Jessica Winberry, prevention coordinator for Safe Kids Northeast Florida, which is led by THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, said on April 8 that April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month and emphasized the importance of learning about The Period of PURPLE Crying (PURPLE) to prevent child injury.
The focus on child abuse prevention this month seeks to raise awareness about ways to protect infants from abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome. According to Winberry, “frequent or prolonged infant crying is one of the most common causes of caregiver frustration, and a potential trigger of a baby-shaking incident.”
The PURPLE program was created by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome and is administered in Florida by Prevent Child Abuse Florida. It aims to educate new parents and caregivers about normal patterns of infant crying and strategies for coping with frustration safely. The acronym PURPLE stands for Peak of crying, Unexpected crying, Resists soothing, Pain-like face, Long-lasting episodes, and Evening crying—each describing characteristics commonly seen in infants during their early months.
Winberry said the initiative encourages parents to place their baby in a safe environment like a crib if they feel overwhelmed by persistent crying. She added that babies under one year old are especially vulnerable because their neck muscles are not fully developed: “AHT is 100% preventable, and reminding caregivers that increased crying is just a phase helps prevent tragedies.”
Support resources are available through THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s Hospital as well as Prevent Child Abuse Florida. These organizations provide parenting tips and information designed to help families navigate challenging periods while keeping children safe.
Winberry concluded that informed parents can better understand developmental phases such as increased infant crying: “By supporting parents, families and caregivers, we have an opportunity to create change.”
