Is there any guidance on temperature and how long babies can be kept after loss, does the guidance change with baby weight?

Written by Siân NessBereavement Consultant & Relationship Manager, Midwife
BSc (Hons) – Midwifery, RM 
MSc – Caring for Families Experiencing Perinatal Loss
Royal College of Midwives ‘Excellence in Bereavement Care’ Award Winner 2021
Honorary Officer for ‘Remember My Baby’ Charity
Instagram: sian_cuddlecot

This is a question we are frequently asked. However, as the baby has died, there is currently no definitive guidance available regarding the length of time a baby can remain on a CuddleCot cooling pad, either within hospital settings, mortuary care, or with funeral directors.

The evidence we do have supports the use of a CuddleCot within the framework of the “continuing bonds” theory of grief. This approach enables parents to spend precious time with their baby, get to know them, create memories together (including with wider family members), and parent their baby in a way that feels natural and right for them.

The CuddleCot can be used for babies of any gestation. The pre-term cooling pad is suitable for use from the earliest pregnancy losses and can support families experiencing miscarriage within Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) settings. The full-term cooling pad is designed to accommodate larger babies and can be used for infants up to approximately one year of age.

As with all bereavement care, the effectiveness of cooling and the rate at which post-mortem changes occur will vary according to individual circumstances. Factors including gestational age, the presence of infection, congenital anomalies, trauma, and the length of time since death may influence how effective cooling is in slowing post-mortem changes. Regardless of a baby’s size or gestation, regular assessment, sensitive communication, honest discussions regarding expectations, and individualised care planning remain essential to ensure families receive appropriate support throughout their time with their baby.

For many families, including those with specific religious or cultural requirements, having additional time with their baby can be invaluable in facilitating important family, faith, and remembrance practices. The use of a CuddleCot may help to create opportunities for these activities while respecting individual preferences and beliefs.

Trauma-informed bereavement care advocates for babies to remain with their parents wherever possible, with informed choice being central to the provision of high-quality bereavement support.

When a baby dies, parents often experience a profound loss of choice and control. Supporting families to make decisions that feel right for them can help restore some sense of autonomy during an incredibly difficult time. I believe it is important to have open, honest, and sensitive conversations with families about what to expect, including any physical changes that may occur. This allows them to feel informed and prepared, and in my experience, families generally reach their own decision about when the time feels right for their baby to be moved to the mortuary.

In practice, most families use the CuddleCot for anything from several hours to three or four days. However, this is not a fixed timeframe. Families who choose to take their baby home may spend longer with them. Within hospice settings, it is common practice to work within a seven-day timeframe, and families are usually informed of this from the outset.

With regard to temperature settings, CuddleCots are preset to 8°C, and we do not recommend altering this temperature. This setting is considered optimal for reducing microbial activity and slowing decomposition, while also ensuring that tissues do not become excessively cold or stiff.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Common Misconceptions About Cooling

CuddleCot vs other methods of cooling