Month: December 2024

Choosing a child funeral is a very personal decision for families. A child funeral can be as simple or elaborate as the family chooses, but there are a few things to consider. If you want a child funeral, it is best to plan ahead as much as possible. This can be helpful to avoid any surprises for the family and other attendees. You will likely need to make a number of arrangements with the funeral director or your church. Many families choose to bury their child in a casket that resembles their favorite outfit, such as a dress or uniform if they were a ballerina or baseball player. You can also request a special blanket, bedding or sports team flag to be used as the casket lining. You can even request a basket, bassinet, cradle or doll bed for an infant or a wagon padded with blankets for an older child. It is important to talk to your children about the death of their sibling and the funeral ahead of time. Explain to them that their sibling will not be present at the service but that there will be pictures, a memorial table and a urn on display for them to remember their sibling by. It is also a good idea to talk to your children about what they can expect during the service and to be prepared for them to become restless or fidgety. It may be useful to have a book, favourite toy or quiet game on hand for them to use. Younger children tend to have short attention spans and may tire easily during a funeral service or memorial. It may be helpful to have a friend or neighbour on standby who can take them out of the room for short periods of time if necessary. It is also a good idea to have a quiet area available for them to go to at the funeral or memorial where they can color or draw pictures, play games or watch movies. Older children can be encouraged to share their reflections and memories during a service or family gathering and may want to participate in other ways such as writing a message or poem to place in (or near) the casket or urn, picking flowers for the ceremony or reading a tribute during the funeral service. Having an experienced bereavement support worker on hand at the funeral or memorial can be very beneficial for grieving families. This person can help you to create a plan of action for how to proceed and answer any questions your children may have. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you can apply to the Child Funeral Fund for assistance with some of the costs associated with a child funeral. This can be a huge financial relief for families. You can find more information on their website here. There are also a number of other charities and support groups that can assist with the financial aspect of a child funeral.

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Newborns need comfortable, soft clothes that are easy to launder and simple to put on and take off. Cotton is a good choice because it’s breathable, gentle on baby skin and washes well. Babies also tend to overheat easily, so layering is important. During the summer, lightweight onesies are ideal and in winter, extra-thick blankets or (if you’re out and about) footed pajamas will keep your baby warm and cozy. The best baby clothing is made from organic cotton, a sustainable and eco-friendly fabric. In addition to being safer for babies with sensitive skin, organic cotton is grown without harmful pesticides and chemicals that pollute the environment and water supplies. Organic cotton fabrics are often made with sustainable dyes as well, further reducing the environmental footprint of the clothing production process. If you’re shopping for a newborn, try to avoid buying too many fancy outfits and focusing on practical clothing essentials like bodysuits and sleepers instead. Babies spend most of their time in onesie-style garments, so having several to rotate will make laundry easier and less stressful. It’s also a great idea to buy multi-use items that can serve more than one function, such as rompers that double as sleepers and swaddle blankets that can be used as burp cloths or nursing covers. That way, you can save money on more expensive outfits and reduce the number of laundry loads you need to do. A good brand to consider when purchasing newborn clothing is Carter’s, which offers a wide variety of mix-and-match styles in the 0-3 month size that most newborns will grow into within a few weeks after birth. Their clothes are designed with new parents in mind, so they are comfortable, stretchy and easy to dress. For example, their shirts feature envelope necks, which are easier to get over a tiny baby’s head. Their rompers have full leg and back openings for easy nappy changes and fold-over scratch mitts at the arms, which help to prevent young babies from accidentally scratching themselves. It’s also a good idea to purchase cotton pajamas in multiple sizes, as babies will likely be growing into them quickly. And be sure to wash all new clothing before wearing it to remove any residual chemicals from the manufacturing process and to ensure that it’s comfortable against your baby’s sensitive skin.

