For a lot of us, Christmas is a magical, beautiful time of year. After the loss of a little one, we anticipate the time with trepidation and sadness.

Christmas is all about family, and a significant member is missing and that's hard enough to take. But additionally, Christmas is all about children. We celebrate the holy birth, the perfect child. We see images of Santa, the toys, all childhood joys. It all reminds us of the plans we had for this Christmas and the ones to come. The plans that will no longer be. But there can still be joy at Christmas.

FREE Christmas E-Card

If you would like to send a FREE Christmas E-Card to someone who may be dealing with the grief of the loss of their baby, click here.



Everyone grieves and celebrates differently. Hopefully you will find ideas in this list that will help make your season a little more merry.

1. Even though your baby is not with you, your baby will always be your child. And doing things for our kids always makes us feel good. If you had a special plan for this year that will still be possible to implement, do it. Do it in memory and celebration of the life of your child.
2. Buy a special ornament to commemorate your baby, that you can put up every year and can be a way of including your child's memory into your festivities.
3. Buy a gift or make a donation to a needy child or children's home.
4. Give gifts from your child to close friends/family that are grieving the loss too.
5. Take the time you need to deal with your emotions when they arise. Bottling emotions is not healthy and tends to result in a burst that becomes more difficult to deal with.
6. Understand there may be particular celebrations or family members and events that you may not be comfortable with this year. Be honest with yourself and family and make arrangements to celebrate in a way that is comfortable to YOU.
7. Be mindful that any act of commemoration may bring on strong emotions. These are understandable. But many people feel better after having gone through it, feeling closer to their child and creating a special memory to look back on.
   
8. In some cases, parents feel that there is no other option but to skip the holidays this year. Be guided by your own heart.