We know that not every family may choose to use a CuddleCot or CuddleBlanket, but we do hope that every family is offered the option to use them when the need arises.
To help you decide what is right for you and your family, we have answered some common questions below from parents.
The CuddleCot device is offered to grieving parents so that they may spend extra time with their baby after they have died.
The CuddleCot keeps baby cool, allowing families the time to keep their baby close, create cherished memories, facilitate family visits, and provides time to make important arrangements without feeling hurried.
Each family will have slightly different wishes and will want their baby with them for different periods of time.
On average, the CuddleCot is used for 2 to 5 days, but we believe any decision should always be family led, supported by health professionals.
The CuddleCot gently cools baby and helps to slow down the natural changes that occur after death.
The baby is gently laid on the CuddleCot cooling pad; both the baby and the mat are then wrapped in a blanket so that parents can comfortably and confidently hold their baby, without fear of temperature fluctuations.
No, the CuddleCot moves distilled water around the cooling pad to gently cool baby to a temperature that won’t harm them.
Parents can comfortably hold their baby when they are wrapped with the CuddleCot pad and blanket.
Ask your healthcare professional how to do this.
They can find training at: CuddleCot.com
Firstly, there is no right or wrong way to spend this precious time with your baby. It is entirely a unique decision and an individual choice made by each family.
- This time is all about building connection and making memories. Some families choose to use the time to bathe and dress their baby in a favourite outfit, take foot and handprints, read stories to their baby, play music to their baby, and to take family photographs and videos of themselves and family with baby.
- Some families choose to invite family and friends to meet their baby, for example grandparents and siblings; building connections with their wider family.
- The gift of time can also be useful in allowing parents to recover from the labour and birth process, effects of medication and exhaustion.
- Many parents use this time to make decisions about investigations and start to make some funeral care arrangements. Parents find comfort in keeping their baby close to them, in their room rather than their baby being cared for in a mortuary.
You can find ideas for memory making in our Family Support pages at: cuddlecot.com
Speak to your healthcare professional about the options available to you.
Yes, the CuddleCot makes a low humming noise as it keeps the pad cool, like a desk fan.
(Do not cover the CuddleCot machine or vents)
Unlike a traditional cold cot, the CuddleCot enables families to hold their baby in their arms without compromising baby’s condition and causing fluctuations in temperature.
The CuddleCot works by keeping baby cool to preserve their condition, whilst not too cool that the parents can’t hold baby.
When a baby is taken out of a cold cot, their body temperature can be affected. This may affect how the baby looks and can cause a change to their overall appearance. This can shorten the length of time families spend with their baby as parents find these changes distressing.
The CuddleCot can be used with any cot or bassinet, at home or within a hospital or funeral home setting.
Some parents choose to take baby home with them and use the CuddleCot to keep them close by whilst they make funeral arrangements.
Speak to your healthcare professional about the options available to you.
To talk to a counsellor for free, or to find further resources and organisations who can help you, visit: CuddleCot.com/grieving
Yes, you can fnd information on how to take baby home using the CuddleCot here.
The CuddleCot includes two sizes of cooling pad for different gestations.
The CuddleCot offers families discreet cooling in any cot or bassinet.
Baby loss charities that can offer bereaved families support before, during and after loss
4 Louis support families through miscarriage, stillbirth and child loss.
They fundraise for CuddleCots, CuddleBlankets and Bereavement Boxes.
Maggie's Stillbirth Legacy (UK)
Sarah Bernasconi-Parsons's daughter Maggie was born sleeping in June 2015. Sarah wanted to do something to keep her daughter’s legacy alive, which is when she launched Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy
They fundraise for CuddleCots and CuddleBlankets, raise awareness and support families.
Remember Rufus (UK)
"Our mission to make sure every family has the option to use a Cuddle Cot, either in hospital or at home, to have the time to say the hardest goodbye "
They fundraise for CuddleCots for NHS hospitals.
