Is PURPLE Crying the Same as Colic?

Quick Answer

Not exactly — but they overlap significantly. PURPLE crying and colic describe the same underlying phenomenon: a normal phase of intense, inconsolable crying in healthy newborns. The key difference is framing. "Colic" is an older clinical term that implies something is wrong, while "PURPLE crying" is a more modern framework that reframes the experience as a universal, temporary phase of normal infant development.

What Is Colic?

Colic is traditionally defined using the "Rule of Threes": crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks, in an otherwise healthy baby. It typically appears in the first few weeks of life, peaks around 6 weeks, and resolves by 3 to 4 months.

Despite decades of research, the exact cause of colic remains unknown. Theories include gut immaturity, gas, overstimulation, and neurological development — but no single cause has been definitively identified, and no treatment has been proven consistently effective.

What Is PURPLE Crying?

PURPLE crying is a framework developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome to help parents understand and cope with the normal crying peak all newborns experience. The acronym stands for:

• P — Peak of crying: Crying increases from around 2 weeks, peaks at 4 to 6 weeks, then gradually decreases
• U — Unexpected: Crying can start and stop without any obvious reason
• R — Resists soothing: Your baby may be difficult or impossible to soothe, even when all their needs are met
• P — Pain-like face: Your baby may look like they are in pain even when they are not
• L — Long lasting: Crying can last for hours at a time
• E — Evening: Crying is often worse in the late afternoon and evening

How They Differ

• Colic is a diagnosis — it implies a problem to be solved and can leave parents feeling like something is wrong with their baby or their care
• PURPLE crying is a developmental framework — it normalises the experience, reassures parents that it is universal and temporary, and focuses on coping rather than fixing
• Colic is sometimes used to describe crying that has an identifiable cause (such as reflux or a food sensitivity), while PURPLE crying specifically refers to crying with no identifiable medical cause

Does the Label Matter?

In practical terms, the experience for parents is the same: hours of inconsolable crying from a baby who appears healthy and whose needs are met. But the label can matter for how parents feel about it:

• "Colic" can feel like a diagnosis that demands a cure, leading parents down a frustrating path of elimination diets, remedies, and interventions that rarely help
• "PURPLE crying" reframes the experience as something every baby goes through — not a problem to fix, but a phase to survive with support

What Parents Can Try

• Respond consistently: You cannot spoil a newborn — responding to crying builds trust and security
• Try soothing techniques: Swaddling, gentle rocking, white noise, skin-to-skin contact, and feeding can all help, even if they do not always work immediately
• Take breaks: If you feel overwhelmed, it is safe to place your baby in their cot and step away for a few minutes. Never shake your baby
• Ask for help: Tag in a partner, family member, or friend so you can rest — you do not have to manage this alone

When It's Worth Checking In With Your Pediatrician

Whether you call it colic or PURPLE crying, speak to your pediatrician if:

• Your baby's crying is accompanied by fever, vomiting, or other signs of illness
• Your baby seems to be in genuine pain — arching their back, drawing up their legs, or crying immediately after feeds
• You suspect a food sensitivity or reflux may be contributing
• The crying does not ease at all by 4 months
• You are struggling significantly with the emotional demands of this phase — support is available and you deserve it

Key Takeaway

PURPLE crying and colic describe the same experience — intense, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy newborn that peaks around 4 to 6 weeks and resolves by 3 to 4 months. The difference is framing: PURPLE crying normalises the experience as a universal phase of development, while colic implies a problem to be diagnosed and treated. Either way, it is temporary — and it does end.

Parents Also Ask

• How Long Does the PURPLE Crying Phase Usually Last?
• Cluster Feeding Explained
• What Time of Day Does Cluster Feeding Most Commonly Happen?

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your baby's health.