Month: April 2024

A child funeral is an opportunity for family and friends to come together, share photos, stories and memories of your baby, child or teenager who has died. The service can be as long or short as you wish and can be held at a venue of your choice such as your home, a community space, a church, a hotel or even a park or beach. A funeral provides a time and place to connect with loved ones who have experienced the same loss and to help us make sense of what has happened. Often, children want to be involved and it is important that they are encouraged and supported to do so. For some families it is helpful to involve their child right from the beginning, for others it works best to allow them to attend a funeral without parental involvement (with close adult supervision). Children need to be prepared for what is happening and this can begin at any age. It is important to sit down with your children, or the child you are caring for and talk about what is going to happen at a funeral and how they might feel. It is also important to explain the logistics of a funeral such as who will be there, how long the services might last and how the body will be taken care of. Providing children with all of the information they need will empower them and help them to understand what is happening. This can help them to decide if they want to attend a funeral, but it is also OK for children to change their mind on the day and this should be respected. If you are worried about how your child might cope at a funeral or you are not sure they will want to attend, it can be helpful to enlist the help of another friend or family member to support them and look after them for the duration of the ceremony. It may also be helpful to arrange a break for them away from the setting and provide them with a quiet space to rest or play, such as a garden at the crematorium or cemetery. Some children, especially those who have been in care or who have had medical complications, do not want to go to a funeral and this is completely normal. It is however, important to give your child as much information as possible and listen to them to understand their decision. Many parents say that finding ways to honour their child and bring a sense of meaning to what has happened helps them manage the grief. This can be through a special celebration of life ceremony, having a message board at the funeral or graveside or by having a candlelight vigil at home. Other parents also like to have a memorial tree planted, join a support group or donate to charities that honour the life of their child. All of these things can help them to process the grief and move on.

From spit-ups to blowouts, your little bundle of joy is going to go through multiple outfit changes a day. Choosing clothes that are easy to dress and undress can save you time and stress, especially during a busy diapering routine. Look for snaps, zippers and elastics that are easy to use and don’t rub against your baby’s sensitive skin. Closure options like safety tabs (small pieces of fabric that cover zippers or snaps) and double zippers with two pulls are also helpful. Lastly, choose fabrics that can handle multiple washes and are soft against your baby’s delicate skin. Start with bodysuits and onesies (3-6 months) and add in pants (3-4). Depending on your child’s gender, consider adding a few dresses and skirts (4-9 months) that can be worn for special occasions. Dresses and skirts are great for bringing along to the park or on a family outing, as they provide a comfortable and fun alternative to more formal clothing. A few pairs of socks (6-8 months) and hats (2-3) are always useful as well. Stylish accessories like hats and socks can help to make your baby look more adorable. If you plan to swaddle your newborn, you’ll want some swaddle blankets (8-9 months). These snuggly wraps are designed with just the right amount of stretch and are made with cotton that feels comfortable against baby’s skin. They help to mimic the womb environment and can help babies sleep longer, which is helpful for parents! For colder climates, it’s essential to have a few wintertime clothes on hand. Besides having a warm fleece jacket, you’ll want to stock up on hats and socks and a pair of baby snow pants (6-8 months). Having a few pairs of winter gloves and boots (2-3) will allow your infant to play outside safely and comfortably. You’ll also want some diaper bag essentials, including a changing pad cover and baby wipe case, as well as a pack of newborn diapers, rash cream and teething powder. Finally, don’t forget a few small toys and books to keep your little one entertained while you change her or take her out for a walk. Shop our collection of baby clothing to find a variety of adorable outfits for your new arrival. Don’t be afraid to try out a few different brands, as size discrepancies can be normal and babies grow quickly. When in doubt, it’s usually best to size up. From rompers and striped tees to dressy A-line dresses and twirl-worthy skirts, our collection has everything you need to complete your newborn’s wardrobe.

The clothing worn by a loved one at a funeral can have an effect on the way family members view that person, and what they say about him or her. For many people, dressing their dead relatives in clothes that honor their identity and personality is a comforting act of love. While traditional burial attire tends to lean toward formality, the choice of what a person wears after death can vary widely according to cultural norms and personal preferences. Dressing a loved one for a funeral is not only comforting to the survivors, but also helps those who come to pay their respects. “There is an intimacy in the process of choosing what someone will wear for his or her final resting place and putting it on,” says Basile. “It’s like saying goodbye.” In addition to a family member’s closet, the deceased can also be dressed in clothing that was purchased specially for this purpose. Many of these garments, which are designed to resemble daywear or evening gowns, are available from funeral homes or online retailers. Others are made for specific events such as a memorial service or a visitation. Some are designed to look more like a shroud, suitable for green funerals or woodland burial grounds. A recent innovation in the production of burial clothes has been a process called “digital embalming,” which makes it possible to preserve the body for public viewing with little need for a casket, making these types of garments even more popular. The digital process allows for detailed work in areas such as stitching and embroidery, which adds a sense of elegance and dignity to the outfit. One of the most difficult decisions for families arranging a funeral is what to wear their deceased relative in when they are being buried or cremated. While there is no legal requirement that a person be dressed for this occasion, the practice can make the final moments of a loved one’s life feel less sterile and clinical. Although it is possible for anyone to be buried in any clothing, most people choose garments that reflect their lifestyle and religious beliefs. Some common choices for men include suits, dress shirts and ties, while women tend to select dresses or skirts. In the past, funeral directors sometimes sourced burial garments from local businesses or private suppliers that specialized in lingerie and wedding apparel. More recently, a number of companies have begun producing such clothing themselves. For example, Abigal Press, a New York company that dates back to 1936, offers a variety of different styles and fabric options, including a line of burial gowns. While most burial gowns are made from white or light-colored fabrics, some designers have also incorporated accent colors and decorative trim to create unique designs that are suitable for any occasion. Another important consideration is the material a gown is made of, as some materials are not appropriate for certain types of funerals or for those who wish to be buried in nature or a woodland burial site.

