Witching hour - what did/do you do?

[Wivi]

DS2 has that classic unsettled period in the late afternoon. I guess it's not too bad as it only really lasts between 4 and 6 and sometimes it is broken up by a catnap.

I was curious as to what practical things other people do or have done to manage the "witching hour". For some silly reason I have persisted with trying to get DS2 to have a nap in his cot but I often give up and put him (still wrapped) in his rocker where he can see us while we do what we need to do. Sometimes he falls asleep there - other times he just whinges on and off til 5:30 when I normally give him a bath. Today he eventually fell asleep just before 5 in his bed, but I will still get him up for his bath at 5:30 and in bed for the night by 7.

Also - when did people find this unsettled period stopped happening? BabyLove suggests sometime between 8 and 12 weeks. DS1 never really had the unsettled period (dream baby) and it's all new to me.

Thanks for your responses!

[MUMSIEOF2]

hi, we had this too, horrible I know , we ended up buying a baby swing which worked & if It was late at night and really unsettled we would swing her in the phil & teds cocoon which came with our Pram. DD grew out of it by about 4 months. There is Information about this on the Aust breatfeeding Assoc Website.

[kirstenriley]

I found putting DD in my hugabub was fantastic, settled her right away....if you have a baby carrier give that a try.

[jaq]

I used the Baby Bjorn a lot, sounds like any sort of "close to mum" device works!

I would stick music on and dance with her while I tried to prepare dinner.

Often the unsettled period can be just plain hunger, too ... if you are BF, your milk is that much thinner (for want of a better word) in the afternoons, so I used to do a split feed - one about 5pm, bath etc, and then her "real" feed at 6pm or so before putting her to bed.

If you are bottle feeding the theory may or may not hold true - but worth a try!

And as much as I live by my Baby Love, I remember the Witching Hour lasting long after 12 weeks ... hell, sometimes I'm sure my 3yo is still putting me through it!!!!