When a baby is stillborn

Once you start to talk about things it's like the burden is being lifted.

Marina and Ben Fogle share their experience of when their son, Willem, was stillborn.

You may find it helpful to see our resources on explaining stillbirth or miscarriage to a young child and saying goodbye to your baby or child

Latest

"We did the things that Fraser would have wanted us to do."

Caroline’s son and only child Fraser died aged 18 from a brain tumour in 2022. Caroline remembers a special Christmas photo of Fraser and shares how she and her husband Phil marked Christmas after he died.
Caroline

Caroline was supported by Child Bereavement UK in Glasgow after her son and only child Fraser died, aged 18, from a brain tumour in 2022.
Child Bereavement UK’s animation 'The Invisible Suitcase’ wins at Big Syn International Film Festival

Child Bereavement UK’s animation ‘The Invisible Suitcase’ was the joint winner in the Mental Health Charity film category at the 2023 Big Syn International Film Festival, London.
Christmas Concert Volunteer | London

4 December 2023 | 4-5 hours

Support for families

This film features children and their families who have attended Child Bereavement UK's Family Support Group in East London.
Parenting bereaved children

Parents talk about some of the issues they faced when looking after bereaved children, whilst grieving themselves, and what helped them.
A guide to supporting someone who is bereaved

A guide to supporting someone who is bereaved includes families supported by Child Bereavement UK alongside bereaved celebrities.
When someone dies through suicide

Melissa and Katherine and their families were supported by Child Bereavement UK after being bereaved by suicide.
When a twin baby has died

"I can wear the identity of being a bereaved parent rather than hide it." Vicky and John share their experience of when their twin baby, Cecilia, was stillborn.
Why support is needed

Bereaved families we have supported talk about what helped them after the death of someone important in their life.
When a parent has died

Young people we have supported talk about some of the difficulties they faced and what helped them after the death of their mum or dad.
One More Minute campaign films

Hear what bereaved families would say if they had one more minute with their special person who has died.

Telling a child that someone has died

It is important to tell a child of any age when someone important in their lives has died, and ideally this is done by someone who is closest to them.
Supporting bereaved children and young people

Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
Grieving for a child of any age

The agony of losing a child of any age is unparalleled. There is no age or point in time that makes it any easier. No parent expects to face the death of their child and no grandparent expects to lose their grandchild.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
When a grandparent dies

The death of a grandparent is often a child or young person’s first encounter with the death of someone important. Parents have a great deal to manage when their own parent or carer dies. There is the grief associated with their own loss, but also the reactions and responses of their children to the death of a grandparent.
Child Bereavement UK training

Child Bereavement UK designs and delivers training for professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Babies and young children have no understanding of the concept of death yet, long before they are able to talk, babies are likely to react to upset and changes in their environment brought about by the absence of a significant person.
Contact us

Contact details for our Helpline, departments and services.
When your baby dies

When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.
UK death & bereavement statistics

A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.

Short guidance films

Short films delivered by our support practitioners giving guidance on a range of bereavement topics. Read more

Books and resources

A list of books and resources relating to grief and bereavement and what may help. Read more

Others' experiences

Watch short films and read experiences of bereaved families and how support has helped them. Read more