When the wedding festivities are over and your beautiful gown is hanging in your closet, a new bride might be wondering, “What now?” Instead of leaving it to collect dust, donate it! Many bridal charity outlets (like Oxfam in both Dublin and Bangor, Barnardos Bridal in Dun Laoghaire and Wexford and St Vincent de Paul in all counties) are happy to take your dress off your hands. Plus, donating your dress has other benefits: it’s potential tax-deductible and helps reduce the amount of carbon emissions created by the textile industry, according to Zola. As a bonus, it frees up more space in your closet for the next bride to make her own memories in! And, if you do decide to sell or store your dress, keep in mind that a local thrift shop is another way to give it a second life while supporting a great cause. For instance, Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Maryland accepts donated dresses and other bridal accessories to support Success in Style, a program that helps people in need get jobs. The nonprofit also runs a retail boutique, Cherie Amour, where it sells the gowns for less than their original cost and donates the rest of the proceeds to the organization. Other shops accepting gowns and other bridal accessories include Brides for a Cause in Portland, which donates the majority of the revenue from each sale to charities that benefit women. In addition, the Emma and Evan Foundation repurposes wedding dress donations into infant burial gowns, known as angel gowns, and bonnets that are given to grieving families for free. This non-profit, which focuses on supporting families who have lost children, has several locations in the US and Canada. Before you take your dress to a charity outlet, Chapman recommends doing some research on the company to ensure it’s reputable and that the proceeds from your dress are actually going to the charity you choose. She also suggests getting in touch with the charity to confirm its dress acceptance criteria and donation guidelines. Ultimately, if you’re not interested in reselling or donating your dress, consider keeping it as a piece of home decor. You could display it on a mannequin, use it as a backdrop for photos or turn it into a cherished keepsake for your children. If you’re a crafty goddess, you can even transform it into pillows and other home décor pieces! Remember to clean your dress before donating it, as some organizations might not accept dresses that have been worn. And before dropping it off, check with your chosen charity to see if they have any additional requirements, like having a certain time frame within which you need to donate the dress. It’s important to do your research so you can be confident that your wedding dress will help a worthy cause and bring joy to a new bride, too.

During this season of giving, many are searching for ways to give back. For some, the most fulfilling way to contribute is by providing comfort for others during times of grief and loss. For families whose infants are lost, at any stage of pregnancy, angel gowns can offer them a small bit of peace during their time of mourning. These gowns are created by seamstresses across the country using donated wedding dresses and donated material. The women work on a volunteer basis, which means there is no charge for the gowns and they are offered to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and directly to families. The NICU at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center extends its deepest gratitude to this special group of volunteers and their hard work. Each gown has been made with so much love, honoring the life of a baby taken too soon and helping to ease some of the pain associated with these tragic circumstances. Brandy Smith, a nurse in the NICU at Riley, knows first-hand how meaningful these gowns can be. The family of a young woman who recently passed away received one of these gowns, and she says it meant the world to them. “To know that someone took the time to make a beautiful dress in her memory, it helped us to not feel as suffocated and hopeless as we were feeling,” she says. Judi Mangiaracina, the founder of Angel Gowns, says she is proud that her organization has grown to include seamstresses throughout the United States. She credits the dedication of these women as the reason behind their success. Some of the seamstresses are retired, and some are stay-at-home moms, but they each find the time to sew these angel gowns during their free time. They even have a Facebook group where they communicate and share ideas about how to best create these garments. The program accepts bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, and prom gowns that are less than five years old in light shades of blue, pink, or purple. They also accept accessories such as shoes, jewelry, veils, and pins. The seamstresses use these items to create the angel gowns, which are then provided to hospitals, funeral homes, and directly to parents. Lisa McCoy, the placement coordinator for Angel Gowns, enjoys connecting with grateful hospital staff and arranging placement for the gowns. She has a passion for making people smile and feels her job is a great way to do that. She lives in Utah with her husband and six children, and when she isn’t sewing, she is volunteering at her local church. Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach is dedicated to delivering high quality, compassionate care to patients and their families. Visit the website to learn more about the services they offer.