PARSIPPANY — 2019 marks the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany fifth year participating in “CLICK for Babies: Period of PURPLE Crying Caps campaign” lead by Karen DeChristopher, Director and Co-Chair Dr. Julie Scarano-Debrossy and Nicolas Limanov of their “Young Children Priority One (YCPO)” service projects program.
Kiwanis members and friends knitted over 520 purple colored hats for infants, which were delivered in October to Prevent Child Abuse NJ, New Brunswick, where they are sent out to be washed, sterilized and prepared in airtight bags then distributed to new parents at participating hospitals across New Jersey during November and December to help educate new parents about both normal infant crying “Period of Purple Crying” and the dangers of shaking the infant “Shaken Baby Syndrome”.
PURPLE stands for an exhausting and frustrating period of increased crying that some infants experience in the first few weeks and months after birth. Although it is hard on babies, it is even harder on parents and caregivers. This crying, which is normal, is so overwhelming to parents and caregivers that sometimes they shake the baby, causing permanent harm.
It is the No. 1 trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants. Shaken baby syndrome has been found to be the most common and most dangerous form of abuse in children under one. Roughly 80% of all infants who are shaken suffer significant brain injuries, and more than 30% die as a result of their injuries. These purple hats can help prevent this, because the campaign aims to raise awareness about normal infant crying and the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma.
DeChristopher explained that, “Increased stress and frustration raises the risk of someone losing control for a split-second and seriously injuring the infant. Parents must be educated on this extremely important issue, as well as the need to have a plan and to share that plan with anyone who may be caring for their infant.”
Prevent Child Abuse – New Jersey is one in a network of chapters in all 50 states. Prevent Child Abuse-NJ is the only statewide non-profit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in all forms, for all New Jersey children.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany supports ten K-Kids clubs, Lake Parsippany Elementary School, Eastlake Elementary School, Intervale School, Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Littleton Elementary School, Lake Hiawatha Elementary School, Troy Hills Elementary School, Northvail Elementary School, Knollwood School and Rockaway Meadow Elementary School, two builders clubs, Central Middle School and Brooklawn Middle School; two Key Clubs, Parsippany Hills High School and Parsippany High School and one Aktion Club.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. For more information on Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany click here.
