Headstone Quotes About Children

Quotes about children serve two kinds of memorial: a stone for a child who died far too young, and a stone for a parent or grandparent whose children were their whole world. These words are gentle enough for both.

Short epitaphs

• Forever our little one.
• Too loved to be forgotten.
• Our children were her greatest joy.
• Held in our hearts forever.
• A little while with us, forever with God.
• His greatest treasure was his family.

Scripture

• Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)
• Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD. (Psalm 127:3)
• He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. (Isaiah 40:11)
• For this child I prayed. (1 Samuel 1:27)

Public-domain poetry and prose

• Trailing clouds of glory do we come. (William Wordsworth, 1807)
• Heaven lies about us in our infancy! (William Wordsworth, 1807)

For a child's grave

Short, soft words work best on a small stone. Many parents choose a single line with the child's name and one date or two. See headstone wording for a baby and infant and children's granite memorials.

For a parent

For a mother or father, a line such as "Her children rise up and call her blessed" (Proverbs 31:28) honours a life spent raising a family.

Designs to pair

• A lamb — see lamb meaning.
• A teddy bear — see teddy bear meaning.
• Children's names listed for a parent — see listing children's names on a headstone.
• A child's drawing engraved — see a child's drawing on a headstone.

A note on sources

Quotations here are scripture (King James Version) or works in the public domain, alongside original lines you're free to use. If you choose another quotation, check who wrote it and whether it is still under copyright before it is engraved.

Key Takeaways

• Mark 10:14 is the classic verse for a child.
• Psalm 127:3 calls children a heritage of the Lord.
• Wordsworth's line is public domain.
• Children's names can be listed on a parent's stone.

Next Step

See headstone wording for a baby and headstone wording for a grandchild.