FirstHealth Promotes Period of PURPLE Crying

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is educating new parents about the period of PURPLE crying--a stage in every baby's development, in which babies cry constantly for no apparent reason. The period generally begins at two weeks of age and ends when a baby is three to four months old. Every baby goes through this stage of development, but extremes in crying vary, leaving some parents wondering if something is severely wrong with their child. FirstHealth and other N.C. hospitals are implementing educational programs to let parents know that unexplainable crying is sometimes a normal part of a child's development and to reduce the risk of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Each purple cap distributed at FirstHealth Moore Regional is meant to remind parents about the period of PURPLE crying--a period in every baby's development where babies cry for no apparent reason. The caps are a part of an educational program at Moore Regional to remind parents that sometimes crying is OK and to prevent instances of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Published on April 19, 2010

Stacy Harris entertains her seven-week-old daughter, Lauren.

Published on April 19, 2010

Marion Sharkany places a purple cap on Lauren Clodfelter's head.

Published on April 19, 2010

Stacy Harris consoles her newborn daughter, Lauren.

Published on April 19, 2010

Local volunteers knitted purple caps for every baby born in April at FirstHealth's Moore Regional and Richmond Memorial campuses.

Published on April 19, 2010

Newborn babies, Libby Clodfelter and Lauren Harris, sport their new, hand-knitted purple caps given to them by the PURPLE Newborn Baby Cap Project at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.

Published on April 19, 2010

Marion Sharkany discusses the period of PURPLE crying with Julianne Clodfelter after giving Clodfelter's daughter, Libby, a hand-knitted, purple cap.

Published on April 19, 2010

New mothers Julianne Clodfelter and Stacy Harris hold their newborn daughters during a media event at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. Clodfelter's daughter, Libby, has not yet reached the start of the period of PURPLE crying, but Harris' daughter, Lauren, has been well into the stage over the past month. The period of PURPLE crying typically begins at two weeks of age and persists until babies are around three to four months old.

Published on April 19, 2010

Libby Clodfelter wears her purple cap while sleeping in her mother, Julianne's arms. Julianne Clodfelter still isn't sure how bad the period of PURPLE crying may be for her daughter who was born April 2.

Published on April 19, 2010

Marion Sharkany is the president of the North Carolina Hospital Association volunteers. Sharkany spearheaded the PURPLE Newborn Baby Cap Project, rallying volunteers across the state to knit at least 2,000 caps.

Published on April 19, 2010