The loss of a child can be devastating for a parent. We’re simply not designed to deal with this kind of loss at any time in our lives.
But the loss of a baby can often be harder to deal with as this kind of loss is often brushed under the carpet and parents are not allowed to grieve openly.
So when the news of a rainbow baby comes to light many parents feel that they should simply forget the child they lost and just be thankful for what they have!
But honoring the memory of a lost child and celebrating the hope that a new baby brings is so important to parents like me.
It gives us the opportunities to connect with our feelings of loss and not feel that we should be hiding them away or be ashamed of them.
It gives us the chance to talk to people about it, connect with other parents going through the same trauma but most importantly it gives us the chance to heal our broken hearts while still not forgetting the child we lost!
In this article
- What Is A Rainbow Baby?
- Should You Give A Rainbow Baby Gift – If So When?
- At The Baby Shower
- After The Baby Is Born
- 1. Rainbow Outfit
- 2. ART HEARTS – Rainbow Baby
- 3. SEIRAA Rainbow Baby Bracelet
- 4. Bump and Beyond Clothing
- 5. Angel Wing Suncatcher
- 6. Lucy Darling Security Blanket
- 7. Spread Love Milestone blanket
- 8. Little Rainbow Memory Book
- 9. Rainbow Monthly Milestone Blanket
- 10. Mommy of Rainbow Baby Gift Keychain
- 11. Blessed Mama Coffee Cup
- 12. Baby Teether Rainbow Toy
- 13. Our Rainbow After The Storm T-Shirt
- 14. Hospital Receiving Blanket
- 15. After Every Storm…Cuff Bangle
- Things You Can Do For A Mom With A Rainbow Baby
- FAQs
- The Final Thought
What Is A Rainbow Baby?
A rainbow baby is a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or infant loss.
The name comes from the idea that a rainbow often appears in the sky after a storm and that rainbows often signify new beginnings. A rainbow baby gives parents hope of a new life after suffering such a terrible and unthinkable loss.
Should You Give A Rainbow Baby Gift – If So When?
The decision to give a rainbow baby gift or not will very much depend on the personal circumstances of the parents involved.
If they have been open about their loss and how it has affected them, they will more than likely be perfectly fine with accepting rainbow baby gifts.
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But if they have decided to keep their loss private and have only shared it with you as you are a close friend or relative then maybe it would be best not to go down the path of rainbow baby gifts.
The best advice would be to see how it goes and take a look at the idea closer to birth. If you do decide to go ahead with a rainbow baby gift then when should you present it to the parents will be your next question.
At The Baby Shower
Again, if they have been open about their loss and have shared it with most people and have actually decided to go ahead with a baby shower then there is no reason that you can not give the gift at the baby shower.
After The Baby Is Born
But many parents who are expecting a rainbow baby choose not to have a baby shower and if this is the case for your friends or relatives then the best time to give them the rainbow baby gift would probably be after the baby is born.
1. Rainbow Outfit
This beautiful rainbow baby set would be a lovely gift for the new parents and baby.
It offers them a way to celebrate the birth of their rainbow baby while still being able to acknowledge the loss of their other baby. Available in sizes 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 months.
- 【Material】: Cotton 100%. High quality stretchy fabric, so soft and breathable. Lovely baby rainbow pants set. NOTE: Tie-dye style suits, due to different crafts, please allow the rainbow printing order of each piece to be partially DIFFERENT.
- 【Style/Design】: “After EVERYSTORM theres a RAINBOW of hope HERE I AM”, printed bodysuits in various styles, cloud rainbow outfits make your baby super adorable.
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2. ART HEARTS – Rainbow Baby
This is a gorgeous ornament that would not look out of place in any nursery. It also comes with great sentiment.
- Kelly Rae Roberts Art Heart
- Ornamental heart with sentiment
- Designed to either hang or stand using ornamental key
- Perfect gift idea
- Individually packaged
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3. SEIRAA Rainbow Baby Bracelet
A subtle gift that mom can wear to remember the baby that they lost and to celebrate their beautiful rainbow baby.
- *Material: Bracelet is made of high quality stainless steel without lead or nickel.
- *Size: Rainbow bracelet is 2..0cm,the rainbow mama charm is 1.5cm, Diameter of bangle is 6.5 cm(2.56 inches), adjustable, so it is expandable to fit any wrist size.
