Tempted to turn to screens to occupy your young child during the witching hour? I get it. Witching hour for babies, toddlers, and big kids can be one of the most stressful parts of a mother’s day.
Dinner need to be made. The house could use a good tidy. You’ve had a long day and your energy is starting to plummet.
In the midst of it all, the little ones turn up the volume on their needs and behavior.
Witching hour is when babies, toddlers, and older kids start to meltdown in the hours between late afternoon and bedtime. Many children become fussy, hyper, overtired, and sometimes inconsolable in the evenings when it is yet still too early to go to bed. The temptation to turn on the electronic babysitter to tame the chaos is real, but we all know that post screen time behavior issues are a high price to pay for a few moments of peace and quiet.
Let me show you how you can manage the witching hour without screen time in your home.
What is the witching hour?
Witching hour is usually a term associated with clingy babies who need their mama’s help to relax in the evenings however, many veteran moms will tell you that the witching hour lasts for years, up through elementary school.
Witching hour is a period of time in the evenings when kids get overly tired and become difficult to manage.
Kids of all ages are just plain done come evening time. Witching hour makes it hard for moms to cook, serve dinner, help older kids with homework, or get just about anything done.
Witching Hour What Time
My children have typically gotten fussy between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 pm, but witching hour can be anytime in the evenings when kids start to struggle.
Many babies experience the witching hour one hour before their typical bedtime which makes it challenging for parents to keep them awake.
Many infants and toddlers will wake up in the middle of the night if they are given an evening nap during the witching hour.
That’s the dilemma.
Now let’s talk solutions for how to manage the witching hour for infants, toddlers, and big kids without turning to screens and without losing your mind as a mom…
Witching Hour Newborns
Babies like to be close to their mamas. This is completely natural. They just spent nine months in your tummy. They would like nothing more than to stick to you like glue and continue to bond all day long.
Think of cuddling your baby during the witching hour as a gift. Something you get to do.
Something that you will miss very much one day.
If you enjoy baby wearing, strap your baby on while you prepare dinner. Sing to them, kiss their head, and comfort them with your voice. If you don’t like wearing your baby in a wrap, simply hold your baby. Rock in a rocking chair or nurse in bed. Talk to your little one and read aloud to them. Even though they don’t understand everything you are saying, language pathways are being strengthened as you speak and read to them. The newborn stage is so incredibly short. It’s okay if not a whole lot gets done outside of caring for your infant during this season.
Witching Hour For Babies and Toddlers
(Easy Screen Free Activities for Crawling Babies and Toddlers)
Here are some simple strategies we have used to survive witching hour with crawling babies and curious toddlers.
- In our home, we play a funny game that the kids lovingly call “chase that baby.” We simply crawl around on the floor or on the fenced-in trampoline and chase after our little mover. We tell him we are going to get him. He smiles, giggles, and crawls as fast as he can, constantly looking back to make sure we are still playing.
- Fill a laundry basket with soft, safe things for your toddler such as socks, stuffed animals, balls, and baby blankets. Let your child entertain himself as he pulls out one thing at a time and explores the basket close by you.
- Our little guy loves to open kitchen cabinets. Some are off limits, but others are perfectly safe for him to investigate. I keep the bottom drawer stocked with soft aprons and clean kitchen towels. My baby sits at my feet while I work in the kitchen and pulls out apron after apron. There’s also a cabinet nearby full of bamboo cups for kids. The baby enjoys pulling each one out and pretending to drink from them. When my daughter was little, she would spend long stretches of time stacking and unstacking piles of plastic cups during witching hour.
Indoor Toddler Activities
(Ages 2 to 4, depending on maturity level)
Avoid the witching hour by occupying your preschooler with these fun indoor activities for toddlers. Stay nearby your child to monitor for safety.
- Chunky wooden puzzles
- Extra large magnetic tiles
- Bubbles and bubble machines
- Baby dolls and hand held carrier
- Chunky wooden puzzles
- Crayons, construction paper, and stickers
- Cup stacking
- Large toy trucks and cars
- Lift the flap board books
- Kinetic sand sensory bin
- Melissa and Doug stamp set
- Mega Blocks
- Montessori wooden sorting and stacking toys
- Sidewalk chalk
- Toddler musical instrument toys
Witching Hour Preschooler
Try these audiobooks to entertain your preschooler during the dreaded witching hour. Set your child up nearby you to listen and do a hands-on activity such as kinetic sand, play dough, or construction paper and stickers.
