Purple Crying Discussion

lizgrace03 · November 2014

Ok, I'm interested to hear opinions on the "Period of Purple Crying." Our hospital sent us home with information about it. Supposedly the inconsolable crying peaks around 6 weeks and may begin as early as 2 weeks. The literature says all babies go through it but some may cry much less.

My question is, do all babies really have this inconsolable crying? I have not had this issue at all with Alistair so far but granted he is only three weeks old. He gets fussy but always calms if fed, changed or picked up. Worst case, he's overstimulated and has to be swaddled. This purple crying literature has me nervous that he's going to change. Any moms with experience or insight?

jessa1228 · November 2014

My hospital required us to watch the Purple Crying video before we were discharged, and I'm really glad they did. DS is 2.5 weeks and has just started doing it. Not to the extreme as some of the examples in the video, but yeah. Last night it lasted about 3 hours. I haven't been able to master the "stay calm and walk away" strategy yet, so luckily H will take him for a while so I can cry and calm down. It just absolutely breaks my heart to see him crying like he's in agony and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

Carebella · November 2014

I read about it and had DH read about it too. I'm trying not to worry about it because we will either encounter it or be lucky and avoid it. But I hate just hearing Jackson crying when I put him down to go to the bathroom. I can't even imagine him crying for hours inconsolably.

meeshybee · November 2014

KUinCBUS said:

I don't recall ever hearing about Purple Crying. If there was literature (or a video) when DD was born I totally missed it. DD never seemed to go through a phase like that either so... maybe we both missed the memo?

I've never heard of this either. I do remember one night in particular that DS was inconsolable, but other than that I seem to have been lucky. Sorry to all you ladies dealing with this.

lizgrace03 · November 2014

Maybe it's like morning sickness- some have it, some don't, and we don't know why? I definitely had a bad bout of MS so maybe I lucked out on the crying... Time will tell.

TeeJ526 · November 2014

I hadn't heard of purple crying until last week but there have been times where she is inconsolable. It's usually at night where she'll be fed, diaper changed, and rocked, but won't stop crying. We've also tried humming or singing, white noise machines, and swaddling. So far twice I've had to just hold her and talk to her and the crying lasts 15-20 minutes. I can't imagine the crying lasting for hours.

Maelara · November 2014

Tali never did purple crying. Yes, she cried and sometimes she cried a lot but she wasn't unconsolable. Sometimes I was just so tired and worn down I couldn't figure it out. I would have to set her down and walk away. Usually after I can back I could then calm her.

turtles7 · November 2014

I've never heard of this. I hope DH is home when this happens!

Stephaniegiboney · November 2014

I think I'm on team purple. It's making me a stronger person?

MuchlyGen · November 2014

I don't agree that every baby will have this. Never experienced it with either son, so knock on wood for this baby girl

lizgrace03 · November 2014

I found this interesting alternate opinion as well: https://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201306/the-period-purple-cry

Carebella · November 2014

@lizgrace03‌ thank you so much for sharing. I hadn't seen or heard any alternative views on purple crying and the article makes a lot of sense.

mamatohne · November 2014

Three weeks old today, and purple period in full force. :-L

krgriffin26 · November 2014

Three weeks last Sunday and we are pretty purple over here too. Freaked DH out when it happened on his watch. He tried insisting we go to the ER. LO is perfectly healthy and I am a very patient person so we are just going with the flow and hope that this passes soon.

mtusnow · November 2014

haven't heard if this but would suggest trying techniques from The Happiest Baby on the Block video/block. I've seen them work their magic almost instantly in some cases.

lizgrace03 · November 2014

mtusnow said:
haven't heard if this but would suggest trying techniques from The Happiest Baby on the Block video/block. I've seen them work their magic almost instantly in some cases.

Yes I agree! DH and I read this during the second trimester and some of the stuff has been a lifesaver, especially the swaddling.

JFH2010 · November 2014

I've never understood doctors who brush this off by saying, "it only SEEMS like they're in pain, they aren't really." Umm, how do you know that?? DS1 had silent reflux and I was very grateful to have a doctor who listened to me and diagnosed it early. There was still a crazy amount of crying, and it was awful, but at least I knew what was going on. At any rate, I agree with the article that parental soothing is so important even if it seems like it's not doing anything. But also, of course, for sanity and safety's sake sometimes you just have to put your baby down and leave the room briefly to collect yourself.

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