Purple Crying

A normal developmental phase of increased, hard-to-soothe infant crying — the acronym helps parents recognise it as expected, not a sign that something is wrong with their baby.

• Peak — crying increases week by week, peaking around 2 months, then easing by 3–5 months.
• Unexpected — crying comes and goes with no clear reason.
• Resists soothing — nothing seems to stop it.
• Pain-like face — babies can look like they’re in pain even when they’re not.
• Long lasting — up to 5 hours a day or more.
• Evening cluster — worse in the late afternoon/evening.

Assessment

• History — crying pattern and duration, the child’s temperament, and the parents’ coping capacity.
• Examination — growth parameters, feeding and settling pattern, development.
• Reassure that giving extra attention won’t spoil the baby, but avoid overstimulation.

Causes to exclude

Cow’s milk or lactose intolerance; gastro-oesophageal reflux; pain from UTI or other infection, bowel obstruction/hernia, or other organic causes.

Soothing techniques

Gentle stroking and cuddling; close/skin-to-skin contact; talking, singing, smiling and rocking — repetitive rocking calms an overstimulated infant brain.

Coping strategies for parents

• The “carry, comfort, walk and talk” response may not stop the crying, but gives a reasonable chance of soothing the baby.
• It’s OK to put the baby down safely and step away to calm yourself before trying again.
• Never shake or hurt the baby.