The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare

This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghousetest.org/

Period of Purple Crying - Summary

Scientific Rating:
4
Effectiveness is Unknown
See scale of 1-6
Scientific Rating:
4 - Effectiveness is Unknown

Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:
2
Relevance to Child Welfare Rating:
2 - Medium

Type of Maltreatment: Physical abuse

Target Population: All mothers of new infants and society in general in their understanding of early infant crying and shaken baby syndrome

Brief Description:

Period of Purple Crying has been rated by the CEBC in the area of Prevention (Secondary). This shaken baby syndrome prevention program educates parents and caretakers on normal infant crying, the most common trigger for shaking an infant. The letters in PURPLE stand for the common parts of non-stop crying in infants:

Peak pattern (crying peaks around 2 months, then decreases)

Unpredictable (crying for long periods can come and go for no reason)

Resistant to soothing (the baby may keep crying for long periods)

Pain-like look on face

Long bouts of crying (crying can go on for hours)

Evening crying (baby cries more in the afternoon and evening)

The program also contains a public media component aimed at changing cultural attitudes about crying, especially inconsolable crying.


Program highlighted on other evidence-based related websites:

Period of Purple Crying is currently not highlighted on other evidence-based related websites.


Contact Information

Show Contact Information

Contact name: Marilyn Barr, Founder and Executive Director

Affiliation/Agency: National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome

Email: mbarr@dontshake.org

Phone: 801-627-3399

Fax: 801-627-3321

Website: http://www.dontshake.org



Detailed Report

Click here for a detailed report which includes Essential Components, Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research, Education and Training Resources, etc.


Date reviewed: February 2008