Audiobooks for Preschoolers
(Ideal for ages 3 to 6)
- A Bear Called Paddington
- A Kiss for Little Bear
- The Beginner’s Bible
- Blueberries for Sal
- Christopher Churchmouse
- Frog and Toad Audio Collection
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Little Bear’s Loose Tooth
- Little Bear’s Visit
- Little House in the Big Woods: Little House, Book 1
- Little Red Riding Hood
- Make Way for Ducklings
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
- Night, Night Bible Stories
- Veggie Tales Chidlren’s Book Collection
- The Berenstain Bear’s Living Lights Collection
- The Berenstain Bear’s I Can Read Collection
- The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter
- Winnie the Pooh: The House at Pooh Corner
- A Year in Brambly Hedge
How to Avoid Witching Hour With Kids
Avoid the witching hour with kids by being proactive. Just like hunger panes come around the same time every evening and you think ahead to prepare dinner, accept the fact that the witching hour comes daily too.
Anticipate Your Child’s Needs
For older children, think ahead for how you can meet your child’s physical and emotional needs before they get to the point of a meltdown. For babies, be proactive with snuggles, bottles, outdoor time, and a consistent nap schedule. For toddlers, provide snacks and quality time. Read them lots of books just before the witching hour. For preschoolers, give them a job to do. Let them be your little helper.
Lots of preschoolers enjoy using a Swiffer Mop to “clean the floors” or a spray bottle with safe cleaning spray (such as vinegar and water) to “clean the windows.” Other great jobs for little ones include sorting socks, folding wash cloths, and helping Mama prepare dinner.
For big kids, provide snacks and a stimulating activity. Require them to play outdoors and read great books.
Cook Dinner In the Morning
As a mom of four, I have learned that my kids need me extra in the evenings. The closer we get to bed time, the more challenging their behavior becomes. Also, the more my energy dips. If I can get diner prepared in the morning or early afternoon, this saves me so much frustration in the evenings.
Here’s how I like to get a head start on dinner in order to prepare for the witching hour with kids:
- Fry and season ground turkey for taco meat in the morning. Cover and place in the fridge to reheat later.
- Use a rice cooker to make easy white rice for a taco side dish in the late afternoon. All I have to do is pour in rice, water, and press a few buttons. The machine does the cooking for me. This is also a simple cooking task that your kids can help you with if you are trying to keep them close and avoid the witching hour.
- Make pulled barbecue chicken in the crockpot for yummy sandwiches. If I get the chicken seasoned in the crockpot by 10am, I am good to go. In the evening, I can serve the pulled meat on buns, microwave some frozen broccoli, or ask my husband to make a pot of mac and cheese to go with it.
- Simmer spaghetti sauce early in the day. All I have to do is boil noodles and open a bagged salad later.
- Let a roast beef with potatoes and carrots cook in the crockpot all day long.
- Get a simple crockpot chili going late morning. Serve later on with chips, cheese, and sour cream.
What To Do During the Witching Hour?
Enlist Older Siblings to Help
Can big brother read baby sister a couple of picture books while you cook dinner? Can big sister feed the toddler a yogurt in his high chair? Can the preschooler play peek-a-boo with the baby nearby you?
Families were meant to share the load and help one another. Babies and toddlers are not a burden to big kids. They are an absolute joy. Invite your older kids to entertain the littles during part of the witching hour.
Mom’s need a break too and that’s perfectly normal! Struggling with mom burn out? Read this:
Give Your Child a Bath
Most of my little ones have absolutely loved bath time. There is something so soothing about hearing the water run, washing away the grime of the day, and playing with bath toys like those adorable little rubber duckies.
Even adults like to relax in a nice, warm Epsom salt and lavender bath.
Next time your child is struggling during the witching hour, order a pizza and give them a bath!
Sit On the Floor With Babies and Toddlers
Avoid witching hour with babies by getting down on your child’s level. My little ones like to know I am nearby in the evenings.
Personally, I don’t enjoy wearing my babies in a wrap. If you do, go for it!
Simply slowing down and sitting with your baby or toddler on the floor can go a long way to soothe them.
For my 9 month old, I take him in his baby-safe room, shut the gate, and sit on the floor with board books and age appropriate toys. Mostly, he likes to crawl around, explore, and climb all over me. He feels happy and safe to investigate his toy bin when he knows I am nearby. If I was on the other side of the gate, preparing dinner and ticking off items on my to-do list, he would be melting down during evening time.
