Month: February 2025

When your baby dies, the decisions you make are some of the hardest you will ever have to make. Whether you choose to bury or cremate your child, a funeral ceremony provides a real opportunity for mourners of all ages to say goodbye and begin to find healing. While the idea of a child funeral might feel overwhelming, it is important to remember that thousands of parents before you have successfully navigated this difficult journey and there are many people willing to support you along the way. Assessing your children’s readiness to attend a funeral is a very personal decision. Children understand death differently depending on age and a funeral is often the first time they will have witnessed an event like this. Taking the time to explain what will happen in simple terms and allowing them to take a break if they need it is crucial. Encouraging siblings to participate in a ceremony is also something that can help with their grief and it may be beneficial to ask them to present a tribute to their sibling, but allowing them to do this on their own terms. If your children are attending a service where the casket will be on display it is important to prepare them ahead of time. Using pictures and stories from their childhood can help them understand what they will see and ensure they are not overly anxious. It is also helpful to reassure them that their sibling cannot see them or hear them at the funeral and that they will be in a safe place. If you are choosing a closed casket, it is also important to prepare your children for this in the same way by explaining that their sibling will be fully dressed, but not in any pain or fear and that they cannot feel cold. Choosing music and readings that were special to your child can provide a meaningful connection during the service. Including personal items such as favorite toys or a teddy bear can help with this as well. Allowing family members and close friends to offer eulogies and share memories is another way to create a meaningful ceremony. The rites of committal are the final step in your baby’s ceremony and you can ask that their coffin be hidden from view or removed completely from the room at this point. You can then choose to have the ashes buried at the crematorium, scattered in their garden of rest or collected and taken home. Whether you plan to have your child buried or cremated it is also important to think about what your family will do with their ashes after the service. There are many options available to you and you should do what feels right for your family. It is also worth considering how you will talk to your children about the ashes once they are back in your possession. This will probably require some more detailed explanation and discussion, but having this conversation in advance can help them better understand what has happened.

When it comes to baby clothing, the options are endless. But which brands have the most stylish designs, and which ones will stand up to frequent washings? Read on for a round-up of the best pieces to add to your newborn’s wardrobe. Closures like snaps, elastics and zippers can have a big impact on how easy it is to dress your little one. Look for garments with easy-to-use closures, as well as safety tabs and snaps that cover the ends of fasteners to prevent baby from getting them caught on objects. It’s also helpful to have a few outfits that are simple enough for quick changes, especially when your baby is wiggling around. Newborns grow quickly, so it’s important to get the right size. Check the label for recommended sizing, but keep in mind that babies can fit into sizes much larger or smaller than what the tag recommends. If possible, try on a few different items and consider whether you can envision the piece fitting your baby at their full-term weight and height. You can also rely on online reviews to help you gauge fit. From spit-ups to blowouts, baby clothes are often going to need frequent washing. A high-quality cotton fabric is a good choice because it can withstand a lot of wear and tear, and it won’t lose its shape or color with repeated washes. Look for cotton jersey, as it’s soft and stretchy enough for infants but still durable enough to hold up to many uses. Another option is to shop for clothes made from organic cotton, which has been grown without the use of chemicals that can irritate a baby’s sensitive skin. Look for clothing with GOTS or OEKO-TEX certifications to make sure you’re getting the highest quality fabrics. Despite their small sizes, it’s possible to find baby clothes that are as stylish as your own, thanks to brands like Zara, which has a wide selection of cute styles that veer on the childish side or have a more sophisticated look. GH staffers who’ve bought Zara clothing for their own children say the company’s styles are a great way to inject some personality into your little bundle of joy. If you’re looking for a more classic look, consider shopping for brands like Cloud Island, which sells soft and cozy sweaters and tees in neutral colors. The brand’s knit cotton jersey material is incredibly soft and stretchy, and GH analysts who’ve purchased clothing from the line for friends and family say it’s comfortable, warm and durable, and doesn’t show signs of wear after many washes. The company’s clothes are a bit on the pricey side, but they’re a good investment because you can expect them to last a long time, and you can pass them down or sell them through sites like Poshmark and ThredUP after your baby grows out of them.

