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Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from Oct. 9 to 15, with a focus on remembering babies who have died and supporting bereaved families. UK charity Teddy’s Wish offers free care packages to eligible recently bereaved parents and says friends and family can help by acknowledging the baby, checking in and continuing support beyond the first days of grief.
Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from Oct. 9 to 15, bringing attention to families affected by pregnancy and baby loss and to ways people can support them. UK charity Teddy’s Wish is using the week to highlight free care packages for eligible recently bereaved parents and the importance of remembering a baby and checking in after the first messages of condolence have passed.
Teddy’s Wish was founded by Jennifer and Chris Reid after their son, Edward Louis Reid, died from sudden infant death syndrome at three months old in April 2014. Jennifer Reid said a simple package from a friend — containing a book about baby loss, a candle and tea — stayed with her and helped inspire a later partnership with gifting company Don’t Buy Her Flowers.
The charity says its free packages are available to eligible recently bereaved parents in the UK following stillbirth or termination for medical reasons from 24 weeks’ gestation, neonatal death, or sudden infant death syndrome. Packages may include books about grief and baby loss, tea, biscuits, candles and other items. Where possible, the baby’s name is included. The charity says parents can contact it to request a package; friends and relatives can also buy one through Don’t Buy Her Flowers, which makes an annual donation from sales of Teddy’s Wish packages to the charity.
Don’t Buy Her Flowers founder Steph Douglas said the partnership, which began in 2020, was shaped by bereaved parents’ experiences. The company says the packages are intended as a practical expression of care, not a way to resolve grief. Baby Loss Awareness Week concludes with the Wave of Light at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, when families around the world light candles in memory of babies who have died.
Support Beyond the First Condolences
The week’s message is that support can matter well beyond the first days after a loss. Friends, relatives and colleagues may feel unsure what to say and avoid mentioning the baby, but Teddy’s Wish says acknowledging the loss and a parent’s grief can help counter the isolation many families experience.
That acknowledgement does not have to take the form of a gift. A personal message, a check-in in the weeks or months that follow, or remembering significant dates can show that the parent and baby have not been forgotten. A care package is one option, but the charity and company stress that it cannot make grief go away or substitute for ongoing human support.
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How the Teddy’s Wish Partnership Began
Jennifer Reid has said that after Edward died, well-intentioned flowers sometimes felt like another thing to look after when she was barely functioning. The care package from her former school friend felt different because it reflected what she might need. That experience prompted her to approach Douglas in 2020 about creating packages for bereaved parents.
Don’t Buy Her Flowers began in 2014 after Douglas received eight bouquets following the birth of her first child and questioned whether flowers were always the most helpful response. The business later began offering packages for difficult life events. Teddy’s Wish and the company say their baby-loss packages were developed with input from bereaved parents rather than based on assumptions about what families need.
Baby Loss Awareness Week brings together people affected by pregnancy and baby loss and organisations that support them. Its annual closing event, the Wave of Light, offers families a shared moment of remembrance, while the support promoted by Teddy’s Wish focuses on contact that can continue throughout the year.
“Sometimes simply showing that you remember and care can mean an enormous amount.”
— Jennifer Reid, co-founder of Teddy’s Wish
Eligibility and Individual Needs
The source information sets out the groups eligible for Teddy’s Wish packages, but does not specify how many packages are available, how quickly requests are fulfilled, or whether delivery times vary. Parents should contact the charity for current request details. The listed eligibility criteria also do not cover every form of pregnancy loss, so the source does not establish that all bereaved families qualify for a free package.
What feels supportive differs from person to person. The information provided does not suggest that a package, a particular phrase or a single check-in will suit every family. Friends and relatives may need to ask what would help and respect a parent’s wishes about contact and remembrance.
Wave of Light on October 15
The next scheduled event is the Wave of Light at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, the final day of Baby Loss Awareness Week. Families around the world are invited to light a candle in memory of babies who have died. Parents seeking a free package can contact Teddy’s Wish to ask about a request; people wishing to send one can find packages through Don’t Buy Her Flowers.
After the week ends, the practical message from Teddy’s Wish remains to keep showing up: acknowledge the baby, remember important dates where appropriate, and check in over time rather than assuming that support is no longer needed once the first wave of condolences has passed.
Key Questions
When is Baby Loss Awareness Week?
Baby Loss Awareness Week runs from Oct. 9 to 15. The week remembers babies who have died and highlights support for affected families.
Who can request a free Teddy’s Wish care package?
Teddy’s Wish says free packages are available to eligible recently bereaved parents living in the UK after stillbirth or termination for medical reasons from 24 weeks’ gestation, neonatal death, or sudden infant death syndrome. Parents can contact the charity for current request information.
What can a friend say to a bereaved parent?
The source advises that people do not need perfect words. A sincere acknowledgement of the baby and the parent’s grief, along with an offer of support, can communicate that the family has not been forgotten. It is also reasonable to ask what kind of help the parent would welcome.
How can people remember babies during the week?
The week ends with the Wave of Light at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. Families around the world light candles in memory of babies who have died. Friends and relatives can also check in and remember significant dates, while following the family’s wishes.
Source: rss
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