Supporting a child
If you have other children, it’s natural to feel concerned about how to talk to them about the death of their baby brother or sister and how they may respond.
A child’s understanding of death varies depending on their age and developmental stage, but all children need:
By being open, supportive, and consistent, you can help your children process the loss in a healthy and age-appropriate way.
The following websites contain helpful advice on how to explain the loss of a baby to children:
A child’s understanding of death varies depending on their age and developmental stage, but all children need:
- Honest and clear information? about what has happened. Avoid phrases like “gone to sleep,” which can be confusing or frightening.
- Reassurance? that it’s okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or even numb — and that different people may feel different things at different times.
- Stability and routine ?to help them feel secure. Try to keep their daily life as familiar and predictable as possible.
By being open, supportive, and consistent, you can help your children process the loss in a healthy and age-appropriate way.
The following websites contain helpful advice on how to explain the loss of a baby to children:
- Sands ‘Supporting children’
- Tommy’s ‘Support for siblings after a neonatal death’
- Child Bereavement UK ‘Explaining miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn baby to young children’
- Archie Foundation supports parents and schools to help bereaved children manage their grief through resources, information and guidance.