Bereaved Parent Gift Guide
I reached out to our loss mom community and asked what the best gifts they had received after their babies died.
The linked gift ideas below are a culmination of ones we loved as well as theirs. Remember, these things are wonderful, but nothing beats a text that says, “No need to respond, I just want you to know I love you”, saying their baby’s name and remembering their birthday, cutting their grass, or allowing space and openness for them to grieve with no time limit or expectation. Your listening ears and heart are the most healing thing you can offer.
01. Gift Cards
This may feel so impersonal/boring, but the last thing a parent wants to think about when their baby dies is food. Most mamas I know were planning funerals, sometimes still dealing with work and life duties, while also taking care of other kids all while going through the loss of a child. Gift cards to food delivery services or starbucks are easy and very much appreciated.
02. Laurel box
I had never heard of Laurel Box until our loss mom community sent this idea and wow! I wish I had known about this earlier. Browse around at all the different options. I can tell you, I would have loved any one of these boxes with meaningful, personalized, and heart filling gifts.
03. Earrings With Meaning - Osis Earrings
Osis Earrings Etsy shop makes meaningful earrings with 10% of proceeds going to the cause the earrings are made for. I’ve linked multiple options below for child loss, T18 and T13.
04. Molly bears
Molly Bears are a favorite in our community. They are made to be the weight of your child and you can personalize them with names or something special. Many mamas find a lot of comfort in holding them.
05. Modified Dolls
Rose Watson (Instagram account @LittleMissSeamstress), is a fellow Trisomy 18 mama to her beautiful daughter, Lavender. She makes these beautifully meaningful dolls that are modified to look like specific babies. Her dolls are meant to be inclusive and she will add heart monitors, breathing and eating tubes, scar incisions and even look alike outfits and more. When we got our doll that looked like Stella my heart about burst. Seeing a baby that looks like yours is healing and babies like ours aren’t usually represented. Don’t walk, but run and follow @LittleMissSeamstress and all the good she is doing in the world.
06. Special necklaces
I’ve linked multiple options below. Necklaces that represent our babies carry so much meaning. It’s something we can wear everyday that makes us feel connected to our babies.
07. And If You Can’t Book
This book was written by a fellow loss mama (Instagram Account - @SydneyHatcher) who wrote the book that she would have wanted to be the last book she read to her daughter before she passed away. All proceeds go to Carmen’s Miracle Makers. I bawled the first time I read it, but it’s everything I felt as a mother who has endured this. I hope you love it too.
08. Personalized Candle
This candle is the perfect gift for a mom who wants to see her baby’s name. Often parents light candles on big anniversary days, tough days, or just because and lighting a candle that is personal to your baby is beautiful.
09.Personalized Memory Box
This personalized memory box filled with personalized and helpful gifts for the bereaved parent was one of my favorite gifts we received. Our box included an “S” necklace, blanket with Stella’s name on it, a Bible with Stella’s name on it, a candle, books, and helpful resources. Proceeds go to Abel Speaks, a nonprofit by fellow bereaved parents who support families that choose to carry a pregnancy with a life-limiting diagnosis to term.
10. Personal Drawing
A drawing made with love is one of the best things you can get for a grieving parent. When our babies are gone, there are no more pictures to fill our phones. A drawing like this is one way we can still visually see them and feel like they’re a continual part of our family. @EverlysArt is an account run by a fellow loss mom, who makes art in honor of her daughter, Everly.
11. Personalized Angel Wing Ornament
The holidays for me have been the hardest since losing stella. Anniversary dates, birthdays, days that hold special meaning are often easier to handle because those days are all about babies. Holidays are about anything but our babies and it’s easy to feel they’ve been forgotten. A gift like this is healing to the heart when you want to bring your baby’s memory back into the present for Christmas.
12. Star Registration
This was a common answer loss moms said they loved receiving. Looking up at the sky and knowing there is a star named after your baby feels like a gift that is up in heaven with them, rather than down here with us. Something substantial and everlasting.
Our hearts go out to anyone suffering the pain of losing a child.
It is truly the worst pain a parent can experience. We pray that this list is helpful to the person that is just trying to figure out how to support their loved one through this impossible time. You should know you are loving them simply by being here and trying.