VANCOUVER, BC - Over the next few weeks, British Columbia family centres, gathering places and agencies will be spreading the news about the Period of PURPLE Crying, a normal yet difficult developmental stage when infants between two weeks and four months can cry inconsolably for up to five hours a day.
Following up on the successful knitted caps campaign, the PURPLE Tears initiative aims to increase awareness of this difficult stage among parents of newborns, caregivers and the general public.
In June, posters, large decals and wall and floor displays will appear in local child and family centres in order to inform and educate the public on the Period of PURPLE Crying. These highly visible tear displays ask questions such as: “Can all this crying be normal?” and “Did you know your baby would cry like this?” or “Will this crying ever end?” Visitors are directed to www.purplecrying.info to learn more.
“Crying is a known trigger for shaking and child abuse,” said Claire Yambao, Provincial Program Coordinator of Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC. “People need to know it’s normal, and that if they get frustrated, it’s OK to put the baby in a safe place and walk away. The crying will come to an end.”
The Period of PURPLE Crying program explains normal infant crying, and how to cope with it. It is the largest evidence-based initiative to create a cultural change in how society understands normal infant crying. It also helps prevent abuse and death, which can result from shaken baby syndrome. To learn more, visit www.PURPLEcrying.info or www.dontshake.ca.
Complete list of involved Campbell River, BC centres
1. Laichwiltach Family Life Society
2. Sunrise Resources for Early Childhood Development
3. Campbell River Family Resources
4. Forest Circle Child Care
5. Hemlock Family Place
6. Community Centre Family Place
7. Willow Point Children’s Centre
8. Robron Centre Family Place
9. The Gathering Place
10. Hemlock Early Learning and Care Centre
11. Leishman Early Learning and Care Centre
Complete list of involved Vernon, BC centres
1. Central Okanagan Foster Parents Association
2. North Okanagan Foster Parents Association
3. South Okanagan Foster Parents Association
4. Shuswap Okanagan Foster Parents Association
5. Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs (Child Care Resource & Referral)
6. Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
Following up on the successful knitted caps campaign, the PURPLE Tears initiative aims to increase awareness of this difficult stage among parents of newborns, caregivers and the general public.
In June, posters, large decals and wall and floor displays will appear in local child and family centres in order to inform and educate the public on the Period of PURPLE Crying. These highly visible tear displays ask questions such as: “Can all this crying be normal?” and “Did you know your baby would cry like this?” or “Will this crying ever end?” Visitors are directed to www.purplecrying.info to learn more.
“Crying is a known trigger for shaking and child abuse,” said Claire Yambao, Provincial Program Coordinator of Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC. “People need to know it’s normal, and that if they get frustrated, it’s OK to put the baby in a safe place and walk away. The crying will come to an end.”
The Period of PURPLE Crying program explains normal infant crying, and how to cope with it. It is the largest evidence-based initiative to create a cultural change in how society understands normal infant crying. It also helps prevent abuse and death, which can result from shaken baby syndrome. To learn more, visit www.PURPLEcrying.info or www.dontshake.ca.
Complete list of involved Campbell River, BC centres
1. Laichwiltach Family Life Society
2. Sunrise Resources for Early Childhood Development
3. Campbell River Family Resources
4. Forest Circle Child Care
5. Hemlock Family Place
6. Community Centre Family Place
7. Willow Point Children’s Centre
8. Robron Centre Family Place
9. The Gathering Place
10. Hemlock Early Learning and Care Centre
11. Leishman Early Learning and Care Centre
Complete list of involved Vernon, BC centres
1. Central Okanagan Foster Parents Association
2. North Okanagan Foster Parents Association
3. South Okanagan Foster Parents Association
4. Shuswap Okanagan Foster Parents Association
5. Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs (Child Care Resource & Referral)
6. Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program