When your baby cries for hours, resists every attempt to soothe them, and is otherwise healthy, fed, and clean, they may be in the Period of PURPLE Crying, and it is not a sign that you are doing anything wrong. PURPLE Crying is a normal developmental phase in which crying peaks in the early months, often for no clear reason, and then eases on its own. The phase is exhausting but almost always harmless, and there are safe ways to get through it.
PlaPlu walks you through exactly this phase, with an audiobook and a parent chat. More on the PlaPlu home page.
What PURPLE crying is
PURPLE Crying is a term coined by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome to reassure parents and to normalize a phase that can feel alarming. The word is an acronym, and each letter describes a feature of this normal crying:
- P Peak of crying: crying peaks around the second month, then eases
- U Unexpected: it comes and goes without an obvious reason
- R Resists soothing: your baby may not calm no matter what you try
- P Pain-like face: they can look like they are in pain even when they are not
- L Long lasting: crying can last several hours a day
- E Evening: it often clusters in the late afternoon and evening
The point of the acronym is relief: these features are normal, they are a phase, and they pass.
Signs of the PURPLE phase
- Your baby cries for long stretches and is hard to soothe
- The crying often clusters in the evening, see the witching hour
- They tense up, clench their fists, and arch their back
- They can look like they are in pain without being ill
- Between crying spells they are alert, feed, and gain weight normally
Why it is not your fault
Many parents of a high-crying baby doubt themselves. That is understandable and also unfounded. A baby does not cry because of poor care but because their young nervous system cannot yet sort the flood of impressions. Some babies are simply more sensitive from the start and take longer to learn to self-regulate.
Your attention is not a mistake but the solution. When you respond to the crying, carry, and comfort your baby, they gradually learn that closeness helps and that they can rely on you. You cannot spoil a baby at this age. If the crying clusters in the evening, our guide to the witching hour helps, and a developmental leap is often part of the picture.
What helps during this phase
There is no magic fix, but plenty eases things for you both:
- Reduce stimulation. A calm day with soft light and little commotion helps an overwhelmed nervous system.
- Soothe rhythmically. Carrying, gentle rocking, steady swaying, a monotonous sound, or soft humming often work better than constantly switching tactics.
- Offer closeness and skin to skin. A carrier and calm walking around give security.
- Wind down early. Watch for tired cues and help your baby settle before they get overstimulated.
- Look for patterns. A short log of crying and sleep times often reveals triggers.
When it gets to be too much: an important note
Hours of crying frays the nerves, and exhaustion and helplessness are normal in this phase. If you feel it becoming too much, put your baby down somewhere safe, for example in the crib, step out of the room briefly, and take a deep breath. Letting your baby cry safely for a few minutes is better than acting out of overwhelm. Never shake your baby, not even gently, because it can cause serious harm. Take turns with your partner and get support. Preventing shaking is the core reason the PURPLE message exists.
When to check with a professional
Contact your pediatrician promptly if your baby has a fever, the crying sounds shrill or unusual, they feed poorly and have fewer wet diapers, they lose weight, their behavior suddenly changes, or you are worried. This rules out physical causes and gets you targeted support.
Frequently asked questions about purple crying
What is the Period of PURPLE Crying?
It is a normal phase of increased infant crying that peaks in the early months and then eases. The name, from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, is meant to reassure parents that this crying is normal and passes.
What does PURPLE stand for?
Peak of crying, Unexpected, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long lasting, and Evening. Each letter describes a normal feature of this crying, not a symptom of illness.
Is purple crying the same as colic?
They overlap. Colic is defined by the rule of three, crying more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks. PURPLE Crying describes the same normal phase with a focus on reassurance and safety.
When does purple crying end?
Crying usually peaks around the second month and eases noticeably by around three to four months, as the nervous system matures.
PlaPlu through the crying weeks
The hard weeks are easier when you know what is happening and that it passes. PlaPlu explains the phase calmly in its audiobook and answers your questions in the parent chat, exactly when the day runs long. Take a look at PlaPlu.
Sources
- National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome: The Period of PURPLE Crying
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Colic Relief Tips for Parents
- Cleveland Clinic: Purple Crying
This article offers general information and does not replace individual medical advice. If you are worried, contact your pediatrician or midwife.