Donate a Purple Cap for a Baby

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is calling on all knitters and crocheters for help.

Volunteers are encouraged to knit or crochet newborn baby boy and girl caps of any shade of purple with soft, baby friendly yarn. The caps can have a variety of fun colors and patterns, as long as they are at least 50 percent purple and free of straps, strings or other potential choking hazards. Purple baby caps are accepted year-round. But only caps received by Oct. 1 will make it in this year’s hospital distribution.

This campaign is to create awareness of the Period of PURPLE Crying to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. Frustration with crying infants is the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of an infant. The OSDH is recruiting crochet artists and knitters to help reach this year’s cap goal of 4,300 to spread Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention efforts across the state.

The Period of PURPLE Crying is a time when babies cry more than any other time in their life. It is important for parents to know that it is a normal and healthy part of infancy, that it is not their fault, and that it is not going to last forever.

Currently, Oklahoma has 41 birthing hospitals participating in providing new mothers with The Period of PURPLE Crying DVD to educate them on normal crying patterns, how to cope with unsoothable crying, and the importance of never shaking a baby. Along with the DVD, in the months of November and December, each newborn will receive a purple baby cap as a reminder of the importance of never shaking a baby.

Purple caps can be mailed to:

Oklahoma State Department of Health

ATTN: Maternal and Child Health

1000 NE 10th St.

Oklahoma City, Okla. 73117-1299

To obtain patterns for caps, guidelines and “CLICK for Babies” campaign details, visit clickcampaign.health.ok.gov, or call Amy Terry at (405) 271-4471, or email amyt@health.ok.gov. Media inquiries should be directed to Cody McDonell at (405) 271-5601.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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