Headstone for a Stillborn Baby

When a baby is stillborn, parents carry a love that had so little time to be seen by the world. A memorial gives that love a place — and gives your baby a name that others can read and remember.

Wording ideas

• Born sleeping.
• Born into heaven.
• Held for a moment, loved forever.
• Our little star.
• So small, so loved.
• We held you for a moment; we'll hold you in our hearts forever.

You can use a single date — the day your baby was born and died — and their full name, even if they weren't named until after birth.

Design ideas

• Tiny footprints or handprints from the hospital keepsake, engraved exactly — see fingerprint engraving.
• A small heart-shaped or rounded marker.
• A lamb, star, moon or butterfly — see lamb meaning.
• A teddy bear — see teddy bear meaning.

Where babies are laid to rest

Many cemeteries have infant or babies' sections, often with lower fees and size rules for markers. Some families place their baby in a parent's or grandparent's plot, or choose cremation and a garden memorial at home. Ask the cemetery about options and any rules before ordering. See infant and children's memorials.

Adding a baby to a family stone

If your baby is buried with other family members, their name can be added to the family headstone or a small separate marker placed in front. See listing children's names on a headstone.

Support and remembrance

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Canada and the US, when many families light a candle at 7 p.m. Hospital bereavement teams, perinatal loss support groups and your doctor can connect you with support. There's no rush to choose a memorial — take the time you need. See memorial ideas after a miscarriage.

Key Takeaways

• "Born sleeping" is a gentle, widely used phrase.
• Hospital footprints can be engraved exactly.
• Many cemeteries have infant sections.
• October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Next Step

See headstone wording for a baby.