Baby or Child

The death of a baby or child is a tragic event for the parents and their wider family and friends.

At Porteous Family Funeral Directors, we will do everything we can to advise and support the family during this time and will help to provide a fitting tribute to their short life.

We do not charge for arranging funerals for babies or children between the ages of  0-18.

For babies and very young children, we will supply a white casket shaped coffin, complete with chrome handles and name-plate. For older children, we will provide a standard coffin from our range. If the funeral is a burial, it will be fitted with cords. We will also provide the use of two vehicles – either our hearse if appropriate and another car for friends or family or alternatively, if parents do not want to use the hearse, they can travel with their child’s coffin to the funeral venue in another car. After the funeral, the car will take the parents onwards to a destination of their choice.

Further Information

Death occurs before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy

If a baby dies before 24 weeks gestation or is stillborn, the hospital may offer a simple funeral service, which will often be held in conjunction with other families who have lost a baby. If you prefer to make your own arrangements for an individual funeral of your choice, you are free to do so with any funeral director.

If the baby dies at between 13-24 weeks’ gestation, NHS Lothian will offer parents the option to make their own funeral arrangements or to authorise the hospital to arrange shared cremation and have the shared ashes buried in the garden of remembrance of the crematorium.

If you wish to arrange your baby’s funeral, you will usually need a form from the hospital to give to the funeral director or crematorium. The form confirms that the baby was born before the “age of viability” (that is, before 24 completed weeks) and showed no signs of life.

Cremation:

If you wish to arrange a cremation, the appropriate crematorium’s Application for Cremation Form A3  must be completed and submitted with the Certificate of Pregnancy Loss or Confirmation of End of Pregnancy issued by NHS Lothian. There is no cost for the cremation service.

Burial:

If you wish to arrange a burial, the relevant Cemetery’s Burial Application Form should be completed and submitted with the Certificate of Pregnancy Loss or Confirmation of End of Pregnancy issued by NHS Lothian.

If you already have a lair, there will be no charge for the interment.

If you wish a new lair, then a full burial lair can be provided to enable the parents to be interred there in the future. There is no charge for the lair or for the interment of the baby. However  for any future adult burials, the normal interment fee will apply.

There is also a special section at Craigmillar Castle Park Cemetery specifically for the burial of children.

Death occurs after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy to term

NHS Lothian will offer parents the option to make their own funeral arrangements or to authorise the hospital to arrange a burial or cremation:

Cremation:

If the family wish to arrange a cremation, there are no fees.

Burial:

If you wish to arrange a burial yourself and you already have a lair, there will be no charge for the interment.

If you wish a new lair, then a full burial lair can be provided to enable the parents to be interred there in the future. There is no charge for the lair or for the interment of the baby. However, for any future adult burials, the normal interment fee will apply.

There is also a special section at Craigmillar Castle Park Cemetery specifically for the burial of children.
Most hospitals have bereavement midwives who are specialists in being able to advise parents on the procedures for registering the death or stillbirth of a baby. The process may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the death. If the hospital is unable to provide specialist bereavement support, please contact us directly or click here.

”Porteous could not have done any more for us. Very helpful and courteous and everything went as planned and requested. It was a fitting and dignified funeral. We really couldn't have been more please with their service.

Graeme Moss