6th Birthday Comfort Boxes

This year for Lily's 6th birthday, I decided to give two comfort boxes in her honor to the hospital where she was born... One for a boy and one for a girl. 

They are similar to the boxes I gave last year, except gender specific this time, so the items are a little different and I changed some of what's included.

As I shared with the nurses when I explained everything in my boxes, it's important to realize it's not the number that matters, but recognizing that each of the babies and families represented by these boxes is worth all we can pour into them. They are worth the keepsakes, the resources, and the acknowledgment that their baby matters. I do what I can and don't want to let the fact I can't always do as much as I wish to keep me from doing what I can.

The bows are sweet, aren't they? :)

Here is what was included in the Baby Boy Box with photos and descriptions:

-A journal to share pregnancy memories, their birth story, write letters to their baby, or anything else they want to share. (Blue for a boy. Writing has been so healing for me. And butterflies are symbolic of new life and special to me)

-A "Now I Sleep" CD, with instrumental tunes written specifically for parents who've lost a precious baby.

-A packet of tissues for their tears.

-Forget-Me-Not flower seeds to plant in honor of the baby they'll never forget.

-A lavender candle to light in remembrance of their baby.

-A baggie for their baby's beautiful hair. (with a tiny plastic baggie inside so the hair is kept safe)

-Lavender bath pearls to calm, sooth, and pamper them as they heal in the days ahead. (lavender is known to be calming and soothing, which is appropriate. I wanted to include a scent that is pleasant so when the parents smell it in the future, they are reminded of their baby)

-A copy of "When Hello Means Goodbye" to help them make important decisions and to bring comfort in the days ahead. I ask them to please, before leaving the hospital, read the pages about seeing and holding their baby, taking pictures, and gathering keepsakes. Also, the sections on decisions to be made, autopsies, funerals homes, burial or cremation arrangements, and memorial gatherings are important as well. I tell them I know that it will be painful and difficult to even think about these things, but I urge them to consider all their options. (One of the biggest reasons I give these boxes is to "think for them," to guide them in making decisions they later won't regret).

-A "Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope" information card.

-A "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" brochure.

-A beautiful print of a painting from a mother who also lost a baby.

-Information on one of the local to Raleigh infant loss support groups (with a mention of another local support group) and a page with information on each item included in the boxes (I forgot to take a picture of the page for the girl box)

-A teddy bear to fill their empty arms. (leaving the hospital with empty arms is excruciating, so hopefully this helps ease that ache just a bit)

And these are the items (with descriptions) of what was included in the Baby Girl Box:

-A journal to share pregnancy memories, their birth story, write letters to their baby, or anything else they want to share. (Pink for a girl. Writing has been so healing for me. And butterflies are symbolic of new life and special to me)

-A "Now I Sleep" CD, with instrumental tunes written specifically for parents who've lost a precious baby.

-A packet of tissues for their tears.

-A little lamb, which symbolizes innocence and purity, to fill their empty arms. (Perfect because Lily's name means purity and innocence and her stone has a lamb on it)

-A lavender candle to light in remembrance of their baby.

-Lavender soap petals to calm, sooth, and pamper them as they heal in the days ahead. (lavender is known to be calming and soothing, which is appropriate. I wanted to include a scent that is pleasant so when the parents smell it in the future, they are reminded of their baby)

-A "Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope" information card. 

-A "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" brochure.

-A beautiful print of a painting from a mother who also lost a baby.

-A copy of "When Hello Means Goodbye" to help them make important decisions and to bring comfort in the days ahead. I ask them to please, before leaving the hospital, read the pages about seeing and holding their baby, taking pictures, and gathering keepsakes. Also, the sections on decisions to be made, autopsies, funerals homes, burial or cremation arrangements, and memorial gatherings are important as well. I tell them I know that it will be painful and difficult to even think about these things, but I urge them to consider all their options. (One of the biggest reasons I give these boxes is to "think for them," to guide them in making decisions they later won't regret).

-A baggie for their baby's beautiful hair. (with a tiny plastic baggie inside so the hair is kept safe)

-Forget-Me-Not flower seeds to plant in honor of the baby they'll never forget.

-A “Remembering Heart” necklace, which has two parts, the tiny inner heart can be kept with their baby and the outer heart can be kept or worn by them.

These are the cards. The one on the left is for the boy box (that's the one we included in all the boxes last year) and the one on the right is for the girl box.

This is what was written on the inside of the cards. Something handwritten and personal.

I included a blog card so of they want to connect or want further resources and support, they can reach out.

Inside of the boy box. A butterfly sticker on envelope.

Inside of the girl box. A butterfly sticker on envelope.

There's enough room in the boxes so other keepsakes can be added.

With the group of nurses at the hospital when we delivered the boxes for Lily's birthday. :)

Sharing about the boxes.