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Parents and Caregivers
Period of PURPLE Crying®
by Staff 8.16.2007
The Period of PURPLE Crying program aims to change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of primary and temporary caregivers towards early infant crying, especially inconsolable crying, and its link to shaken baby syndrome. The program aims to educate the primary caregiver (mom) before the increase in crying occurs at about 2 weeks of age. The program encourages these primary caregivers to educate part-time caregivers of their baby about infant crying and its relationship to shaken baby syndrome.
Knowledge
Caregivers may believe, either because of well-meaning advice or other sources that “If I were a good mother, I could find out what was wrong with my baby and stop the crying.” If the infant does not stop crying even though the caregiver has done everything to comfort him/her, this may cause them to feel like they failed. The Period of PURPLE Crying program teaches caregivers that the characteristics of normal infant crying are normal, temporary, and not the fault of the caregiver. There will be times where the infant will cry unexpectedly for long periods of time, and he/she cannot be soothed no matter what you do. Knowing this could reduce frustration before it ever turns into anger.
Attitudes
A caregiver’s attitudes toward crying and what it means to the infant may be “when my baby cries like that, he/she is telling me that I am not attending to his/her needs in the right way.” Infants do not always cry because they are in need of something, and they absolutely do not cry to purposely anger their caregiver. Crying is just a part of their normal development. For the well-being of both the caregiver and the infant, it is important to understand that unsoothable crying will occur in the first few months of life regardless of the caregiver’s efforts.
Behaviours
Changing behavioural responses to crying, both to less severe and to more intense and inconsolable crying, are very important for SBS prevention. The Period of PURPLE Crying offers the following actions steps for coping:
1. Increase the carry, comfort, walk and talk behaviours with your baby: more direct contact can usually stop the crying, but not always. It’s well known that an action that works one day may not work the next but by having close contact with your baby you can reduce the length of crying bouts by up to 50%;
2. If the crying is very, very, frustrating for you, it is OK to walk away: this step recognizes the caregiver’s feelings of frustration and their need for relief. Placing the infant in a safe place and taking a break for 5 to 10 minutes results in the caregiver not being in direct contact with the infant during times when they are most likely to shake or abuse;
3. Never shake or hurt a baby: this is an important clear reminder that under no circumstances is it okay to shake or hurt an infant.
The Period of PURPLE Crying information is offered in two parts: an 11-page booklet subtitled “Did you know your infant would cry like this?” and a 10-minute DVD.
These materials are currently offered in English, French, Cantonese, Punjabi, Spanish, Portuguese, Somali, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese.
For more information on the PURPLE program, please click here.
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