The loss of a loved one is always a deeply emotional time, and while choosing burial clothes might seem like an insignificant detail in the grand scheme of things, it’s often something that families feel is important to do with care and dignity. For this reason, many people turn to specialized clothing programs that can offer clothing options for their loved ones, often at no cost. Many of these programs are run by volunteers who take great pride in the work they do to help ease the burden for grieving families. Some are even set up to be able to ship gowns directly to families. Others are available through funeral homes and other burial services providers, which can make the process more straightforward for those who need it. Burial garments are often worn by both women and men, with a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from. For example, a simple white ensemble—typically a blouse or tailored shirt paired with skirts or dress pants in a complementary shade—can convey a sense of serenity and peace. Clothes should not include embellishments or flashy accessories that might detract from the solemnity of the occasion. Likewise, a black suit is often viewed as appropriate clothing for a loved one who is being buried or cremated, though less formal attire can also be worn. If you’re not sure what to wear, a consultation with your chosen funeral home can be a helpful way to get guidance from professionals who are familiar with the services and the needs of grieving families. They can help you select a fitting outfit for your loved one, including the proper footwear for their final ceremony. In addition to providing clothing options, these programs can help ease some of the financial burden that may be present when planning a funeral or memorial service for a child or baby. Most of these programs are run on donations, with monetary contributions helping cover shipping and materials costs so that these services remain free for families in need. Other organizations that specialize in making burial gowns for infants and babies are Angel Gowns by Michelle and the NICU Helping Hands program, both of which can be found online. The latter makes handmade burial gowns for babies and children who died in neonatal care and can be accessed through hospitals or directly from the nonprofit. They’re also a good resource for parents who want to learn more about the care and preparation needed for the passing of their newborn or baby. The organization is composed of a group of local seamstresses who meet twice a year to design, cut and sew the gowns for babies who are born still or in neonatal intensive care. Each garment is made to be both durable and beautiful, as well as a symbol of love and care.

When you’ve reached the point where your once-bridal gown is just taking up too much space in your closet, there are plenty of charities that would love to give it a new home. Just make sure it’s in good shape, says Chapman. Stains and mold can devalue your dress, and a charity might have to throw it away if that happens. If your wedding dress doesn’t meet the criteria of a few charities that accept them, try repurposing it for your home decor or as an infant baptism gown for your kids. You can also use the fabric to create something else entirely, like a quilt or a sewed-on pillow. Some bridal or wedding expos organize gown giveaways. These events can be a great way to find brides in need and to help spread the word about your dress. But be careful to check the organization or event out beforehand, because some of them may be scams. Often, these dress donations are given to women who can’t afford their dream dresses. Others are used as backups in case the original dresses get damaged or lost. Still others are donated to support breast cancer awareness and detection programs, or to reduce the environmental impact of wedding dress manufacturing. The movement to donate wedding dresses started when a woman named Stulgis from Champion Township in Trumbull County, Ohio, created the Facebook group Shared Dream Dresses. The private group has more than 19,000 members. People who want to donate their dresses will post photos of them on the page, along with size information and other details. Anyone who’s interested in the dress will comment on the post and reach out to the donor. Some brides even ask for specific dress types or styles to match their tastes. For example, a bride in Champaign, Illinois, who wanted to have a vintage look for her big day asked the Facebook group if any of its members had a vintage-style ivory or blush dress that fit. Another bride who had a small wedding asked the group for a bridesmaid’s dress in a similar style to her own. When donating your gown, you should clean or dry-clean it before putting it in the box. This will save the charity volunteers time and effort and protect the dresses from bacteria. It’s also a good idea to label the box with helpful information, such as the dress size, brand or designer, and year of purchase. This will help them keep track of the gowns and identify them for future brides. The Angel Gown Program by NICU Helping Hands is unlike any other charity that will take your wedding dress. It repurposes your dress into tiny baby dresses for families who lose their newborns before they’re born. Each donated dress can provide up to 12 of these special gowns for families who have suffered the loss of a child. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you should clean your wedding dress before donating it to a charity, as it can potentially carry the virus and pose a risk to other donors. The CDC says the virus can remain on surfaces and certain fabrics for a couple of days, so it’s best to clean your dress in advance.

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In the grand tapestry of life, there are moments of immense joy and moments of heartbreak. One such heartbreak is the loss of a prematurely born baby. For parents of NICU babies that pass, angel gowns offer them solace and dignity. These gowns are made from repurposed wedding dresses that are lovingly transformed by volunteer seamstresses around the world. For Brandy, the idea to take her daughter’s final photos in an angel gown came as a gift from God. It helped her family to process their grief and remember the short four days they had together. “She was a beautiful girl, and she deserves to be remembered,” says Brandy’s mother, Judi. “That’s why we want to keep her memory alive.” Judi is the founder of NICU Helping Hands in Fort Worth, Texas. Her nonprofit organization transforms donated wedding gowns into outfits for babies that have passed away, either in utero or shortly after birth. The dresses are then given to the parents, who can use them for their final pictures or for dressing their baby for burial. The gowns are handmade by volunteers, many of whom have personal connections to the project. “They know exactly what you’re going through, and it makes you feel like the world is listening,” says a woman who has been sewing for the program for six years. Her husband was a NICU nurse, and she lost two of their sons during delivery. “I was very touched by the way that these gowns were made for our children, and it just made me want to help other families.” Front Range Angel Gowns, a nonprofit that began in 2021 in Evergreen, Colorado, is another example of how wedding dress donations are transformed into tiny outfits. Its founder, Stacy, a seamstress coordinator, is also a teacher. She moved to the area with her family from Virginia after a divorce and wanted to give back to her community. Her passion for helping others led her to start the group, which soon received dresses from across the state. As of this writing, the organization has more than 200 dresses stored at Riley’s Children’s Health NICU in Indianapolis. They can only accommodate about half of the requests they receive, but the program has already made an impact on grieving parents and medical staff. Judi says the greatest assets of her program are the seamstresses and the women who donate their dresses. She explains that most of the seamstresses are women who have experienced a loss themselves, often miscarriages. They make time throughout the week to sew the dresses, and they work hard to ensure each garment is personalized for a particular parent. Judi also gives special thanks to Sparrow Hospital, which recognized her for her work with an award in September. “I don’t need the attention, but I appreciate it,” she says. Judi estimates that there are about 150 volunteer seamstresses across the country working on her project. She has another goal, though: She wants to expand the NICU Helping Hands to all hospitals in Indiana and beyond.

