Does “witching hour” ever end???

[kirstywursty012]

Hi everyone,

My little 6mo is a delight during the day but the evenings are getting more and more unbearable. She’s started dropping her 4:30 45 min nap which means from 5pm, she screams blue murder until bathtime at 6:30 and bedtime at 6:45 (although this is starting to creep earlier and earlier as the days go on)
Night garden used to distract her whilst I made dinner but I even need to supervise her while she watches that now and she’ll just cry through it.

I just wondered if this horrendous witching hour ever ends? My neighbours must think I’m being negligent and I’m so exhausted of trying to soothe her all evening that I don’t get a chance to cook or go for a nice run anymore when my husband is back from
work. It ripples out that we just order takeaway or I sit around and I’m starting to gain weight again.

At 6 months, DS still needed his 3rd nap of the day, but fought it like anything. I'd have to take an hour walk with him in the pram to achieve a 15 minute power nap at around 4.30. Worth it to not have a witching hour. It sounds like your DD might still need her nap too, even if she doesn't want it?

Probably not the reccomended advice but... do you have Netflix or iplayer or the tv? Instead on Night Garden you could maybe find something else to catch her attention? Or could you put her in her high chair in the kitchen while you cook? Are you weaning yet - maybe let her play with some food while you’re making dinner.

No advice but I'm exactly there with you! It so crap. Hope it gets better for you 🙏

Ahh thanks everyone! It was an in the moment rant (now that she’s been asleep!)
I didn’t actually think about just taking her out in the pram, that would be a lot more pleasant.

She is weaning but we haven’t actually done a late afternoon meal yet so maybe if I try this around 5 it might distract her enough before bathtime?

All things to try tomorrow! Loving unpredictable mum life