Educational materials on how to deal with crying newborns lead to increased knowledge about infant crying and behaviours that are important to preventing shaken baby syndrome, found two new studies being published online March 2 in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) and Pediatrics.

The CMAJ study involved 1279 mothers in a randomized controlled trial in Greater Vancouver, BC, Canada who were provided materials from the Period of PURPLE Crying program, an 11-page booklet and DVD developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome in Ogden, Utah. Half the participants received the PURPLE materials and the other half received materials with parent safety tips and sleeping position guidelines. Materials were delivered by public health nurses during routine visits within 2 weeks of birth.

Mothers who received the PURPLE materials scored 5% higher in knowledge about crying compared with mothers who received the control materials. The PURPLE recipients walked away 1.7 times more frequently from inconsolable infant crying. They were 13% more likely to warn about the danger of shaking infants and to share advice about walking away if frustrated.

The PURPLE materials indicate that the following behaviours are normal but frustrating for parents and suggest coping mechanisms:

• Peak pattern, where crying increases, peaks during the second month, then declines
• Unexpected timing of prolonged crying
• Resistance to soothing
• Pain-like look on the face
• Long crying bouts
• Evening and late afternoon clustering