A child funeral is a chance for children to participate in a service that is designed specifically for them. It is an opportunity for them to express their feelings, connect with the deceased and take part in family rituals. It can also be an educational experience for children to learn about death and grieving. Typically, the service is held at the funeral home or place of worship. If a family chooses to have a child funeral, parents should talk to their minister or rabbi or the funeral director to determine if they can be involved. The most important thing is to prepare children in advance about what will happen. It is important to let them know that they will be attending a special service and that it is okay to cry. Many children are afraid of being seen crying by their peers and may be worried that they will not be able to participate in the funeral or memorial services without tears. It is helpful to talk to them about the fact that everyone cries differently and that it is okay to laugh, too. If the body will be present during the visitation or at the funeral, it is a good idea to explain what that means and that they will be able to see the casket, if there is one. If the body will be cremated, it is a good idea to explain that to them as well. In some cases, a child may wish to write a letter to their sibling who died or they may want to include a personal memento in the casket or urn. This can help them to say goodbye and can be a comforting memory in the future. It is a good idea to bring a book, favorite toy or quiet game for the child to keep them busy in case they become restless or fidgety during the ceremony. Often, children will need to express their grief in small doses and are more comfortable doing so in private. It can be a good idea to appoint an adult friend or family member as a “funeral buddy” for the child, someone they can go to for support and to answer their questions. It is also a good idea to take the child to the funeral home or burial site ahead of time to get them familiar with the space. Most funeral homes are more than willing to help with this and will show them the different areas where they will need to go, including bathroom facilities and areas for respite. This can help to calm anxieties, especially if the funeral is expected to last a long time. Also, it is a good idea to discuss what will happen during the ceremony and what to expect, including how long they may need to be at each location.

From spit-ups to blowouts, newborn babies can go through multiple outfits in a day. Aim for a wardrobe of basics, like simple cotton bodysuits, that can be laundered regularly. Keep in mind that baby clothes are prone to shrinkage, so it may be smarter to shop for the size you think your baby will wear as opposed to what’s printed on the tag. It’s also a good idea to pick up extras, like hats and socks, that can be worn in colder weather. You’ll need a supply of bodysuits, either short- or long-sleeved. These can be easily laundered and are a great foundation for layering in winter. You’ll also want a few pairs of footies (pants with built-in feet) to pair with onesie tops. Newborns have poor circulation in their feet, so it’s important to have thick mittens and socks on hand, too. Hats are crucial, too, because babies lose a lot of heat through their heads. For nighttime, opt for a sleeper or a gown. The kimono-style ones that snap on the side are especially easy to get on and off. You’ll also want a few swaddles to help your baby feel secure and comfortable. It’s also nice to have a few special occasion outfits, such as one to wear home from the hospital and for photos or to meet family and friends. A hoodie or jacket is also handy to have, especially for cold weather. You’ll want a few sweaters, too, to add over a onesie and tee or pair of footies. Be careful not to overbundle baby, though; they can become too hot and start sweating quickly. Signs of overheating include flushed cheeks and fussiness. While it’s tempting to buy clothes in adorable prints, patterns and colors, remember that comfort should be your first priority. Fancy outfits can be itchy and scratchy, which will only make your baby uncomfortable. Stick to soft fabrics, such as organic cotton, and avoid textured or itchy materials like wool. When shopping for baby clothing, consider how sustainable the production and manufacturing process is. Buying clothing made with environmentally-friendly practices reduces the industry’s ecological footprint and supports local communities. It’s important to do your research when shopping for baby clothing, as different brands tend to run a little differently. Check out each brand’s specific sizing chart to determine where your child will fall within the range. Many parents also recommend picking up a few sizes up, as babies grow fast and it’s easier to move them into the next size before they outgrow an item than to deal with a tight fit. When in doubt, always visit a store in person to see how the pieces look in person. This will give you peace of mind that the items will actually fit your baby and prevent wasting money on items that won’t work.