Our Memory Boxes
We were provided with an empty memory box by the midwife immediately after Abbie’s delivery. She took hand and footprints and a lock of Abbie’s hair as keepsakes for us. We had planned to buy a memory box after we had left hospital, but this removed the emotional trauma of searching for one at a time when we were consumed with grief. For this we were extremely grateful.
From our experiences following Abbie’s death and the keepsakes we bought that gave us comfort that now make up Abbie’s memory box, and by researching similar projects in other areas of the country, we have put together a box of keepsakes and ideas that we hope will help parents who find themselves in this situation.  Our memory boxes (pink memory box for girls and blue memory box for boys) include the following:
- 2 identical teddies. One to go to rest with baby and one for parents to keep close
- 2 soft blankets. One to nurse baby in and one for parents
- Hand in the Heart. One part for baby to hold and the other part for parents
- A candle to light for baby on anniversaries
- A small bottle of lavender oil for healing and sleep
- A packet of forget me not seeds to plant in the garden or at baby’s grave
- Small organza bags to keep hospital tags, locks of hair, etc
- ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ book
- A clay hand and footprint kit
- A card to write a message to baby
- An information leaflet for parents about the contents of their box, suggestions, and sources of support
We also provide ‘Early Loss Memory Boxes’ which include similar content to the memory boxes above, but are smaller boxes and have smaller teddies and blankets inside.
We hope this small gift to parents will provide them with some comfort at this devastating time.
