Suggestions of how to spend the time time provided by the CuddleCot
Some families choose to use a CuddleCot after their baby has died.
The CuddleCot keeps baby cool, allowing families to keep their baby nearby, create cherished memories, facilitate family visits, and provide time to make arrangements without feeling hurried.
What should I do with the time?
There is no right or wrong way to spend this precious time with your baby.
Some families choose to use this time to dress their baby in a favourite outfit, bathe their baby, read stories, play music, and take photographs and videos with their baby.
Some parents choose to invite family and friends to meet their baby, for example grandparents and siblings.
Hand and foot prints
Prints can be taken using ink, paint or using inkless kits, from around 14 weeks gestation.
Ask your midwife about the resources available in your hospital.
Prints can be photographed and used to create artwork, jewellery, tattoos and more
We recommend storing originals within an envelope in a dry cool area and only display replicas in case of damage
Some families also choose to photograph the process to remember later
Every health care facility will have different resources and therefore the methods of memory making available may differ. Talk to your midwife or nurse about the resources available where you are.
Photography
Photographs can be taken throughout the time that a family is with their baby.
Some families may also opt for their own photographer to attend or use the volunteer led non-profits such as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (US) and Remember My Baby (UK) who can offer free bereavement photography.
Consider dressing baby in a special outfit, taking family photos, and using things like teddies, wedding rings, trinkets, blankets, memory box items, or anything of significance in the photos.
3D Casts
3D casts allow a family to have an exact replica of their baby's hand(s) or feet.
Casts can be taken from around 23 weeks gestation and require a two stage process, the first aspect is taking a mold from baby's foot or hand, and the second is filling the mold to create a cast.
Casts enable families to to look at the intricacies of their baby and recall exactly how big (or small) they were.
It can be common for these to be added to a frame but some families prefer to have refrain from this so they can still handle them.
Some families choose to have them encapsulated in resin so they are held inside something clear. Both methods also provide ways to combine other personal items with the casts.
Every health care facility will have different resources and therefore the methods of memory making available may differ. Charities like Judah's Cloud and Forever Finley can help to take casts where available.
Talk to your midwife or nurse about the resources available where you are.
Ask about the options available to you
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to spend this precious time with your baby.
Whatever you choose to do with the time given by the CuddleCot, it is up to you to decide what is right for your family.
Every health care facility will have different resources and therefore the methods of memory making available may differ.
Talk to your midwife or nurse about the resources available where you are.
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."
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)
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.
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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