# Arranging a funeral for a baby or child

> When a baby or child dies, there's help with costs across the UK. England's Children's Funeral Fund covers burial or cremation fees and up to £300 for a coffin. Wales waives council fees and offers £500. Scottish councils don't charge burial or cremation fees. Northern Ireland's Child Funeral Fund pays a lump sum. None is means-tested.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/funeral-for-a-baby-or-child/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

We're so sorry that you're reading this. When a baby or child dies, there's no right way to feel and no need to rush. This guide sets out your choices, the paperwork, the financial help available in each part of the UK, and the organisations that can support you. Take it one step at a time, and lean on the people around you.

## Key points

- **There's usually no need to rush.** You can take time to be with your baby or child and decide what feels right.
- **Hospital bereavement staff** can help with memory-making, paperwork and funeral options.
- **Stillbirths** (after 24 weeks) must be registered: within 42 days in England and Wales, 21 days in Scotland, and up to one year in Northern Ireland.
- **Burial and cremation fees are covered or waived** for under-18s across the UK. None of the schemes is means-tested.
- **Losses before 24 weeks** don't have to be registered, but a funeral is still possible. England and Scotland offer commemorative certificates.
- **Parents can take parental bereavement leave**, with pay if eligible.

## In hospital

Most hospitals have a **bereavement midwife** or **specialist bereavement nurse**. They can:

- give you time with your baby or child, often in a private room, and sometimes with a cooling cot so you can stay longer;
- help you make memories, such as photographs, hand and footprints, a lock of hair, or bathing and dressing your baby;
- explain the paperwork you'll need;
- talk you through a **post-mortem**, which for a stillbirth is your choice;
- explain funeral options, including any the hospital can arrange.

If a child's death was sudden or unexpected, it will be reported to the **coroner** (in Scotland, the **procurator fiscal**), who may need a post-mortem. The coroner's officer will explain what's happening.

## Registering your baby or child

| Situation | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Stillbirth** (born with no signs of life after 24 weeks) | Register within **42 days** | Register within **21 days**, at any registration office | Register within **1 year**, in person at any district registration office |
| **Baby born alive, at any stage of pregnancy, who then died** | Register the birth and the death. The death is registered within 5 days of the medical examiner's office confirming it can be | Register the birth and the death. The death is registered within 8 days | Register the birth and the death. The death is registered within 5 days |
| **Loss before 24 weeks with no signs of life** | No legal registration. If you live in England, you can request a free **baby loss certificate** | No legal registration. You can apply for an entry in the **Memorial Book** held by National Records of Scotland | No legal registration. Ask your hospital about a commemorative certificate |

You can **name your baby** in the stillbirth register. After registration, the registrar gives you the paperwork the funeral director needs. England's baby loss certificate and Scotland's Memorial Book certificate are free commemorative records. They aren't legal documents, and there's no time limit on the Scottish Memorial Book.

For more on registration, see [how to register a death](/uk/guides/how-to-register-a-death/).

## Choosing a funeral

You have several options, and all of them are valid:

- **A funeral arranged by the hospital.** Many hospitals offer a simple, respectful cremation or burial, especially for babies lost in pregnancy, at no cost to you. Ask whether it's individual or shared and whether you can attend.
- **A private funeral with a funeral director.** You choose the venue, the service and the details. Many funeral directors reduce or waive their own fees for babies and children, so ask when you call.
- **Arranging it yourself.** Some parents prefer to do everything themselves. See [arranging a funeral without a funeral director](/uk/guides/arranging-a-funeral-without-a-funeral-director/).

### Burial or cremation?

Both are possible. If you choose cremation, ask beforehand about **ashes**: for very young babies there may be only a small amount, or sometimes none. Knowing in advance helps you decide. Some families choose burial for this reason, or a natural burial ground. See [cremation vs burial](/uk/guides/cremation-vs-burial/).

### Faith considerations

Many faiths have their own customs for babies and children. For example, many Hindu families bury children under around five rather than cremating them, and Sikh families may bury a stillborn baby. The Catholic Church has special funeral rites for children, including stillborn babies. Your faith leader or a [faith-specialist funeral director](/faiths/) can guide you.

## Personal touches

- A small coffin, Moses basket or woven casket, sometimes chosen with siblings.
- Dressing your baby or child in clothes you've chosen, with a blanket or favourite toy.
- Parents or family carrying the coffin themselves.
- Siblings drawing pictures, writing letters or choosing a song.
- A short service at home, at the hospital chapel or at the graveside.
- Planting a tree or choosing a memorial in a natural burial ground.

## Help with costs

| Nation | What's available |
|---|---|
| **England** | The **Children's Funeral Fund for England** covers burial or cremation fees (including the doctor's certificate for cremation) and up to **£300** for a coffin, shroud or casket. It covers children under 18 and stillbirths after 24 weeks. It isn't means-tested. The funeral must be in England, and the funeral director or provider usually claims directly within 6 months. |
| **Wales** | Council and community council **burial and cremation fees are waived** for under-18s. The registrar offers a **£500** payment towards funeral costs to the person registering the death (including stillbirths after 24 weeks), whatever their income. Your family home must be in Wales. |
| **Scotland** | **Local councils don't charge burial or cremation fees** for anyone under 18, including stillborn babies. You don't need to apply. **Funeral Support Payment** may help with other costs if you're eligible. |
| **Northern Ireland** | The **Child Funeral Fund** is a one-off lump sum (currently £3,441) for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after 24 weeks. It isn't means-tested and doesn't affect benefits. Claim within 6 months of the funeral. |

For wider help, see [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/) and our [help with funeral costs checker](/uk/tools/help-with-funeral-costs/).

