The Period of Purple Crying
What is Purple Crying?
Purple Crying is a normal developmental phase that all babies go through to some degree. Purple Crying can start when babies are 2 weeks old, and can continue until 2-5 months of age. While some babies may cry for short periods throughout the day, others can cry for 2-5 hours straight.
P.U.R.P.L.E. ! What does it stand for?
PURPLE is an acronym that describes this developmental phase.
P: Peak of crying. Purple crying can begin at 2 weeks and peak at 2 months.
U: Unexpected. The crying may start at any time for no reason at all.
R: Resists soothing. No matter what you do, it may be impossible to soothe and calm your baby during the phase of Purple Crying.
P: Pain. Baby may look like they are in pain, even if they are not.
L: Long-lasting. Baby may cry for hours at a time.
E: Evening. Baby may cry at any time during the day, but often crying starts in the evening. This is why the Purple Period is often referred to as “The Witching Hour.”
Colic or Purple?
Many parents have rushed their baby to the doctor’s office, reporting uncontrollable crying. Parents might report that their baby is crying every day for hours at a time. Even after all the baby's needs are met, they may continue to cry. Pediatricians used to diagnose this as colic. We now call it “The Period of Purple Crying”. “The Witching Hour” is another commonly used name for this developmental stage, with peak hours of crying starting in the late afternoon to early evening.
What can I do to stop the crying?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for Purple Crying because it is simply a developmental stage that all babies go through. As a parent, this particular developmental stage can be very stressful and depressing. No parent wants to hear their baby cry. It’s a natural instinct to try and soothe and calm our kiddos. But in these instances, we are powerless over the crying.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
Research shows an increase in SBS during this period of development. This phase can be very stressful for parents and puts the baby at higher risk of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Parents and other caregivers need to know when to step away.
How long will this last?
Every baby is different; Purple Crying can start as early as 2 weeks old and continue until 2-5 months of age. Many babies start to phase out of this development period around 2-3 months.
Why does this happen?
At this time, researchers have yet to discover why babies go through the Purple Period. Some have hypothesized that a combination of physical and emotional development occurs during this period.
Soothing during the Purple Period
Speaking in general terms, soothing techniques do not always work on a child going through The Period of Purple. However, it never hurts to try. Some soothing techniques you can use include rocking, bouncing, singing, shushing, using a white noise machine, or giving a pacifier.
No matter how you look at it, the Purple Period can be a difficult phase in your child’s development. Parents will often feel like a failure when they are not able to calm and soothe their baby during this stage. It’s important to remember that this period in your child’s development is natural and will not last forever.