Most babies will have a period of increased fussiness starting at around 2 weeks of age and usually peaking between 6-8 weeks of age. Although, this is a normal developmental stage for infants it can be very stressful for parents and caregivers.
Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby. And, although people may not openly discuss many of the challenges in these early weeks of parenthood (if at all), there are a number of common hurdles you may face at this time.
The witching hour is a time when an otherwise content baby is extremely fussy. It typically occurs daily between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm. It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
Vision is also improving. To top it off, there is also commonly a growth spurt happening at six weeks. A growth spurt may cause a baby to want to eat more often, day and night. All of these things put together means you will likely experience some extra fussiness and your baby waking even more often at night.
Of course, every baby is different, but many Moms find it's the first 6 weeks that are the hardest. Particularly once the novelty has worn off, visitors are dying down and Dad is back at work. This often coincides with a more alert baby that tires easily, is more prone to fussiness and colic and harder to settle.
Around this time, your baby might still cry and fuss – this is a typical part of development and will pass in time. Crying and fussing usually peaks at around 6-8 weeks and starts to settle around 12-16 weeks. Your baby is starting to communicate with you in new ways.
However, many babies tend to get "easier" around 3 to 4 months old. Around this age, infants may begin to sleep longer stretches and feed on a more predictable schedule. You may also start to adjust to your new set of responsibilities as a parent. This being said, every baby is different, as is every family.
While it'll get easier with each passing day, you can expect caring for your newborn will be much easier by the time they're about 3 months old. As you're waiting with anticipation for when caring for your newborn gets easier, it's important to make sure you're taking good care of yourself.
General satisfaction with life increased in the first months after birth and peaked when the child reached 6 months old.
Older parents are generally less at risk for depression than younger ones. Parents still in their early 20s appear to have the hardest time because they are struggling with their own move from adolescence to adulthood while at the same time learning to be parents.
A newborn may be fussy because they're hungry, need a diaper change, or feel uncomfortable. Your newborn baby can't tell you how they feel, so may rely on crying to communicate. However, an extremely fussy baby who is inconsolable may be experiencing colic.
Other babies are complicated until they're a year old. However, most babies get easier between eight and 12 weeks. From there, babies get easier as they age, but each stage has complications and problems to face.
Part of the challenges of the newborn stage is the feeling of always having to play catch up. You're scrambling to find the nearest burp cloth because the baby spat up. Bathing a slippery, wet baby seems impossible, and trying to decide what to do next clutters your mind with even more tasks to do.
12 weeks old baby
If your baby has been wakeful and prone to fits of crying, feel reassured that there are probably easier days ahead. There is generally a steady improvement in unsettledness from now on and babies tend to be a little easier to handle.
At 6 weeks old, you are still in a phase with your baby marked by increasing crying, fussiness, and colicky symptoms. In fact, 6 weeks is a peak week of colic.4 Your baby is probably doing most of their fussing and crying in the evening hours, which are often known as “the witching hour.”
The neonatal period (the first 28 days of life) is the crucial period for child survival; as this period carries the highest risk of deaths per day than any other period during the childhood.
By three months your baby will begin to turn their head, kick their legs, make eye contact and smile. Colourful baby mobiles and bold black and white pictures will usually attract their attention. So will shaking rattles or the sound of voices. Some babies like to lie on 'baby gyms'.
For some parents, infancy is the hardest. For others, it's toddlerhood. Some parents feel that the preschool years present special challenges.
“The first four to six weeks are the toughest, then it starts to settle down,” says Cathy. “And when you get to three months, breastfeeding gets really easy – way easier than cleaning and making up a bottle.
Crying. Babies cry most in their first 12 weeks, and 6-7 weeks is the peak time for many babies. That's possibly because colic may have kicked in, and they're also likely to be having a growth spurt around now so will be hungrier than usual.
You might notice that your baby has been more fussy or unsettled than usual. This is common at this stage. Crying tends to peak between 6 and 8 weeks of age, and generally settles around 12-16 weeks. This is a normal part of your baby's development and not something to worry about.
This can be hard for you, as it's often the time when you're most tired and least able to cope. The amount babies cry tends to peak when they're around 4 to 8 weeks old, then gradually tail off.