Memory gift for baby that passed away.

kelbel2440 · August 2014

My coworker's neice's 4 month old baby passed away this last Tuesday most likely from SIDS. Though I don't know her, I'm very close with my coworker and she comes from a very tight family so this was an incredibly tragic event for them all. I would like to get a small gift for the mother of the child. I was thinking maybe an angel ornament or something of that sorts. Do you ladies have any ideas? My coworker and I have bonded as her grandson was born three weeks before my LO, so this all hits very close to home and is completely devastating!

momofmanyinthemitten · August 2014

I have a nest necklace with two pink pearls for my girls, one blue for my son, and one white for the baby I miscarried. I found it on etsy for $20.

MamaFantastic · August 2014

a necklace is a beautiful thought, and is surely a go-to memory gift for grieving parents... but in this situation i would not do a necklace because of the distance between you and the mom. if you were a family member or close personal friend, definitely.

i think your ornament idea is lovely. i'm personally not an "angels signify lost babies" kind of person, so i might gravitate more toward something that incorporates the baby's birth stone or says the baby's name. everything i read says parents who lose children enjoy hearing their lost baby's name spoken by others - as if to suggest the memory of the baby is still real and important and the life lived is worth speaking out loud.

Dixon813 · August 2014

I agree that a necklace (or piece of jewelry) might not be best since you aren't close with the mom. A friend of mine sent us a willow tree angel that was for "hope" when our triplets passed away and it was one of the most thoughtful gifts.

Honestly, anything that incorporates the baby - something with the baby's name - always means a lot. (With MP, I don't lean towards angels... It's not real enough for me. )

All that aside, know that any gesture will be appreciated to the mom (and even to those in the "outer circle" - you are a very thoughtful friend!

kelbel2440 · August 2014

It just breaks my heart thinking about how hard it must be. Her baby passed at the caregivers during the day so she wasn't even there. I'm sure it hits a lot harder now that I'm a mom too. What is the willow tree angel? I really appreciate the input as I was definitely wondering about an "appropriate" gift considering the lack of relationship I have with the mother.