by Wendy Jacobson 

 Image by Ray Hennessey*

"The pain of losing a child is not something you can explain. It follows you around like a gray cloud above your head, but you have to choose to see the sunlight on the cloudiest of days." - Tracy, originally published on Facesofloss.com

The death of a child is unimaginable and unbearable. Grief is often accompanied by heartbreak or paralyzing shock. The loss of such a young, precious being can disrupt the natural order of life. Unfortunately, countless people endure such grief every day of their lives.

Amidst the throes of sorrow and suffering, planning a funeral can come with considerable difficulty. Choosing a small urn for your baby or young child might feel like an excruciating experience. It is, but you are not alone. Hopefully, with time, rays of sunshine will surface and diminish the dark moments of your unique grief. Unique baby urns and cremation urns for infants can become loving tributes to their memory and your time with them. They can remind you of the time you spent together and provide you with something that allows you to cherish their life. Whether you decide on a memorial keepsake or an urn designed for them, you'll find a wide range of custom baby urns and custom infant urns that can make the process a little easier.

If you have chosen cremation as the final form of memorial for your child, there are a few considerations and decisions to be made. Many of us fail to think about how it will feel to receive the ashes after cremation, or how it might feel to see and walk by the urn each day. You might also wonder whether you should bury the urn or keep a small portion of ashes, instead, to treasure in the form of jewelry. In this guide, we take a close look at some of the most notable considerations to keep in mind while exploring infant cremation urns for your child, as well as some of your options for preserving your child's ashes. Keep reading to learn more.

Urn Characteristics and Considerations

There are many decisions that only a parent can make, but making any of those decisions in the wake of such an unbearable loss can seem like a difficult challenge. Should you decide to display your child's cremation urn in your home, there is a strong possibility that it will bring you comfort and closeness. Others may find the physical reminder a bit more challenging to bear on a daily basis. Before deciding whether you'll display your child's urn, you must mentally prepare for the phone call informing you that the cremated ashes are ready to be picked up. Find valuable insight on this topic by reading our blog article: "What to Expect When You Receive Cremation Ashes."

There are a number of resources online that might be helpful to you and your journey. Many people have discovered assistance and comfort through Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope or Baby Loss Comfort. These websites are just some of many where parents can share stories of loss and gain support from compassionate communities. At OneWorld Memorials, we have many helpful guides to help you find solace and figure out the next steps. Reach our article "When The Unthinkable Happens" to learn more.

Child cremation urns are available in a wide variety of shapes and themes. There are many online suppliers that can provide inspiration for a meaningful remembrance of your precious angel. OneWorld Memorials offers a selection of infant cremation urns in multiple colors and sizes. If you decide to keep only a nominal amount of ashes, our Teddy Bear Cremation Urn perfectly captures the innocence and playfulness of childhood. Each teddy bear urn features a beautifully hand-etched teddy bear on the front of the urn and is made from polished brass. The "In Our Hearts" Infant Cremation Urn features a heart shape, to memorialize the love you feel for the deceased. This heart-shaped cremation urn features a shimmering, pearlescent finish and comes with a cherry wooden stand. If you add a special inscription, our custom engraving services provide ample room for the baby's name, birthday, and a meaningful message.

Another option is to keep a nominal amount of ashes in a cremation keepsake or cremation jewelry. Cremation keepsakes, like our Infant Cremation Photo Urn, hold a varying amount of ashes but are meant to provide a beautiful resting place that doesn't look like a traditional urn. Pieces of cremation jewelry hold very small amounts of ashes but allow you to bring your loved one wherever you go. For some, it can be very important to have that person or child with them at all times. Options for cremation jewelry range from necklaces to bracelets and can come in inconspicuous designs that aren't as obvious to others that the piece of jewelry holds the ashes of your loved one.

However you choose to memorialize your little one, his or her imprint will be left in this world and in your heart. Though their life was too brief, child cremation urns allow the memories to endure in a tangible way.

Wendy Jacobson is a freelance writer living in Minneapolis with her husband, two kids and dog. She helped market her mother's book, "Hands Off My Hope: Life Lessons on My Journey with Breast Cancer," at the request of her mom, who died two weeks after publishing it in 2008. She also is the editor of Minneapolis Happening, a digital lifestyle magazine about what's happening in Minneapolis and the surrounding area.