Period of PURPLE of Crying

Summary

This video script discusses the 'period of purple crying' in infants, highlighting its peak pattern, unexpected nature, resistance to soothing, appearance of pain, and tendency to worsen in the evening. It emphasizes the importance of understanding this phase to prevent frustration and potential shaken baby syndrome, offering advice on managing the stress and ensuring the baby's safety.

Takeaways

• 👶 Having a new baby is a joyful experience, but it can also come with unexpected challenges, such as excessive crying.
• 😖 The term 'period of purple crying' is used to describe the intense crying that occurs in the first few months of a baby's life, which can be very frustrating for parents.
• 📈 The 'P' in 'purple' stands for 'peak pattern', indicating that crying peaks around the second or third month and then decreases.
• 😯 The 'U' represents the 'unexpected' nature of the crying, which can start and stop without any clear reason.
• 🚼 The 'R' signifies that crying episodes are 'resistant to soothing', meaning they are not easily calmed by typical comforting methods.
• 😖 The second 'P' highlights that the baby may appear to be in pain during these episodes, even if they are not.
• 🕒 The 'L' stands for 'long', as crying spells can be lengthy, sometimes lasting an hour or more, and can occur for several hours a day.
• 🌆 The 'E' indicates that crying often escalates in the evening or late afternoon, coinciding with when parents are most tired.
• 🤯 Awareness of the period of purple crying is crucial to help parents prepare for and manage the stress associated with this phase.
• ⚠️ There is a serious risk of 'shaken baby syndrome', which can occur when frustration leads a caregiver to shake the baby, causing severe harm.
• 🛑 The script emphasizes three action steps for parents: increasing carry and comfort, walking away when overwhelmed, and never shaking the baby.
• 👨‍⚕️ It's important for healthcare providers to examine the baby to rule out any other causes for the crying, and for parents to take care of themselves during this challenging time.

Q & A

What is the term used to describe the crying that occurs in the first few months of a baby's life?

The term used is 'the period of purple crying'.

Why is the term 'purple' used to describe this period of a baby's life?

The term 'purple' is used because each letter in the word stands for a characteristic of the crying that is frustrating for parents.

What does the 'P' in 'purple' stand for and how does it relate to the crying pattern?

The first 'P' stands for 'peak pattern', which means the amount of crying per day increases until the second or third month and then decreases.

What does the 'U' in 'purple' signify about the crying episodes?

The 'U' signifies that the crying is unexpected, starting and stopping for no apparent reason, which is very frustrating for parents.

How does the 'R' in 'purple' describe the crying episodes?

The 'R' stands for 'resistant to soothing', indicating that no matter what is done, the crying episodes are not easily soothed.

What does the second 'P' in 'purple' represent?

The second 'P' represents that the baby looks like it's in pain, even when it's not.

What does the 'L' in 'purple' indicate about the length of the crying episodes?

The 'L' indicates that the crying episodes can be very long, sometimes lasting an hour or two, and babies can cry for up to 5 or 6 hours a day.

What does the 'E' in 'purple' signify about the timing of the crying episodes?

The 'E' signifies that the crying tends to occur in the evening or late afternoon, which is when parents are usually the most tired.

What is the serious consequence that can come from not being aware of the period of purple crying?

The serious consequence is shaken baby syndrome, which can occur when a frustrated caregiver shakes the baby in an attempt to stop the crying.

What are the three action steps suggested to prevent shaken baby syndrome?

The three action steps are: 1) Increase carry, comfort, walk-and-talk responses; 2) If the crying continues and is frustrating, it's okay to walk away and gather yourself; 3) Never shake or hurt your baby.

Why is it important to inform everyone who takes care of the baby about the period of purple crying?

It's important to ensure that everyone understands the stress and frustration associated with this period, to prevent potential harm to the baby and to provide appropriate support.