## Time off work

- **Parental bereavement leave:** two weeks for each child who dies under 18 or is stillborn after 24 weeks, from the first day of employment. It can be taken as one block, two separate weeks, or one week, and must be taken within 56 weeks.
- **Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay:** currently £194.32 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, if you're eligible.
- **After a stillbirth**, you may still be entitled to maternity or paternity leave and pay.
- **Northern Ireland:** for bereavements on or after 6 April 2026, parental bereavement leave also covers **miscarriage before 24 weeks**.

## Where to find support

| Organisation | Who it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| **Sands** | Anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or after birth | **0808 164 3332**, weekdays 10am to 3pm, plus Tuesday to Thursday evenings 6pm to 9pm |
| **Child Bereavement UK** (now including Winston's Wish) | Parents, children and families | **0800 02 888 40**, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm |
| **The Lullaby Trust** | Families after the sudden, unexpected death of a baby or young child | **0808 802 6868**, weekdays 10am to 2pm, weekends and public holidays 6pm to 10pm |
| **The Compassionate Friends** | Bereaved parents and siblings, run by bereaved parents | **0345 123 2304** |
| **Tommy's** | Parents after pregnancy and baby loss | tommys.org |
| **Cruse** (England, Wales, NI) and **Cruse Scotland** | Anyone who is bereaved | **0808 808 1677** / **0808 802 6161** |

If you're struggling to cope, please reach out. See our [bereavement support guide](/uk/guides/bereavement-support/) and [coping with grief](/uk/guides/coping-with-grief/).

## Next steps

- Find a caring [funeral director near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Read about [children and funerals](/uk/guides/children-and-funerals/) if you have other children.
- Use our [when someone dies checklist](/uk/tools/when-someone-dies-checklist/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I have to pay for my baby's or child's funeral?

Burial and cremation fees are covered or waived for children under 18 (and stillborn babies) across the UK, through the Children's Funeral Fund in England, council fee waivers in Wales and Scotland, and the Child Funeral Fund in Northern Ireland. Many funeral directors also reduce or waive their own fees for babies and children, so do ask.

### How long do I have to register a stillbirth?

Within 42 days in England and Wales, 21 days in Scotland, and up to one year in Northern Ireland. A stillbirth is a baby born with no signs of life after 24 weeks of pregnancy. You can give your baby a name in the register.

### Can I have a funeral if I lost my baby before 24 weeks?

Yes. There's no legal requirement to register the loss, but you can still hold a funeral or other farewell. Many hospitals can arrange a respectful burial or cremation, or you can arrange a private funeral with a funeral director.

### Can we take our baby home before the funeral?

In many cases, yes. Talk to the hospital's bereavement midwife or nurse, who can explain what's possible and how to keep your baby cool. Your funeral director can also help.

### Will there be ashes after my baby's cremation?

There may be only a small amount, and sometimes none, especially for very young babies. Ask the crematorium or your funeral director in advance what to expect so you can decide what's right for you.

### Am I entitled to time off work?

Parents who lose a child under 18, or have a stillbirth after 24 weeks, can take two weeks' parental bereavement leave, with statutory pay if eligible. In Northern Ireland, from 6 April 2026, this also covers miscarriage before 24 weeks.

## Sources

- [GOV.UK – Register a stillbirth](https://www.gov.uk/register-stillbirth)
- [GOV.UK – Get help with funeral costs of a child (Children's Funeral Fund for England)](https://www.gov.uk/child-funeral-costs)
- [GOV.UK – Request a baby loss certificate](https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate)
- [GOV.UK – Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave](https://www.gov.uk/parental-bereavement-pay-leave)
- [GOV.WALES – Child funeral and other related costs](https://www.gov.wales/child-funeral-and-other-related-costs-information-html)
- [mygov.scot – Paying for a funeral](https://www.mygov.scot/arrange-funeral/funeral-costs)
- [mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment if the person who died was 17 or under](https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment/if-the-person-who-died-was-17-or-under)
- [National Records of Scotland – Registering a stillbirth](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/registering-a-stillbirth/)
- [National Records of Scotland – Memorial Book of pregnancy and baby loss prior to 24 weeks](https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/memorial-book-of-pregnancy-and-baby-loss-prior-to-24-weeks)
- [nidirect – Child Funeral Fund](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/child-funeral-fund)
- [nidirect – Registering a stillbirth](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/registering-stillbirth)
- [nidirect – Parental bereavement leave and pay (bereavements on or after 6 April 2026)](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/parental-bereavement-leave-and-pay-bereavements-or-after-6-april-2026)
- [Sands – Helpline](https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you/how-we-offer-support/helpline)
- [Child Bereavement UK – Contact us](https://www.childbereavementuk.org/contact-us)
- [The Lullaby Trust – Bereavement support](https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/)
- [The Compassionate Friends](https://www.tcf.org.uk/)
- [Liturgy Office – Catholic Funerals: A Guide](https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/OCF/FuneralsGuide.pdf)
- [NHS Education for Scotland – Spiritual Care: A multi-faith resource for healthcare staff](https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/media/ay4je0io/multi-faith-resource-for-healthcare-staff.pdf)