There are many different types of burial garments available, but one important consideration when selecting one is the age of the deceased baby. Depending on the size of the baby, older infants can wear regular-sized gowns, while babies born before full-term will need smaller garments. It can be difficult to decide what to buy, especially since choosing the right outfit for a newborn is so emotional. If you are not sure what style to choose, ask your funeral director for help.
A wonderful way to make sure that a family has a beautiful handmade garment is through a charity called Angel Gowns. The Angel Gowns Project repurposes donated wedding gowns to make beautiful burial gowns for babies. Each gown can become as many as 10 little baby garments! To help these families, the Angel Gowns Project requires a monetary donation for each wedding gown donated. This helps the project pay for the expenses of shipping the gowns to volunteer bridal dress makers, and to deliver the finished baby gowns to the parents. This way, a woman who does not have a wedding dress can “sponsor” a dress for $100 and give her baby a beautiful burial garment.
The religious beliefs of the deceased person should be taken into consideration before selecting a burial gown. Some religions have strict dress and hairstyle rules, so it’s important to check with the church leaders. Among other religions, Buddhists dress their dead in their everyday clothing, while Theravada Buddhists dress their deceased in white clothes to symbolize virtue and the death of a soul. However, there are no uniform standards for the dress of the dead, and there is a range of funeral gowns available.
Another great way to help is to donate a baby’s burial gown. Many charities will accept donated blankets, baby gowns, and caps. If you’re a crafty person, you can crochet a matching burial gown for a preemie. You can also donate a baby’s clothing from an old wedding to a non-profit organization that donates the gowns to the hospital. You can also donate a baby’s gown to a charity to honor the memory of the beloved one.
Funeral clothing for a green burial must be biodegradable. If the deceased died in a natural environment, burial clothing should be made of natural fibers. Avoid elastic waistbands, nylon threads, synthetic lining, and zippers. These materials are not biodegradable, and may even make the body difficult to move. In addition, there are also restrictions in place in some areas regarding jewelry, as well as undergarments.
You can also choose to wear a shoe for the deceased. This is an option, although some families like to see the dead person fully dressed. It may be difficult to remove a pair of shoes, but the deceased person’s favorite shoes may be a good choice. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to consider how the deceased would look in the shoes they had on while alive. Alternatively, you can wear socks and let the funeral director know if you prefer.