cranky baby when DH gets home

[feekerry]

my DD is 4 weeks old and an absolute delight. she sleeps really well, feeds really well and generally very happy and lovely.... until dad gets home from work! from the min he gets home till about 10pm she's gen just cranky, cries a bit, wont settle with dad, sometimes screams when he picks her up. she is better with me but he's starting to get a complex lol! do all babies get cranky at that time of day?

Sounds like colic - which is just a catch-all term for unexplained crying, it's not necessarily caused by wind or stomach ache.

TTSP.

Whatever DH is doing (quiet rocking, singing) to try and soothe her, tell him to keep going!

Most newborn babies are very demanding in the evening. The just want to cluster feed & have skin to skin contact so just go with the flow. It will get better!

Yes, same here. My 8 week old DD does the same thing - is pretty easy during the day but gets v cranky in the evenings. It's difficult for DH who only sees her like this in the week, but we keep telling ourselves it's just a stage! I also have the same problem with DD settling better with me than him. This stresses us both out as I end up doing more of the rocking/settling than him after already spending all day with her, and he feels slightly useless. I think encouraging him to persevere is the best way, but easier said than done when the screaming is escalating!
At least we have happy babies in the daytime!

From 3-12 weeks, our daughter was an absolute nightmare every night between 6pm and 10pm! I used to think it was just us, but was reassured by other parents calling it 'the witching hour' and saying their babies were the same.

I guess it was colic, and using Infacol might have helped our baby but I suspect she just grew out of it eventually.

The main thing is to reassure your husband that she's good during the day, and that your baby isn't cross because of him! It is very typical behaviour.

My advice is to take turns, and give each other breaks. Perhaps he can take her for a walk in the sling/pram when he gets home?

PS. Our daughter as grown into a gorgeous, chilled-out one year old :)

All babies are grumpy in the evening - it's nothing whatever to do with your DH.

Same here, it lasted for 2 mobnths and a bit and one day DS just stopped crying hysterically between 7pm and 8pm...He's now 1 and falls asleep like a brick at 7.30pm! And he adores his Dadda...It's only a phase and has absolutely nothing to do with your DH.