Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel is asking volunteers to knit and crochet purple hats to raise awareness for shaken baby syndrome.
The Click for Babies: Period of Purple Crying Caps campaign invites knitters and crocheters to make purple baby caps that will be mailed to more than 40 hospitals and public health clinics throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington in November and December.
The purple caps are used to teach parents and caregivers about the Period of Purple Crying — the normal increase in crying that newborns experience from 2 weeks to 5 months old. Some newborns cry up to five hours per day during that period. Frustration with newborn crying increases the risk of a split second loss of control and serious infant injury from shaken baby syndrome, according to Legacy.
Purple caps must meet crafting and sizing guidelines, which are available at www.clickforbabies.org.
Caps can be mailed — no later than Sept. 30 — to Kate Romie, Volunteer Services; Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel; 2801 N. Gantenbein Ave. Suite LL-B856; Portland, OR 97227.