Luca Foundation (UK)
"Our mission is to provide a CuddleCot for every maternity unit in the UK"
They fundraise for CuddleCots, spare parts and training.
Féileacáin (Ireland)
Féileacáin was formed by a group of bereaved parents to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth.
They fundraise for CuddleCots, memory Boxes, Imprints So Precious, Remmebrance Candles & more.
US based charities
Ashlies Embrace (US)
Erin and Anthony Maroon’s first child, Ashlie, was stillborn at full term in October 2015.
Ashlie’s Embrace provides CuddleCots to medical facilities across the United States to help support families experiencing stillbirth or infant loss.
Listen to founder Erin as she talks about the mission of Ashlie's embrace: Spotify / Apple podcasts
Mothers of Held Angels (US)
MOHA provides comfort boxes to grieving families in the hospital including “Day of Loss Resources” explaining what to expect in those initial days and ways to make memories with their babies.
It is their mission to provide a CuddleCot and CuddleBlanker to as many hospitals as possible
The Helen James Foundation (US)
Rain-Bowie Foundation (US, Louisiana)
Rain-Bowie's mission is to fundraise so they can "fill every hospital in Louisiana with an ample amount of CuddleCots and help beautiful families with fertility finances."
Chandler & Paisley Skies (US)
Shortly after Chandler and Paisely passed away, friends began to send Dusty and Michelle pictures of brilliant pink and blue skies. Soon, these skies became known as #chandlerandpaisleyskies
They are non-profit foundation established to place CuddleCots in US hospitals, to help bereaved parents have more time with babies.
Born Sleeping Foundation (US)
The Born Sleeping Foundation started as a way to honor the memory of our baby, Wesley, who passed away as a full term baby in April 2021. The Foundation’s goal is to donate a CuddleCot to a new hospital every year in Wesley’s memory.
The PennyMae Project (US)
Canadian based charities
Maxwell George Fleming Foundation
"The Maxwell George Fleming Foundation’s mission is to provide hospitals in Canada with CuddleCot’s™, which allow bereaved families experiencing the loss of an infant the ability to spend more physical time with their child and to ensure all hospitals in Canada have access to a CuddleCot™"
Instagram: @mgffoundation
Facebook: MGF Foundation
Spainish based charities
El Legado De Oliver
Natalie and Manuel raise funds to donate CuddleCots to Spanish hospitals. Their initiative aims to provide other families with the precious gift of time that they, unfortunately, didn't have the chance to have with Oliver.
Do you need to speak to someone now?
24 HOUR SUPPORT LINES
| Samaritans | 116 123 (UK) | For anyone, at anytime, for any reason |
| Childline | 0800 1111 | Support for 18yrs & under and their relatives |
| Silverline | 0800 470 8090 | Support for the over 50's |
Useful links: National Specialist Support Services
The Good Grief Trust - Find local support to you
Cruse - Largest national charity for the bereaved
London Friend - Support and counselling for the LGB&T community
Winston's Wish - Specialist support for bereaved children and their families
Grief Encounter - Support for bereaved children and their families
Sue Ryder - Online Community and Online Bereavement Counselling
Sudden - Support for people bereaved by sudden death
Muslim Bereavement Support Service - Support for Muslim women after the death of a loved one
Jewish Bereavement Support Services - Support for the Jewish community after a death
Sudden Arrhythmic Death - Advice and support after Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome
Drug and Alcohol Addiction - Support for those who have lost someone through substance misuse.
Road Peace - The sudden, unexpected and traumatic experience of a road death or serious injury can be emotionally overwhelming. RoadPeace is here to help you.
Breaking Bad News - Advice on breaking bad news to someone with an intellectual disability
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse - Help guiding families through Inquiries including Domestic Homicide Reviews and Mental Health Reviews, Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiries and other reviews.
Support after Suicide Partnership - Advice and guidance to all those affected by suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - Helping overcome isolation of those bereaved by suicide (over 18)
War Widows - Advice and help to all those who have been widowed in conflict since WW2
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