{"id":13749,"date":"2022-02-04T09:14:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T16:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mops.org\/?p=13749"},"modified":"2022-02-04T09:14:32","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T16:14:32","slug":"5-steps-to-surviving-the-witching-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themom.co\/fr\/5-steps-to-surviving-the-witching-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Surviving the Witching Hour"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Most parents would probably agree that the most stressful time in households with young children is dinnertime to bedtime. The \u201cwitching hour\u201d is what some people call it. That can seem like a harsh term, but moms who are trying to cook dinner with toddlers pulling at their pants wanting to be held or babies crying wanting to be nursed understand the phrase perfectly! Around 5:00, young kids are tired, cranky and on the verge of losing it. Routine is key to surviving until bedtime. Here are a 5 steps to surviving the witching hour and to help you establish a routine:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">1. Make dinner ahead of time.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Try to make dinner earlier in the day, either during naptime or during a more peaceful time when the kids are awake. I find that making dinner (or at least prepping for dinner) when my 2- and 3-year-old daughters are eating breakfast is a great time for us. It\u2019 the beginning of the day and they\u2019re well-rested, which gives me time to prepare for the evening.<span style=\"font-size: inherit;\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">2. Get outside. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Go for walks or play in the backyard if the weather is nice. Being outside makes everything better!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">3. Watch TV. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If the weather isn\u2019t great, turn on the TV and let the kids enjoy some downtime after a long day. If you haven\u2019t had a chance to cook dinner yet, this may buy you some time to do so.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">4. Run a bath early. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There\u2019s something about playing in the water that can turn a child\u2019s mood around almost instantly. If the kids are cranky after naptime or after school, try giving them a bath. That will make the bedtime routine easier for you too!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">5. Feed the kids earlier. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We try to wait for my husband to get home to eat, but sometimes my girls are too hungry to wait. Feeding your kids earlier may result in their being less cranky, and it could also give you a chance to eat dinner with your spouse in peace after the kids go down!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Try a few of these ideas and see what works for you and your family.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mops.org\/get-started\/trymops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related posts<\/strong><br \/><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mops.org\/the-routine-of-family\/\">The Routine of Family<\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mops.org\/helping-young-children-to-rest\/\">Helping Young Children to Rest<\/a><\/strong><br \/><br \/><br \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":479,"featured_media":13750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Routine is key to surviving until bedtime. 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