What To Do When Someone Loses a Baby
The loss of a baby—whether during pregnancy or as an infant—is one of the most devastating experiences a family can face. Sadly, 1 in 4 women in the United States will experience a miscarriage or infant loss. For grieving parents, the pain is often compounded by loneliness, as others may not know what to say or how to offer support.
So what can you do when someone close to you loses a baby?
Acknowledging Their Loss
The most important thing you can do is acknowledge it. A woman becomes a mother the moment she learns she is pregnant, and the loss of her baby is no different than losing any other loved one. Saying the baby’s name, expressing sympathy, or simply letting them know you’re thinking of them shows that their child is remembered and cherished.
A thoughtful gesture—such as a sympathy card, a phone call, or a remembrance gift like our Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Gift Box—can provide comfort during such a painful time.
Being Sensitive & Supportive
Grieving parents often hear phrases like “everything happens for a reason” or “you’ll have another baby.” While well-intentioned, these words can feel dismissive. Instead, try to simply listen, acknowledge their grief, and offer compassion. Remember, it’s not just the mothers who grieve—fathers and siblings feel the loss deeply too.
Avoid comparing their loss to your own struggles, and if you’re expecting or caring for little ones yourself, be mindful of how you share that around someone grieving. Sensitivity goes a long way.
Checking In, Again and Again
Support doesn’t end after the first week. Grief lingers long after the flowers have wilted. Check in days, weeks, months—even years later. Remember important dates, such as their baby’s due date or “angelversary,” and let them know their little one is not forgotten.
Simple acts of kindness—bringing a meal, sending a message, or surprising them with a remembrance token—can be incredibly healing.
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month
In October of 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. His words still ring true today:
“When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them.”
Each October, families around the world unite in remembrance, raising awareness for the millions who silently grieve. On October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, candles are lit across the globe in honor of these little ones gone too soon.
Sending a Sympathy Gift of Remembrance
One way to show support is through a thoughtful remembrance gift. Our Pregnancy and Infant Loss Condolence Gift Box includes five personalized seed packets, a garden marker, a miniature watering can, and an engraved river stone with comforting words. It’s a tender way to say, I see your grief, I honor your baby, and I am thinking of you.
Even though their little one was only carried for a moment, they will be loved for a lifetime. Sending a remembrance gift is a meaningful way to share love, light, and lasting comfort.
