Purple crying peaks around 2 months of age. The intense, inconsolable crying typically begins in the first few weeks after birth, builds steadily, hits its highest point between 6 and 8 weeks, and then gradually tapers off between 3 and 5 months. This pattern holds remarkably consistent across cultures and has been documented in infant development research for over 60 years.
The Crying Curve Explained
Researchers describe a predictable “infant crying curve” that maps how much babies cry across their first several months. Crying increases shortly after birth, reaches a clear peak in the second month, then decreases until roughly the fourth month. After that, changes are minimal. This curve isn’t unique to fussy babies or babies with colic. It describes normal developmental crying in virtually all infants, though the intensity varies widely from one baby to the next.
At its worst, crying during the peak can last up to 5 hours in a single day. Most babies average about 2 hours of total crying daily, but the peak period pushes well beyond that for many families. The crying tends to cluster in the late afternoon and early evening, often between 5 and 11 p.m. Parents sometimes call this the “witching hour,” though it can stretch to 3 hours at a time.
What PURPLE Stands For
The Period of PURPLE Crying is a framework developed to help parents understand that this phase is normal, temporary, and not a sign that something is wrong. Each letter in the acronym describes a characteristic of the crying:
- P – Peak of crying, starting after birth and peaking around 2 months
- U – Unexpected, arriving without any obvious trigger
- R – Resists soothing, continuing even when you’ve tried everything
- P – Pain-like face, even though the baby isn’t in pain
- L – Long-lasting, sometimes going on for hours
- E – Evening, clustering in the late afternoon and night
The most important word in the name isn’t “purple.” It’s “period.” The framework deliberately emphasizes that this phase has a beginning and an end. Your baby will outgrow it.
Purple Crying, Colic, and the Witching Hour
If you’ve heard three different terms thrown around, that’s because purple crying, colic, and the witching hour all describe the same thing. Many pediatricians now prefer “the Period of PURPLE Crying” over “colic” because colic sounds like a medical condition or illness. There’s nothing wrong with a colicky baby. The shift in language is intentional: it reframes the experience as a normal developmental stage rather than a problem that needs fixing.
A baby who is growing well, feeding normally, and gaining weight but cries inconsolably every evening is almost certainly going through this phase. It feels alarming, but the crying itself isn’t a symptom of disease.
Why the Peak Happens at 2 Months
The timing of the peak aligns with a period of rapid neurological development. At around 6 to 8 weeks, a baby’s nervous system is maturing quickly but hasn’t yet developed the self-soothing abilities that come later. The brain is processing enormous amounts of sensory input for the first time, and crying is the only outlet the baby has. As the nervous system matures through months 3 and 4, babies develop more ways to regulate themselves, and the crying naturally decreases.
This is why soothing techniques sometimes work and sometimes don’t. The “resists soothing” element of purple crying isn’t because you’re doing something wrong. It’s because the crying isn’t always driven by a specific need you can address. It’s part of how the developing brain processes the world.
Managing the Hardest Weeks
Knowing the peak comes at 2 months helps, but it doesn’t make the experience less exhausting. A few strategies can make the period more survivable.
Rhythmic motion often works better than stillness. Gentle bouncing, rocking, swaying, or riding in a car seat can interrupt a crying spell, at least temporarily. Skin-to-skin contact, swaddling, and white noise mimic the sensory environment of the womb and can calm some babies. Feeding won’t always help, especially if your baby just ate, but offering the breast or a pacifier gives them something to suck on, which is soothing on its own.
When nothing works, it’s okay to put your baby down in a safe place (like a crib, flat on their back) and step out of the room for a few minutes. This isn’t giving up. It’s protecting both of you. The PURPLE Crying program was developed in part to prevent shaken baby syndrome, which most often happens when a caregiver becomes overwhelmed by inconsolable crying. Walking away to collect yourself is one of the safest things you can do.
If you can, tag in a partner, family member, or friend. The peak weeks are a relay race, not a solo event. Even 20 minutes of relief can reset your ability to cope.
Signs That Crying Isn’t Just a Phase
Most inconsolable crying in the first few months is normal. But certain symptoms alongside the crying suggest something else is going on. A fever (or unusually low body temperature) combined with irritability can signal an infection. Vomiting, blood in the stool, or a baby who suddenly becomes pale and floppy could point to a gastrointestinal problem like an intestinal blockage. Screaming during feeds, arching away from the bottle or breast, or refusing to eat after starting may indicate reflux or a cow’s milk intolerance.
Crying that is triggered by a specific movement, like screaming when you change a diaper or move a particular limb, could mean something is causing pain in a joint or bone. And any baby who looks “off” to you in a way that feels different from their usual fussy period is worth having checked. The difference between purple crying and a medical issue usually comes down to pattern: purple crying follows a predictable daily rhythm, while pain-related crying tends to have a more sudden onset and comes with other visible signs.