There really is no right or wrong way to honor your child. Do what feels right or is best for you and your family.
There is also no timeframe, and some years you may do more than others, or nothing at all but remember. That is ok.
This is your journey in a unique parenthood.
Some of these suggestions may not work for your family or beliefs, some may be just what you were searching for.
Either way, we would love you to add your rituals and ideas in the comments.
Related Posts:
- 7 Ways To Honor An Angel Baby
- 10 Ways To Honor Your Miscarried Baby On Their Due Date
- 13 Ways to Honor Your Child’s Memory Online
- 10 Ways To Honor Your Friend’s Child Who Died
Here are 40 special ways to honor your child:
Sponsor a child in need who shares your child’s birthday
Make a memory Shadow Box
Take memorial pictures at cemetery or cremation site or with urn
Set up prayer and remembrance flags
Start a support group for other grieving parents
Adopt an animal from a shelter
Make a scrapbook/photo scrapbook of items worn/used or bought for child
Make or buy a personalized piece of jewelry with your child’s name, date or initial
Get a tattoo of your child (name, photo, date)
Take photos of something in nature that help you feel closer to your angel (light, butterflies, flowers, dragonflies, etc…)
Collect an art piece that reminds you of your love for your child
Make a charitable contribution in your child’s name to your favorite charity or organization
Collect candles with scents that remind you of your child
Create a place in your home for your child’s special things
Purchase and name a crater on the moon after your child
Name a star after your child (unofficial, but still cool)
Start a charity or non-profit to help others in your situation
Keep a blog and write your heart. You can even make it private if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your journey with others
Participate in March of Dimes walk in their name
Speak to your hospital about starting or being involved with the bereavement support program available
Order a Molly Bear
Get a custom portrait done (available for babies at any age)
Plant a tree
Donate memory boxes to your local hospital
Donate to a local charity in their name, like Ronald McDonald House or March of Dimes
Do a butterfly release
Take a creative photography course
Order a Certificate of Life
Miscarriage Certificates of Life (UK)
Speak their name to anyone willing to listen
Sign up for a creative workshop for grieving mothers
Celebrate their birthday, in a big or small way, whatever you might feel comfortable with
Collect little things here and there that remind you of them
Attend a concert
Write a letter to them
Send off water lanterns at a nearby lake or beach in their memory
Take a creative writing course, or just start writing
Order a personalized baby memorial candle
Plant a garden (in your front/backyard or community)
We started a non-profit, Dillon’s Run in honor of my son who died. So far we have given away over $20,000 to help kids with athletic and educational needs. We live in a small town and each graduating senior high school student that fills out a scholarship form gets a scholarship. I have done bbq’s, bake sales, t-shirts, and this year am making jellies and relishes for the Christmas Bazaar in my town. It helps keep his memory alive and help children in need.
Thank you for the ideas! Alex passed away July 22, 2019 suddenly in a mowing accident. He was 17. He was a fun teenager and he wore funny t-shirts every day. (Literally every single day). People knew that about him. His former middle school declared April 1 as “Alex Prochaska Day” and asked the students to wear funny shirts in his honor and share a laugh. Of course, schools were closed because of the quarantine so I thought it would be forgotten….. but, it didn’t matter! They did it through pictures and social media instead! My work also got involved. That day I walked in to work and every person had a funny tshirt on. All day I got texts from people in their shirts, letting me know they were thinking of us and if Alex. Phone calls, social media… it was really awesome! There are other things we’ve done, but that one really blessed me and I wanted to share in case it sparks an idea for someone else.
Thank you for such a great way to honor a child. My nephew passed almost 8 weeks ago with no cause of death. He was such an active and happy young man. I am trying to help plan a memorial and some kind of birthday tradition to keep him close to us. His birthday is this Friday. Thank you for sharing! This really helped!