Prevent child abuse: Think PURPLE
Baby won’t stop crying? Take a breath and read this.
Article Author: Guest Columnist
Article Date:
Our guest columnist is Jessica Winberry, prevention coordinator for Safe Kids Northeast Florida, which is led by THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
Everyone knows that babies cry; it’s the only way they know to express a need for food, sleep, comfort or anything else. Sometimes, babies cry for no reason at all. And constant wailing can be trying for even the most loving parents.
In fact, frequent or prolonged infant crying is one of the most common causes of caregiver frustration, and a potential trigger of a baby-shaking incident.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, an important time to reflect on ways to prevent child injury. One simple thing you can do is to learn about The Period of PURPLE Crying® (PURPLE).
Created by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and administered in the Sunshine State by Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the program educates new parents and the public about ways to soothe a crying baby and prevent abusive head trauma (AHT), also known as “shaken baby syndrome.”
The program’s name serves as an educational tool for parents and caregivers. The term “period” indicates that the normal phase of increased crying will have a beginning (around 2 weeks) and an end (often around 4 to 5 months); It reassures parents that this phase won’t last forever.
Source: National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
The initiative aims to provide families with education about healthy ways of coping with their baby’s crying without shaking the infant in frustration. Babies under the age of 1 are particularly vulnerable to AHT because of their weak neck muscles.
PURPLE reminds parents to put their baby in a safe place, like their crib, and take a break if the crying becomes overwhelming. There are lasting and damaging effects that can occur if a baby is shaken. AHT is 100% preventable, and reminding caregivers that increased crying is just a phase helps prevent tragedies.
By supporting parents, families and caregivers, we have an opportunity to create change. When informed, parents understand their baby’s phase of development and make decisions that will keep their child safe.
THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital has positive parenting tips for parents with children of all ages. To learn more, click here. For more information from Prevent Child Abuse Florida, click here.
