Article8 min read
What grief after child loss actually looks like
An honest look at the ways grief manifests — emotionally, physically, and spiritually — for parents who have lost a child.
Dr. Alan WolfeltView resource
Resources
You don't have to search alone
We've gathered the resources that bereaved families have found most helpful — organized so you can find what you need, when you need it.
Finding what helps
Grief after child loss is unlike any other. These resources have been chosen with care — not to fix your pain, but to accompany you through it.
Article6 min read
The difference between grief and mourning
Understanding the distinction between internal grief and outward mourning can help you give yourself permission to heal.
Dr. Alan WolfeltView resource
Article7 min read
When grief doesn't follow a timeline
Why the idea of 'stages' can be more harmful than helpful, and what a more honest model of grief looks like.
Megan DevineView resource
Article5 min read
Writing to your child: a practice for grief
Many bereaved parents find that writing letters to their child helps maintain connection and process overwhelming emotion.
The Compassionate FriendsView resource
Article6 min read
How to talk to someone who is grieving
A guide for friends and family — and for bereaved parents to share with the people around them.
Refuge in GriefView resource
Article9 min read
Grief and the body: physical symptoms no one warns you about
Grief lives in the body. Understanding the physical dimension of loss can help you care for yourself more gently.
Dr. Mary-Frances O'ConnorView resource
Book
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart
A compassionate guide for parents grieving the death of a baby, from miscarriage through infant loss.
Deborah L. DavisView resource
Book
The Bereaved Parent
One of the first books written specifically for parents who have lost a child at any age — still deeply relevant.
Harriet Sarnoff SchiffView resource
Book
Bearing the Unbearable
A profound exploration of love, loss, and the transformative power of grief by a leading bereavement researcher.
Joanne CacciatoreView resource
Video18 min watch
What grief taught me about love
A moving TED talk exploring how loss reshapes our understanding of love and connection.
Video22 min watch
Guided meditation for grief: finding stillness
A gentle guided session designed for bereaved parents — no prior meditation experience needed.
Refuge in GriefView resource
Video35 min watch
The loss of adult children
A panel discussion with bereaved parents on the unique grief of losing an adult child.
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Guide7 min read
Surviving your child's birthday after loss
Practical and emotional guidance for one of the hardest days of the year.
Still Standing MagazineView resource
Guide10 min read
Getting through the holidays when you're grieving
How to navigate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays when your family has changed forever.
The Compassionate FriendsView resource
Article6 min read
Creating new rituals around your child's memory
How some bereaved families have found meaning in creating intentional rituals on significant dates.
Refuge in GriefView resource
Guide9 min read
Helping surviving siblings grieve
How to support the brothers and sisters who are also grieving while you navigate your own loss.
The Compassionate FriendsView resource
Article7 min read
The forgotten grievers: sibling loss and what children need
Children grieve differently than adults. This guide helps parents understand and support their surviving children.
Still Standing MagazineView resource
Article8 min read
When your child asks about their sibling who died
Age-appropriate ways to talk with children about the death of a brother or sister.
Refuge in GriefView resource
Guide8 min read
What to say — and what not to say — to a bereaved parent
A compassionate guide to the words that help and the well-meaning phrases that can unintentionally hurt.
The Compassionate FriendsView resource
Article7 min read
How to show up for a grieving friend over the long term
Support doesn't end after the funeral. This guide helps friends and family stay present through the months and years ahead.
Refuge in GriefView resource
Article6 min read
Understanding what bereaved parents need from you
Insights from bereaved parents themselves on what kinds of support feel most meaningful.
Still Standing MagazineView resource
Helpline
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential support for people in distress. Call or text 988 any time, day or night.
SAMHSACall now
Helpline
The Compassionate Friends Helpline
Peer support from other bereaved parents. Available seven days a week.
The Compassionate FriendsCall now
Helpline
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Free and confidential.
Crisis Text LineCall now
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