Knitters, crocheters unite to prevent infant abuse

If you're into knitting or crocheting, here's a way you can help an effort to prevent infant abuse.

Volunteers across the state are knitting purple baby caps to help prevent infant abuse in North Carolina. Next month, the purple caps will replace the traditional pink and blue ones given to newborns in hospitals across the state.

The project is part of a national Click for Babies campaign (as in the clicking of knitting needles) to raise awareness of the Period of Purple Crying, a period in the first few months of life when infants cry more than any other time, often causing frustration in parents. (I remember those weeks well).

The caps, which will come in a variety of shapes, shades of purple and sizes, will be given to babies in 79 birthing hospitals across the state. The goal is to collect 8,500 caps - enough to give one to every infant born next month. Already knitters across North Carolina have pledged to create 7,500 caps for the campaign.

The Period of Purple Crying is an infant abuse prevention program developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome to educate parents and caregivers about normal infant crying and the dangers of shaking. The program, which includes a 10-minute DVD and 11-page booklet, is distributed to parents following the birth of a new baby. Shaken Baby Syndrome is currently among the leading causes of child abuse deaths in the United States.

The Period of Purple Crying: Keeping Babies Safe in North Carolina is the largest and most comprehensive evidence-based shaken baby prevention initiative in the country.