The Number One Trigger to Shaking
Studies show that the number one trigger to shaking is crying. We all know the sound of a baby's cry is not the most pleasant sound in the world, but there is a reason for that. If a baby's cry was soothing on the ears then the baby's needs would never get met. Through all my research over the years on SBS the program I feel that really addresses the crying and shaking issue together the best is a program called The Period of PURPLE Crying.
What is the Period of PURPLE Crying?
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a new way to help parents understand this time in their baby's life, which is a normal part of every infant's development. It is confusing and concerning to be told your baby "has colic" because it sounds like it is an illness or a condition that is abnormal. When a baby is given colic medicine it reinforces the idea that there is something wrong with the baby when in fact the baby is going through a very normal developmental phase.
Dr. Ronald Barr, a developmental pediatrician, who has done more studies on infant crying than anyone in the world, came up with the phrase The Period of PURPLE Crying. His idea was to explain this phase to parents of new babies so they would know it was normal and they would be encouraged that it would come to an end.
The Period of PURPLE Crying begins at about 2 weeks of age and continues until about 3-4 months. There are other common characteristics of this phase, or period, which are better described by the acronym PURPLE.
The acronym PURPLE is used to describe specific characteristics of an infant's crying during this phase and let parents and caregivers know that what they are experiencing is indeed normal, and although frustrating, is simply a phase in their child's development that will pass. The word period is important because it tells parents that it is only temporary and will come to an end
P - Peak of Crying (Your baby may cry more each week. The most at 2 months and then less at 3-5 months.)
U - Unexpected (Crying can come and go and you do not know why.)
R - Resists soothing (Your baby may not stop crying no matter what you try.)
P - Pain like face (A crying baby may look like they are in pain, even when they are not.)
L - Long Lasting (Crying can last as much as 5 hours a day, or more.)
E - Evening (Your baby may cry more in the late afternoon and evening.)
So many parents, after learning about the program, have said, "Finally they have called it something that describes what we are going through. This word colic was hard to get a handle on."
Dr. Barr is also part of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and he uses that knowledge in the PURPLE program. After addressing the crying patterns in a baby the program explains what SBS is, and why it is so dangerous to shake a baby!
Dr. Ronald Barr, a developmental pediatrician, who has done more studies on infant crying than anyone in the world, came up with the phrase The Period of PURPLE Crying. His idea was to explain this phase to parents of new babies so they would know it was normal and they would be encouraged that it would come to an end.
The Period of PURPLE Crying begins at about 2 weeks of age and continues until about 3-4 months. There are other common characteristics of this phase, or period, which are better described by the acronym PURPLE.
The acronym PURPLE is used to describe specific characteristics of an infant's crying during this phase and let parents and caregivers know that what they are experiencing is indeed normal, and although frustrating, is simply a phase in their child's development that will pass. The word period is important because it tells parents that it is only temporary and will come to an end
P - Peak of Crying (Your baby may cry more each week. The most at 2 months and then less at 3-5 months.)
U - Unexpected (Crying can come and go and you do not know why.)
R - Resists soothing (Your baby may not stop crying no matter what you try.)
P - Pain like face (A crying baby may look like they are in pain, even when they are not.)
L - Long Lasting (Crying can last as much as 5 hours a day, or more.)
E - Evening (Your baby may cry more in the late afternoon and evening.)
So many parents, after learning about the program, have said, "Finally they have called it something that describes what we are going through. This word colic was hard to get a handle on."
Dr. Barr is also part of the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and he uses that knowledge in the PURPLE program. After addressing the crying patterns in a baby the program explains what SBS is, and why it is so dangerous to shake a baby!
Tips on consoling a crying baby
- First meet the basic needs
* Feed the baby.
* Burp the baby.
* Change diaper.
* Make sure the baby is not too hot or too cold.
- After those are met try some of these tips:
* Hold the baby up close to your chest and walk around.
* Offer a pacifier.
* Put the baby in a swing.
* Take the baby for a walk in the stroller outside.
* Sing or play soft music.
* Record a sound like a vacuum cleaner or a blow dryer.
* Call someone to come over and relieve you for awhile.
* And if all else fails put the baby in a safe place and walk
away for a few minutes. Go listen to music, go workout,
do something you enjoy, because you cannot calm that crying baby if are frustrated yourself.
It is knowing what to do with that frustration that makes all the difference. No baby has ever died from crying but many babies die from being shaken!!!
* Feed the baby.
* Burp the baby.
* Change diaper.
* Make sure the baby is not too hot or too cold.
- After those are met try some of these tips:
* Hold the baby up close to your chest and walk around.
* Offer a pacifier.
* Put the baby in a swing.
* Take the baby for a walk in the stroller outside.
* Sing or play soft music.
* Record a sound like a vacuum cleaner or a blow dryer.
* Call someone to come over and relieve you for awhile.
* And if all else fails put the baby in a safe place and walk
away for a few minutes. Go listen to music, go workout,
do something you enjoy, because you cannot calm that crying baby if are frustrated yourself.
It is knowing what to do with that frustration that makes all the difference. No baby has ever died from crying but many babies die from being shaken!!!