So long, quiet, dreamy newborn; hello, certified screamer? If your
baby has begun shrieking endlessly, his face turning purple in
frustration, console yourself with this fact: A series of Canadian
studies have shown that sometime in the first five months, all newborns
experience unsoothable crying jags, some of which can last two hours.
Overall, they may cry as much as five hours a day. Some infants sit at
the calm end of the spectrum, some are in the middle, and some cry for
hours, says Ronald Barr, M.D., the study author and a professor of
pediatrics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. (The
children on the high end of the spectrum are often considered to have
colic.) Dr. Barr calls this stage "the period of PURPLE crying." (See
below.) By giving it a name, he hopes parents will realize that it's not
their fault; some babies cry -- a lot. Talk to a doctor to rule out a
medical cause, and then try to ride it out: Hold your child, walk him,
and get help, so you can refuel. You will get past this!
P -
Peak crying occurs between 2 and 5 months of age
U - Crying is
unpredictable, coming and going for no reason
R - The baby
resists soothing
P - The baby looks as if he's in
pain, but you can't find a cause
L - The periods of crying are
long, up to two hours each
E - Crying tends to occur in the
evening or the late afternoon
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