PURPLE Crying — Explained!

Is your baby crying more than usual? At around 6-8 weeks old, your sleepy newborn may start to perk up a little and you might feel as though they’re becoming more vocal than you’ve become accustomed to these past couple of months.  This is called PURPLE crying and I’ll go on to explain exactly what this means below. In the meantime, don’t worry too much about the new noise levels, it’ll quieten down again soon (but if you’re concerned, don’t be afraid to consult your pediatrician for a quick check-up!)

What is PURPLE crying?

PURPLE crying is more or less another word for ‘colic’ but seeks to accurately describe this period of crying in full detail to help parents and caregivers understand what their baby is experiencing.

The period of PURPLE crying is very common and a perfectly normal developmental stage that most babies will go through. I’ve heard some people say that it’s called PURPLE crying because babies turn purple in color whilst crying but in truth, it’s just a useful acronym to help us to remember and describe what happens during those early weeks!

Here’s what PURPLE stands for:

P — Peak age for crying

The peak of infant crying happens at around 2 months old but you might see an increase in crying from your baby’s second week onwards. Things often start to get better when your baby reaches their three-month milestone but while PURPLE crying is generally a short period, it can certainly seem much longer when you’re struggling with sleep deprivation as well.

U — Unexpected crying, may come and go at any time

With no apparent reason for your baby’s crying, it can start and stop suddenly without much warning or any at all!

R — Resists soothing

During moments of inconsolable crying, it’s just that — inconsolable! You may feel as though your baby is resisting your attempts to help them feel better and that nothing is working for you or what worked yesterday isn’t working again today! There are various soothing techniques you can choose from to see if anything helps and I would say that having a list of things to try can be comforting to you as parents, as well as your baby. You could try:

• Picking your baby up and gently swaying with them in your arms.
• Singing to your baby or playing relaxing music to them.
• Softly stroking your baby and/or gently patting their back.
• Swaddling.
• Quietly repeating a ‘sssh’-ing sound or some reassuring words.
• White noise.
• Skin-to-skin.
• Babywearing.
• If breastfeeding is well-established, a pacifier can often be useful.
• Going for a walk in the pram or driving around the block a few times.

There’s also evidence to show that using soothing methods before the crying begins can be really useful. If it works for you, I’d highly recommend baby wearing which can be a great way to help your little one feel calm and close to you whilst freeing up your hands.

P — Pain-like face

It’s important to remember that, in most cases, your baby isn’t unwell or suffering in any way but as always, I encourage you to trust your instincts. It’s hard to see your baby looking so unhappy but try and remember that this is normal and most babies go through this.

L — Long-lasting

Be warned — PURPLE crying can last for hours and hours! Make sure you take some time for yourself when your baby naps during the day to avoid burnout and exhaustion during this period. Always remember, this too shall pass.

E — Evening/late afternoon crying

Sound familiar? Parents often speak of how their child is happy, content and giggling throughout the day before a switch seems to flick at say, 6pm, and they’re suddenly crying for hours on end. Click here to read my blog post on how to cope with evening crying.

Support for parents during the PURPLE crying period

If you’re not having much luck, please don’t ever feel as though you’ve failed. It is NOT your fault that your baby is still crying and try to remember that this is a normal developmental stage. This period is tough for parents and having a break every now and then is essential. If you can, try and have somebody else around to take over when it all gets too much and don’t be afraid to accept any kind offers of help from family and friends (they want to make things easier for you — that’s why they’ve asked!)

Above all, stay calm and if you need to there’s nothing wrong with putting your baby down in a safe place such as their crib and taking a minute or two to recompose yourself before returning to them.