McDowell Hospital Auxiliary Receives 120 PURPLE Crying Caps for Infants
Posted on Nov 6, 2011
North Carolina is leading the way with a new, shaken-baby prevention program called the Period of PURPLE Crying:Keeping Babies Safe in North Carolina. In conjunction with this statewide program, McDowell Hospital Auxiliary asked local residents to knit or crochet PURPLE caps for our newborn babies. Several talented staff and local residents completed 120 PURPLE Caps! These knitted or crocheted caps will be given to newborns in our Labor and Delivery Department, starting the month of November, to help educate parents, and other caregivers, about the Period of PURPLE Crying.
The PURPLE Crying period is a normal, although frustrating, time of increased crying that all infants experience in the first few weeks and months after birth. By knitting or crocheting purple baby caps, you will help us educate parents that crying is normal and that it is never okay to shake or harm an infant. Parents and caregivers are reminded that shaking, slapping or otherwise hurting a baby to make it stop crying is the wrong way to handle the situation.
Why the color PURPLE?
· Peaks: Crying peaks at two to three months of age and ends at four to five months.
· Unexpected: Crying is often unexpected.
· Resists soothing: Infants may be resistant to soothing.
· Pain-like Face: Infants may appear to be in pain.
· Long-lasting: The crying is usually long-lasting.
· Evening: Crying occurs most frequently in the evening
“We want to give our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in this program!” said Trish Takacs, Volunteer Specialist at McDowell Hospital. “This program is a great way to remind parents and caregivers that crying is okay and normal, and teaches the proper ways to take care of infants during this period of intensified crying. Donations - like these caps - from the community are a wonderful way to involve our community in providing education and in helping others.”
McDowell Hospital’s Auxiliary and Volunteer program offers volunteering opportunities for teens ages 14-18 during the summer VolunTEEN program or for adults over 18 throughout the year. For more information on becoming a volunteer or a summer volunTEEN, visit www.mcdhospital.org or call 828-659-5000.
Pictured, (L to R): Elaine Clayton, Hospital Volunteer, Sarah Barksdale, Alexis Barksdale, and Sue Price, Hospital Volunteer
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