I was really ready to be a Mom. I totally “knew” everything already… like most all 20-Somethings. When my babies came out, they were both crying, loudly. Of all the things I was prepared for, I greatly underestimated the amount of crying. Wyatt actually has not stopped screaming crying since the day he was born, and he turns 2 this month. I actually came across the CLICK for Babies Campaign late one night when I was feeding Wyatt. It was one of those many, long nights where he just wouldn’t sleep and kept crying and crying.
Finally, while rocking there he fell asleep and of course, I could not get up for fear of waking him. So, like most moms I jumped to my phone and scrolled. Someone had shared this website, Click for Babies.
CLICK is the sound that knitting needles make as they work
The CLICK for Babies Campaign revolves around these beautiful little purple hats. “Hey! I make hats!” Said the tiny, exhausted Mom in my mom-brain…
I read on…
Women, all over the country are making purple hats and giving them to hospitals in their area. Hospitals are then giving them to new parents.
As new parents we know nothing, we really don’t. We know nothing of the all-night struggle and the torture of a crying baby until we live it. As a mom, my body still aches when my children cry. It hurts me all over. #thestruggleisreal
Little Purple Hats
The CLICK for Babies Campaign promotes making PURPLE hats for babies because the word PURPLE represents the stages or period each child goes through when crying. I pulled this graphic right off the official website to illustrate:
When you see PURPLE
The idea is that new parents see the Purple hat on their crying newborn and are reminded that it is just a stage. It too shall pass. There is a beginning and an end. Breathe.
Wyatt needed a Purple Hat. He needed one for every single minute of every single day. He nearly broke me and I’m pretty sure he’s still trying to. What happens to us parents in the early morning hours of exhaustion is the real torment. We lose ourselves emotionally, logically and even our sanity leaves us briefly. It is in those moments that we need the reminder, and to see the Purple, before we regret it.
Purple is Prevention
“Frustration with infant crying is the number one thing that triggers a person to shake or harm a baby, so it is important for parents and caregivers to know what to expect from newborns. That way they can be prepared to handle this incredibly stressful and frustrating time.
All babies go through a normal period of increased crying in the first few months of life. This increased crying typically begins at about two weeks of age, peaks in the second month of life, and becomes less in the third or fourth month. Some infants cry more than others, and in some infants, you may not even notice the increased amount of crying, but ALL infants do cry more during this period.” -CLICKforBabies.org
Shaken Baby Syndrome is the danger for a crying baby, and it could affect anyone, not just new parents. Frustration and exhaustion can do terrible things to all parents of any amount of children. Often I think having my one baby was easier than life was after the second; after I already knew what to expect. I was more easily frustrated at the second born because I was exhausted by the toddler.
Why I make the Hats
I participated in this Campaign for the first time in 2015, the year I had Wyatt. They begin hat collections at the hospitals in the fall, so that they have them ready for delivery to parents before the cold winter months {although I’m sure they now give them out all year now} My first round I made three hats…
I hauled both kids to the hospital {Wyatt 8 Months, Cash 1.5} and I tossed them at the nurse behind the desk, both kids screaming, mauling me with their arms and tears.
“HERE!” I grunted at her before I clumsily made my way out of the lobby like a drunken elephant… and I considered myself to be a mom who “had it together” all day.
Everyone needs a Purple Hat
My story only proves that all moms need that damn Purple Hat once in awhile. We’re all struggling. We could all use a little reminder on a daily basis that “this too shall pass” so to speak. So now I start in January of every year. I make as many hats as I can, here and there until it is time to turn them in.
You can find a Drop-Off Location and Deadline near you.
Why I take the boys
Last year I still took the boys to the drop-off. {cute little bag this time too! #MomWinning} I explained to them that these hats were for the Babies and their parents. Cash asked, “Our hats are saving babies?” I thought for a moment… and said, “Yes. Yes, buddy they are.” Cash proudly carried our hats that he watched me make all year to the Hospital.
He wanted to help Save the Babies. He carried them through the elevator and then we waited for Marge to receive us.
Watch Cash’s Instagram Video <HERE>
He said to her, “We made these to save the babies! Here you go!”
…and we all got a bit weepy.
Cash was pretty disappointed that he didn’t get to see any actual babies, but the trip was valuable to him nonetheless. I love giving him opportunities to be selfless and think about the well-being of someone else. Even if he doesn’t completely understand, he saw us hand over something we worked on for a long time. He felt the effort even if the cause is unknown to him. Right now, that’s all I can do.
How to participate in the Campaign
There are 3 steps to the Campaign: Make, Tell & Give. I make mine out of a super soft baby yarn. You can knit or crochet your hats in a soft yarn, making sure at least 50% of it is purple. They actually really need a lot more boy hats than you’d think, so last year I tossed in a bit of gray yarn.
You can read their Guidelines HERE
The next part is to tell people about it. That is exactly what I am doing now. Sorry it took me 2 years to share but I made it! I wanted to tell you as a part of what I’ll be doing in the New Year. Maybe you can add this to your New Year game plan too 😉
Then finally, you give. You either drop them off to a participating location or you can actually give directly to the cause. {please do not send me any of your money}
Now go forth and CLICK
Get all the details HERE at their main website. Truly, every parent needs this support. It is a small, purple hat that can save a life. Why not make a few dozen?
~Thank you for reading