Quick answer: PURPLE Crying is a programme from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome describing the normal peak crying period of early infancy. The acronym describes the crying’s characteristics: Peak, Unexpected, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long-lasting, Evening clustering.
What the PURPLE acronym means
P — Peak: crying increases around 2 weeks of age, peaks at 6–8 weeks, and decreases by 3–4 months. This arc is consistent across all babies regardless of culture, feeding method, or parenting approach. U — Unexpected: crying comes and goes without obvious reason. A content baby can start crying without warning. R — Resists soothing: the baby may continue crying despite all attempts to comfort them. This is the most distressing feature for parents. P — Pain-like face: the baby’s face may look as though they’re in pain even when nothing is physically wrong. L — Long-lasting: crying can last hours at a stretch, often concentrated in the evenings. E — Evening clustering: the crying is typically worst in the late afternoon and evening (5pm–11pm) — the ‘witching hour’.
The purpose of the programme
PURPLE Crying was developed specifically as a shaken baby syndrome prevention programme. Shaken baby syndrome is almost always caused by a caregiver reaching their limit with inconsolable infant crying. The programme communicates two things: first, the crying is normal and will end; second, it is never okay to shake a baby, and the appropriate response when you have reached your limit is to put the baby down safely and leave the room. The programme has been associated with significant reductions in shaken baby syndrome in regions where it has been implemented.
How this differs from colic
‘Colic’ is defined by Wessel’s Rule of Threes (crying for more than 3 hours, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks) and implies a specific problem. PURPLE Crying frames the same behaviour as a normal developmental phase rather than a pathological condition. The distinction matters because ‘colic’ implies something is wrong that needs fixing; PURPLE Crying normalises the behaviour while giving parents a framework for managing it safely.
What to do in the PURPLE Crying period
The five S’s are the most evidence-based approach for managing inconsolable crying: Swaddle, Side/Stomach position (held — not for sleep), Shushing (loud, sustained white noise), Swinging (gentle, rapid small-amplitude motion), Sucking. Applied together and scaled in intensity to match the baby’s distress, they reliably trigger the calming reflex in most babies under 3 months. When you reach your limit: put the baby in their cot, go to another room, take 5–10 minutes, and return when regulated. This is harm prevention, not neglect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PURPLE Crying mean my baby has colic?
Not necessarily — PURPLE Crying describes the normal crying arc of all infants. Colic is a specific clinical definition applied when crying is particularly severe. Most babies who seem colicky are within the normal PURPLE Crying range. A small proportion have underlying causes (cow’s milk protein allergy, reflux disease, anatomical issues) that are worth investigating if the pattern is extremely severe or if there are other suggestive symptoms.
When does the PURPLE Crying period end?
The peak is at 6–8 weeks of age; the majority of babies are significantly improved by 3 months. The PURPLE Crying framework ends at approximately 5 months, when the typical crying arc has resolved for most babies.
My baby is 4 months and still crying for hours — is that still PURPLE Crying?
The typical PURPLE Crying arc should be resolving by 3–4 months. Significant inconsolable crying continuing past 4 months warrants doctor assessment to rule out underlying causes such as GERD, cow’s milk protein allergy, or ear infection.
Related Reading
- Newborn crying: decoding the 5 different cries
- Surviving colic: a letter to the parent at their limit
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