OGDEN -- When Leslie Francis had her first baby seven years ago, she was overjoyed with the prospect of raising a happy, healthy daughter.
But three and a half weeks later, her baby started to cry.
Nonstop.
For hours.
Francis thought Jadyn must be sick, so she took her to the doctor.
"At first, they took me seriously and ran all of the tests. Then they said she must have acid reflux, but she wasn't spitting up," Francis said. "Then they said she had colic and that I needed to deal with it."
Jadyn continued to cry, and Francis continued to fret. She also continued taking her to the doctor several times a week, certain something was physically wrong with her baby.
"I started making the assumption that I was failing as a mom," Francis said. "I felt incapable and started to fall into a deep depression. I wondered what I had done or if I hadn't bonded with her correctly."
Then one day about five months later, the crying stopped.
"It was really odd because it just stopped. We were expecting her to cry at her usual time, but she didn't," Francis said.
"She would usually start around 6 in the evening. I would even joke about it and tell my friends I couldn't do this or that because that was the time for my baby to start crying."
Nearly four years later, Francis applied for a job at the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome in Ogden and discovered her baby had gone through a very common, natural phase of life that has been tagged the period of PURPLE crying.
"The Period of PURPLE Crying" is a program developed by the center that teaches parents and other caregivers that early increased crying is normal in all infants. It provides tips on how to cope, said Director of Development Ryan Steinbeigle.
"It reminds parents and caregivers that, if the crying begins to become too frustrating to deal with, it's OK to put the infant down in a safe place and walk away," he said.
"Never use shaking to stop crying, because it can cause serious and potentially fatal injuries."
In 2009, approximately 22 cases of shaken baby syndrome were seen at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Steinbeigle said.
Approximately 25 to 35 percent of all infants who are severely shaken die, and of those who survive, approximately 70 to 80 percent suffer permanent brain abnormalities.
The name Period of PURPLE Crying came about because PURPLE is the acronym that describes the six characteristics of this increased crying. The word "period" reminds parents and caregivers that the crying will come to an end.
The program is based on 40 years of research about normal infant crying. Researchers found crying is the most important trigger of someone shaking and injuring an infant.
Materials, including a 10-minute DVD and an 11-page booklet, are given to parents in all Utah birthing hospitals after a birth.
The program is being implemented by other organizations, such as adoption agencies, health departments, doctors' offices and foster care agencies.
All infants go through the period of PURPLE crying, Steinbeigle said. It begins at approximately 2 weeks of age and peaks in about the second month of life, decreasing until it comes to an end around the fourth or fifth month.
The crying can last two to six hours a day.
"It's important for parents and caregivers to remember that you always want to try and calm a crying infant," Steinbeigle said. "There are a number of things you can try, and most of them will help some of the time."
For a list of soothing tips, go to www.purplecrying.info.
Francis tried numerous things to help her baby through the period, including long car rides, baths, singing and walking.
"I wish I had known about the period of PURPLE crying," Francis said. "I wouldn't have felt so much guilt, but I just want people to know that it will end. Just love them through it.
"One thing I've learned is that these children have dominant personalities. My daughter is 7 now, but she's very vocal and very strong."
Before you assume your baby is going through this phase of life, have your pediatrician do an exam, Steinbeigle said.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the center is encouraging people to sign on to the Web site and pledge to spread the word about the Period of PURPLE Crying.
Those who take the pledge will be entered into a drawing to win grocery gift cards donated by Harmon's grocery stores.
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