What is purple crying period?

The Period of PURPLE Crying describes a normal phase in infant development (around 2 weeks to 3-4 months) when healthy babies cry intensely, often unexpectedly and inconsolably, peaking around 2 months and improving by 3-4 months, with crying often occurring in the evening and appearing pain-like. It's an acronym (Peak, Unexpected, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long-lasting, Evening) developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) to educate caregivers, reduce stress, and prevent abusive head trauma by normalizing this frustrating period.

What causes the period of purple crying?

The Period of PURPLE Crying isn't caused by one specific thing but is a normal, temporary developmental phase (around 2 weeks to 3-4 months) linked to developing nervous systems and adjusting to the world, characterized by more crying that peaks around 2 months, resists soothing, happens in the evening, and looks like pain but isn't illness, requiring caregiver patience and self-care. 

How long does the purple crying period last?

The Period of PURPLE Crying, a normal phase of increased infant fussiness, typically ends between 3 to 4 months of age, though it peaks around 2 months and gradually decreases. It starts around 2 weeks old, with the crying becoming more intense (the "Peak") before tapering off, and the "E" in PURPLE stands for "Evening," when it's often worse. Understanding this temporary developmental stage helps parents cope and prevents abuse.
 

What is the point of purple crying?

PURPLE crying isn't caused by one specific thing but is a normal infant developmental phase (2 wks to 3-4 mos) where crying peaks, often in evenings, resists soothing, and seems pain-like, but isn't illness-related; it's believed to stem from neurological development, and the acronym describes its traits: Peak of crying, Unexpected, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long-lasting, Evening. It's crucial for caregivers to understand this is normal to prevent frustration and potential harm, not an illness, and to know when to take a break.
 

What to do during purple crying?

During the Period of PURPLE Crying (normal, intense infant crying), soothe your baby with movement (walking, car rides, swaddling), rhythmic sounds (white noise, shushing, music), skin-to-skin contact, warm baths, or by changing their position; but if overwhelmed, place them in a safe spot (crib) and take a short break, and remember never to shake them as it's dangerous, seeking help when needed.
 

The Period of Purple Crying - A New Way to Understand Your Baby's Crying

What is the peak age for purple crying?

The Period of PURPLE Crying is an evidence-based program describing a normal period of crying in the first few weeks and months of life that ALL babies go through. The Period of PURPLE Crying begins at about 2 weeks of age, peaks in the second month, and becomes less in the third to fifth month.

What's the difference between colic and purple crying?

Purple Crying is a developmental phase for all babies (2-4 months) characterized by inconsolable crying, while Colic is a more traditional, stricter diagnosis (3+ hrs/day, 3+ days/week, 3+ weeks) often linked to potential physical distress like gas or reflux, but these terms often describe the same normal, frustrating period of intense crying, with PURPLE offering caregivers a framework to understand it's a temporary, normal stage, not an illness. The key difference: PURPLE crying resists soothing, whereas some colic might improve with burping or position changes, but both emphasize it's a normal developmental phase.
 

Can you ignore purple crying?

It allows parents to believe that they can and should do nothing to support their baby during this 'phase'. Both terms, colic and purple crying, teach us that sometimes babies do cry inconsolably, for hours on end, for weeks and perhaps months, and this is okay because they will “grow out of it”.

What is the 3 6 9 rule for babies?

The "3 6 9 rule for babies" is a simple guideline for common growth spurts and developmental stages, occurring around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months, marked by increased hunger, fussiness, and disrupted sleep as babies rapidly grow and learn new skills. It's a helpful way for parents to anticipate behavioral changes, recognize feeding needs (cluster feeding), and understand developmental leaps, though timing can vary by baby.
 

What are the 4 types of crying?

Although there are potentially a limitless number of crying causes, they typically fit into one of five general categories: hungry, upset, overstimulated, overtired, and in pain.

What is the hardest week of a newborn?

The hardest week with a newborn varies, but many parents find weeks 3-8 the most challenging due to extreme sleep deprivation, peak fussiness (often called the "purple crying" phase around 6-8 weeks), adjusting to constant needs, and postpartum recovery, with some pointing to the second week as a major transition point where exhaustion hits hard. It's a tough period of figuring out cries, managing growth spurts, and intense demands, but it generally improves as babies develop. 

Is it okay to ignore a crying baby at night?

It triggers an emotional response to rush in and provide comfort, but letting your child cry it out teaches them to self-soothe. If a parent is constantly picking up their child when they awaken at night, the child is less likely to learn how to fall asleep on their own.

What is the 10-10-10 rule for babies?

