just from overstimulation and taking in so much through the day. No much you can do really. Sounds like you're doing all the right stuff.

[madvoice]

Raleigh was like that around 3 weeks and stopped being so cranky around 8 weeks. She's usually pretty good to settle now :) They do grow out of it but each child is different.