Children's funerals
Our funeral arrangers are experienced, professional and dedicated to helping parents, carers and families arrange a funeral when a child has died.
If need our help, call us 24 hours a day on 0808 303 2076.
If you’re not ready to speak to someone, you can tell us in an online form. We will call you back within 1 hour.
Children's funerals
Our funeral arrangers are experienced, professional and dedicated to helping parents, carers and families arrange a funeral when a child has died.
If need our help, call us 24 hours a day on 0808 303 2076.
If you’re not ready to speak to someone, you can tell us in an online form. We will call you back within 1 hour.
How we care for you
When you arrange a funeral with us we will listen to you, guide you and give enough time to make decisions about the funeral. When we bring your child into our care, our funeral arrangers will take your wishes into consideration and will always look after them in a dignified and respectable way.
Our children's funeral services are free
If the funeral is for a baby lost in pregnancy or a child below the age of 18 years old, our funeral services are free.
Our free services include:
- bringing them into our care and looking after them until the funeral
- our colleagues' time and experience through the arrangement and on the day of the funeral
- a choice of coffin
- embalming, if requested
- a hearse to take them to the funeral
- a limousine for family and friends
- use of our service room
You will not have to pay the cremation or burial fee, although some local authorities might ask you to pay and then claim the cost back. Our funeral directors will know what you have to do in your local area and will help you.
There are some things you might choose to pay for, including:
- flowers
- a non-standard hearse, for example a horse and carriage
- a non-standard coffin, for example a picture coffin
- a headstone
Speak to your funeral director to find out more about costs in your area.
Baby funerals
If you need to arrange a funeral for a still born baby or one younger than 24 weeks gestation, we can work with you and the hospital to make this possible. We understand how important this can be for some parents experiencing baby loss, and we will support you to make whatever funeral choices feel right.
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Visiting your child
When your child is in our care, we want you to feel comfortable visiting them. You can bring in any clothes, pyjamas, teddy bears, toys, photographs, music to play or special items you want us to keep with them.
You can spend time with them between 9am and 8pm, 7 days a week. All you have to do is let us know when you want to be there.
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Taking your child home
If you want your child to be at home before the funeral, your funeral director can help you with this. If they died in a hospital or hospice there is no rush to bring them to our funeral home. We can support you in keeping them there for a while.
If the coroner or procurator fiscal is involved we will work with them to bring them into our care.
Things to think about
When you meet our funeral arranger we will ask you to make some choices.
These will include:
- if it will be a burial or cremation
- where the service will be held
- who will conduct the service, for example a celebrant or religious officiant
- your choice of coffin
- music and reading choices
Arranging the funeral
A child's funeral can be kept small and intimate or a larger event with friends and family invited. Some families we've helped wanted the funeral to be a celebration of every event their child would miss. One mum wanted a princess funeral for her daughter. A dad wanted to carry his baby girl's coffin into the church as his way of walking her down the aisle. We've even set up a toy train track around the coffin of a young boy who loved trains.
Even though almost anything is possible, if you just want to keep it simple, that's okay. We will work with you to create the funeral that feels right.
Help with legal arrangements
We will help you with any legal paperwork you need to complete. We will also explain how to register the death and help you complete any other required documents.
The government does offer some financial support to families when a child has died.
Bereavement support
Coping with the death of a child can be extremely painful. There is no right approach to process your grief. If you need some help, take a look at our bereavement support guide. If you need more specialised support, contact any of the charities below.
Sibling support
We support everyone that has been affected by death, including siblings. Our bereavement guide shows how you can cope with the loss of a sibling. If you need additional bereavement support or counselling, please reach out to any of the charities below.
To find more support you can visit:
- Child Bereavement UK to get support as a bereaved sibling or family member. Call 0800 0288840 for support.
- Sands if you have lost a baby. You can reach them on 0808 1643332.
- Compassionate Friends to join a peer support group run by bereaved parents. You can call their helpline on 0345 1232304.
- The Lullaby Trust to find support if you have lost a baby or young child. They can be reached on 0808 8026868.
- Winston’s wish if you are a bereaved child, young adult of family member. Call their free helpline on 0808 8020021.
- Daddys with Angels if you are a bereaved dad. You can join their online group via Facebook or contact via their website and by live chat or send them an email.
Arrange a funeral
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Online
If you need to arrange a funeral for your child, you can find your local Co-op Funeralcare. If you want to contact us but don't want to speak to someone right now, you can complete our online form and we will call you back within 1 hour.
Help and advice
For more help and support after the loss of a child, we have some articles and advice to help.