💖 Give your child your undivided attention the first 10 minutes they are awake. 💖 Give your child your undivided attention the first 10 minutes when they return from being away. 💖 Give your child your undivided attention for the last 10 minutes before they go to sleep.

What is the 3 3 3 rule of colic?

The "Colic 333 Rule" (or Rule of Threes) is a common guideline to help identify infantile colic: a healthy, well-fed baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. This pattern helps distinguish normal fussiness from colic, characterized by inconsolable, intense crying for no apparent reason, often peaking in evenings and resolving by 3-4 months. 

What are the 7 danger signs in a newborn baby?

The 7 key danger signs for newborns, emphasized by health organizations, often focus on feeding issues, breathing problems, temperature extremes, movement/activity changes, and convulsions, indicating severe illness requiring immediate care, like a baby who won't feed, breathes too fast, is too hot/cold, has seizures, is unusually lethargic, or shows jaundice/infection signs. 

What is the 5 8 5 rule for babies?

The "5-8-5" (or 5-8) rule for babies comes from a Japanese study: walk carrying your crying baby for 5 minutes, followed by sitting and holding them still for 8 minutes (or 5-8 minutes total), before gently placing them in their crib to sleep, which helps calm them and transition to sleep more effectively by stabilizing their heart rate. This method addresses immediate fussiness by mimicking the motion and closeness babies experience in the womb, preventing them from waking immediately after being put down.
 

At what age is SIDS no longer a risk?

SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.

At what age can a baby self soothe?

Babies start showing signs of self-soothing (like sucking hands) around 3-4 months, but consistent, reliable self-soothing often develops between 4 to 6 months as they learn to connect comfort actions with sleep, though some might take longer, up to 9 months or more, as it's a gradual skill that develops with brain maturity. Newborns can't truly self-soothe; they need parental help, but you can encourage the skill by keeping routines and offering gentle guidance, not forcing independence too early. 

What is the 40 day rule for babies?

The 40-day rule after birth is a widespread cultural tradition (like China's confinement or Latin America's cuarentena) emphasizing a period of rest, healing, and bonding for the new mother and baby, where the mother focuses solely on recovery and nursing, often with help from family, avoiding cold, stress, and sometimes even bathing, allowing her body to rejuvenate after childbirth. It's seen as vital for maternal recovery, establishing breastfeeding, and protecting the vulnerable newborn from illness, with practices like warm foods, herbal teas, and limiting outside activity. 

When is Purple crying at its peak?

The "Peak of Crying" in the Period of PURPLE Crying typically occurs around two months of age, often increasing from about two weeks old and gradually decreasing between three to four months. Babies experience more fussiness and crying during this phase, which is a normal developmental stage, peaking at 6-8 weeks before getting better.
 

How long can you let a baby cry it out?

You can let a baby cry it out for short periods (10-20 mins) if their needs (fed, dry diaper, healthy) are met, especially after 4-6 months, to learn self-soothing, but for full sleep training, the "cry it out" (CIO) method means allowing them to cry until they fall asleep, with crying often reducing significantly after the first few nights, though it varies, and you should always check for signs of sickness or real distress, not just fussing, and stop if it sounds like pain. 

What does a mini seizure look like in a baby?

Mini seizures in babies, often infantile spasms, look like sudden, brief stiffening or jerking (arms/legs shooting out, head dropping, body crunching) in clusters, especially waking or sleeping, appearing like a startling or purposeful movement, but can also be subtle staring, blinking, or lip-smacking. These can be mistaken for normal baby movements, but involve pauses in breathing, eye rolling, or sudden stiffness, and require urgent medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent developmental issues, says the UChicago Medicine website and Boston Children's Hospital. 

How can I soothe a baby during purple crying?

Some babies cry for 1–2 hours a day and others can cry up to 6 hours a day. How can I soothe my baby? Hold your baby close to you with skin-to-skin contact. Walk and sing to your baby.

At what age do babies cry the most?

Babies cry the most around 2 to 3 months old, a peak often called the "Period of PURPLE Crying," which starts around 2 weeks, intensifies to a maximum around 6 weeks/2 months, and then gradually decreases by 3 to 5 months as they develop self-soothing skills, often occurring in the evenings.
 

Does overfeeding cause colic?

Yes, overfeeding can contribute to colic or colic-like symptoms in babies, as it causes gas, discomfort, and fussiness because the baby's digestive system struggles to process the excess milk, leading to crying, spitting up, and irritability, though it's just one of many potential causes like immature digestion, food sensitivities, or swallowing air.