As a mom of 4, I have learned that this season of life is very short. I want to remember to slow down and savor every stage. Sitting on the floor with my little guy is not an inconvenience, it’s a gift!
Take Everyone Outside
A surefire way to manage the witching hour is to get everyone outside. Strap your baby in a stroller with a sippy cup and walk them around the neighborhood. Bring a basket for your toddler to collect flowers and nature findings along the way. Have the older kids ride bikes and scooters or walk the dogs.
Let the kids do free play in your yard or at a playground.
Encourage them to jump on the trampoline, swing on the swings, or write with sidewalk chalk. Outdoor time is soothing for people of all ages. If you are struggling to cope with the witching hour in your home, get everyone outside before it begins.
Read Aloud Books
There aren’t many problems that a good book can’t solve. Minimize the witching hour in your home by planning ahead. Grab a good stack of board book for babies, picture books for preschoolers, and an engaging chapter book for older kids.
Provide cozy blankets and a lite pre-dinner snack. Snuggle up on the couch and read to your little people.
What should you not do during the witching hour?
One thing you should not do during the witching hour is give your kids screen time. Electronic devices have a way of amplifying difficult behavior.
Screens may sedate your kids for half an hour, but when it is time to turn off the show or interactive game, you children may struggle more than they did before.
Kids who get a lot of screen time can…
- Have trouble sleeping
- Become irritable
- Refuse transfer to the next activity
- Display behavioral issues
- Exhibit irritability and mood problems
- Struggle with free play, independent play, and outdoor play
- Consider simple activities like reading books boring
Avoid these common screen time problems by not offering electronics during the witching hour.
Instead, take your child outside or, if the weather does not permit outdoor play, turn on a good audiobook.
How do I deal with my toddler’s witching hour?
Toddlers can be a particularly challenging age group to handle during the witching hour. Here are some simple ideas to help you manage your toddler in the evenings…
- Ensure that your child is not overly hungry. Provide water and a healthy, lite snack before dinner.
- Give your toddler one-on-one quality time with you before their typical witching hour ensues. Fill their love tank through eye contact, smiles, hugs, affirmation, and your undivided attention.
- Assign an older child to read your toddler picture books or to mold play dough with him while you complete your own tasks nearby.
- Reserve a special bin of toys that only come out during the witching hour. Try a bubble machine, age appropriate fidget toys, large magnetic building tiles, and comforting stuffed animals.
When do babies outgrow witching hour?
Sometimes they don’t. The witching hour seems to change with age, but it is still a thing all the way through the upper elementary years. Kids, just like us adults, weren’t designed with limitless energy. Sometimes they get tired and cranky in the evenings.
Heck, sometimes I get tried and cranky in the evenings!
Instead of stressing about exactly which stage your child is at and when it will end, relax and choose healthy ways to manage the witching hour for your unique family.
Witching Hour 7 Year Old
Is your big kid experiencing the witching hour? Are you frustrated because you thought your kids would have outgrown this by now? Don’t stress.
Here are some simple ways to make the evenings more manageable with older children.
Divide and Conquer
Can Dad take the little ones on a walk while you read a chapter of a great book to the bigs? Or can Dad shoot hoops with the big kids while you nurse the baby?
Think of ways that you and your spouse can divide and conquer to simplify the witching hour in your home.
Some kids also have the major blessing of live-in grandparents.
If your child’s grandparents live with you, consider asking them to play a board game or do a puzzle with your older kids during witching hour.
Get Everyone Outdoors
Rain or shine, dress appropriately, and get outside with your kids. Time in nature is so incredibly soothing.
Free play outside is critical to child development and it also helps improve undesirable behavior.
Make sure your kids are not overscheduled and missing out on the healing power of Vitamin D and unstructured play in the evenings.
If you have been shuffling kids to and from school, sports, and other extracurricular activities, chances are they have not been getting the recommended 3 hours per day of outdoor free play that their developing minds and bodies crave.
Do whatever it takes to prioritize outdoor play for your children.
Utilize Audiobooks
Audiobooks are my secret weapon in motherhood. When you are tuckered out as a mom and your child’s behavior is a struggle, use audiobooks to lighten the mood. Provide a good snack, a cozy blanket, or a hands-on activity and let your child listen to a delightful story.
For recommendations on the best audiobooks for kids be sure to check out my previous post below.
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