Burial outfits can be a deeply personal and emotional aspect of the funeral process. By considering the deceased’s cultural background, religious beliefs and personal style, you can select attire that reflects their unique identity. If your loved one has left specific instructions about their funeral attire, or if they did not leave any instructions, it can be helpful to consult with a professional funeral director who can offer guidance and help you carry out your loved ones wishes. The first consideration when selecting burial clothing is the personality of your loved one. Did they prefer casual clothing, or did they prefer to dress more formally? A simple black dress can be a classic choice, and will exude elegance and solemnity. It can be adorned with a ribbon or floral arrangement for an additional element of beauty. Some modern burial garments are designed with false shirt fronts and other embellishments to resemble day wear or evening clothes. When it comes to choosing burial clothing for a male, a suit is usually the most appropriate choice. A dark suit with a crisp white shirt can provide a refined and dignified look. Shirt buttons can be replaced with rhinestones or pearls to add a touch of sophistication to the outfit. For a more traditional burial, a burial shroud is an option that many people choose. This type of wrapping is made from linen, and it is ecologically produced. The material is also biodegradable, which makes it ideal for a natural or green funeral. Many cultures and religions have a specific set of guidelines about how to dress the dead. For example, Muslim and Jewish faith traditions call for the body to be wrapped in a cloth known as a kafan or tachrichim, respectively. If your loved one has a particular culture or religious tradition that they wish to be honored with their burial attire, it is important to consult with a professional to ensure that the attire selected will be compliant with these customs. If your loved one wanted to be buried with a special piece of jewelry, such as a necklace or watch, it is important to let the funeral directors know about these wishes. It is a good idea to communicate with your family members about these wishes as well, as it can be difficult for them to remember at such a sad and trying time. Ultimately, the selection of burial clothing is a personal and sentimental task that should be carried out with the utmost care and respect. By following these tips and working closely with your funeral directors in Elba, NY, you can choose an outfit that honors the life of your loved one. Whether you choose to use an outfit from their wardrobe or to go with something more traditional, you can be confident that your loved one’s funeral will be a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.

A bride’s dress is often her most cherished wedding keepsake, but what happens to it once she no longer needs it? The good news is, many charities that accept gown donations give them new lives, helping brides find the perfect dresses at prices they can afford. While some charities have a specific focus like supporting cancer patients, others are general in scope and can help all women who don’t have the means to purchase new dresses at full price. In addition, many thrift stores and resale shops that sell used wedding dresses will take gown donations to make them available to budget-conscious shoppers who might not be able to afford a brand new dress. KEMP Wyre Forest Hospice, based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, is one such charity that takes dress donations for its Bridal Floor at the hospice’s Coventry Street Charity Shop. The funds raised from the sale of donated dresses go toward care and support services for individuals suffering from life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers. Dresses are either sold on the shop’s website or made available to a local network of bridal consultants to be given to brides-to-be who may not be able to afford a new wedding dress. “The feedback we get is really uplifting,” says the hospice’s community support specialist, Lisa Chapman. “People are so grateful to be able to have a gown that they can wear and love on their wedding day.” A bride-to-be in need of a gown will fill out an online form to request a dress and provide measurements. The charity then sends the requested dress to the bride, along with a veil and shoes. The charity will also resell the dress at its next Operation Wedding Gown event for military and first responder brides, which are held twice a year. The charity’s website includes a page that outlines their vetting process, with guidelines that include whether a dress should have been worn and how to prepare it for donation, including having it professionally cleaned. It’s worth doing your research as not all charities will accept every gown, even if it’s in excellent condition. In addition to local charities, look for buy/sell/trade groups on social media and online forums that can match you with someone in need of a dress. Those groups may have threads specifically for wedding dress donations, or the option to post your dress in the appropriate section. For instance, Shared Dream Dresses, a Facebook group started by former PEOPLE bride Stulgis, connects donors with brides-to-be who need a gown through a private group where members share photos and size information. The group’s 19,000 members have helped connect more than 200 pairs. The brides-to-be have had compelling stories, such as one woman who lost her original dress in a fire and reached out to the group for assistance. The pair successfully matched, and the dress was shipped to the bride. Donated dresses can also be repurposed into something else, such as a baby gown for a child who passed away in the hospital.