Bereavement Blankets for Newborns
 

When I started working ~5 years ago, there was a need for these bereavement blankets. They are used when tiny newborns don't survive. We take pictures of them with hats on and in these cozy blankets.

They are made out of three 10" squares of flannel (front, back and pocket - folded in 1/2 diagonally) and ribbon for the ties. Layer: the front first, then the pocket, I usually pin the ribbons to both sides, then layer the back last. I pin all around and leave a space for turning. Watch out for those pins! Next I sew all around ~1/4" in and stitch 1/3 of the top of the pocket (catching the ribbon) from both sides and down. It will literally make a pocket for the newborn to be placed into. Lastly, I make a loop for the ribbons to slide through in the middle. Moms get to take home the pics, blanket and hat, as well as a memory box.

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Just too sad couldn't make one

It is a very special thing you do. It is a beautiful blanket and I know they comfort the parents. No one wants the one memory they will have of their child to be in an ugly hospital wrap. What a thoughtful and important task you preform. Thank you.

This is so nice of you to do for the families that loose a child! No one can be prepared for the lose of an infant and to know that someone else cared enough to do something for them when they were in their grief means more than anyone can imagine.

you are truly a compassionate and thoughtful person - I admire that

What a kind thing to do. I am sure many people are comforted by this thoughtful gesture.

How do you make the hats please.?

You are a very special person to implement this for the parents. It is devastating to loose a child. This validates their brief memories of their precious baby.

That is so wonderful that you do that. We had twin grandsons that were born at 21 weeks. They didn't survive and we were given little gowns and blankets. It was a very nice gesture. I would like to make some of them to donate to the hospital where the boys were born. Thanks so much for what you do, and for the instructions so that others can do as well. You are a blessing to others.

((hugs)) to you!

What's the best way to approach our local hospital to see if they would want some of these made? I bet I would cry over the first few, but I love this idea and would like to work on it locally.

Sad but beautiful! Nicely done.

yes very sad and beatuiful

So very sweet of you!!!!

Your story is so very sad and yet so thoughtful. Bless you for making these tiny quilts that offer some comfort to the grieving parents. I too would like to send you some hugs, you are a special person to make these!!

Great job and thank you for sharing, GOD Bless you
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

What a loving way to help parents that lose their little one!! God Bless!!!!

I used to make similar items. I donated through a chapter of Newborns in Need. You can mail directly to Newborns in Need or see if they have a chapter in your area. They will also supply you with patterns for bereavement items.

Having lost three little ones in the trimester of my pregnancy, I would have loved to have one of these. I make hats for newborns at Cullman Hospital, but haven't seen these. If you have time and have a pattern for these or know where I can get one, I would appreciate a PM. Thanks and GOD Bless you.

You are such a special person for doing this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What a thoughtful & kind thing for you to do. It's so sad that they are needed at all but I'm but I'm sure the parents get comfort from your kindness. Bless you for that.

This is so touching, but sad, how thoughtful of each one to do such a loving memory blanket.

Orangeroom, you are an angel!!! What a lovely and kind thing to do! God Bless you!

God bless you for what you are doing. When my sister delivered a stilborn child (50+ years ago) she never got to see or touch that baby she had loved and nurtured for 9 months. She was whisked away and.... When my granddaughter gave birth at 20 or 21 weeks the baby lived for 2 hours but she was held and loved. I stayed up all night to make her a dress and bonnet and she was buried in a special section of a local Catholic cemetery. What you are doing gives those grieving parents a tangible tribute to their loss. Thank you for doing this-though sad, it is truly a special thing to do for others.

you are special to do this.

I know the parents appreciate these. Couple ladies from the hospital auxiliaries donate these.

What a wonderful idea. Good for you.

What a great service you are involved in. I make a lot of charity things but I stay away from anything that is for a deceased child. I just can't handle it emotionally but God bless you for what you are doing.

How thoughtful you are. The parents will always remember your wonderful gesture.

My quilting group calls them fetal demise blankets. We crochet, knit, and/or make them of flannels and decorate with lace and bows, etc. and give them to the local hospitals for them to use as necessary. Some of our ladies don't participate but as someone who lost more than one baby I want to provide something like this for those births or stillbirths where nothing else is the right size. It's a small thing but appreciated by grief-stricken parents.

What a truly inspiring and thoughtful person you are to do this for the infant's family.

We lost our first born 3 years ago, he was stillborn at 36.4 weeks. He was wrapped in a knitted blanket and we were given one exactly like the one he had. It meant the world to us, and I will always keep it as a memory of our little angel Devin. So thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to those of you who take the time to do this for us.

Thank you for sharing this, I would love to show this to some sewing buddies as a community project for us this year. Thank you for your caring and thoughfullness!

Very special blankets, I'm sure the Parents appreciate them.

Such a beautiful and caring gesture to each family experiencing their grief. Blessings to you with your kind efforts.

Thank you for your show of comfort to grieving parents. The pattern suggestion is very helpful. Does the 10 in. square make it big enough?

That would have been lovely and touching for my baby that didn't make it. I know what you do means so much to parents. Thank you.

Oh my gosh. I don't know what to say.

You could try contacting the pastoral care department of a hospital that has maternity services and see if they have any services that support bereaved parents of premature babies or stillborn, and volunteer to contribute. If your local hospital does not have need of these, perhaps a children's hospital in your region has a program you can contribute to. This is a very special way to give back to your community and support those at a time of great grief. God bless everyone who does these services.

I had made gowns that where open in the back to make it early to dress the bady. Not putting the fabric over their head. Making the arms easy to put in. The hospital told us not to use fannel because the babies skin is so soft it would stick to the fabric and tear open. The hospital said to use 100% cotton. These are a great blessing for all.