- *Rainbow mommy bracelet with- “my rainbow after the storm,”and heart pendant with- “rainbow mama.”
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4. Bump and Beyond Clothing
- This trendy, fashionable newborn bodysuit makes the perfect photo prop for maternity pictures or to announce your are expecting!
- Our Bump and Beyond Designs bodysuits feature 100% combed ringspun cotton as well as double-needle ribbed binding on the neck, reinforced 3-snap closure on the binding, and commercial-grade vinyl.
- 0-3 Months, Pregnancy Announcement for Grandparents | Professionally created apparel by Bump and Beyond Designs
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5. Angel Wing Suncatcher
This is the perfect subtle gift for any parent of a rainbow baby. If they want to be a little more private about their loss and the status of their new arrival, this gift is perfect for allowing them to do just that while still remembering their loss.
- Material:K9Crystal and metal Size:17* 2.75 IN
- Handcrafted,Lead-free crystal New Designs,Crystal Suncatcher For Window
- Decorative your home, office, bedroom, living room, even use it as a wedding and party decoration.
- Perfect Gift For Grandmas birthday, Grandparents Day, Christmas, Baby Announcement
- We custom a beautiful and safe gift box to make sure it will be perfect when you receive
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6. Lucy Darling Security Blanket
- FUZZY RAINBOW BLANKET Our snuggly soft rainbow lovey is the security blanket of your little ones dreams With luxurious soft fabric your babe wont want to put this plush pal down Its the perfect tag a long buddy and comforting blankey all rolled into one It pairs perfectly with our Little Rainbow Memory Book and our Little Rainbow Milestone Pennants
- BABY BLANKET This Lucy Darling blanket is more of a Security blanket for a baby but it can also be used for toddlers or anyone who wants a snuggly security blanket
- SECURITY BLANKET This is the most accurate description of this product line from LUCY DARLING Our new security blankets will go well with the themes that are already created for the Baby Memory Books Milestone stickers Closet dividers or pendants
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7. Spread Love Milestone blanket
Another fantastic gift to celebrate a rainbow baby. But this company also donates 10% of its profits to nonprofits that support families going through loss.
- We donate 10% of all profits to nonprofits that support families walking through loss.
- Our Design: We designed our first Blanket with parents who have had to go through the tremendous loss of a child in mind. The Rainbow Milestone Blanket is a way to celebrate the birth of your Rainbow Baby and also remember the child thats no longer in your arms!
- Our Materials: We will always strive to make our products with the safety of your baby in mind. Our Blankets are 100% Organic muslin cotton
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8. Little Rainbow Memory Book
Another gift that helps parents to remember their loss while still celebrating their beautiful new baby and all the firsts that they will achieve.
- STYLISH - Remember all of your Babies firsts from ultrasound photos to whom you announced your pregnancy to first - all the way up to their first year of school.
- THE PERFECT GIFT - Give this perfect book as a baby shower gift to your expectant friend, mother, wife
- MADE IN THE USA - This 48 page 9x9 is responsibly printed with soy-based inks , and eco-friendlyThe perfect baby shower gift Designed and printed in the USA.
- JUST ADD PHOTOS AND WRITING - Lucy Darling has designed this book for the busy parent in mind while keeping the creative parent in mind. This Baby book is a mix between a baby journal and a baby photo album with all of the scrapbook type details already printed right into the pages.
- KEEP A LASTING LEGACY - Keepsakes are precious and this ready to use hard cover book with solid pages will help last for a long time in the futur
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9. Rainbow Monthly Milestone Blanket
The monthly milestone blanket is a great way to get all those wonderful photos to keep as a reminder of baby’s progress.
- LOVED BY PARENTS, ADORED BY CHILDREN. One of a kind large colorful Rainbow Monthly Milestone Blanket.
- SAFE FOR BABIES. The premium fleece baby milestone blanket is made of breathable soft plush comfortable hypoallergenic material that is gentle on infants sensitive skin.
- A PERFECT KEEPSAKE. Whether you are looking for a perfect gift for expectant moms, baby shower, new parents or considering one for yourself, Rainbow Baby Monthly Milestone Blanket with Props is a perfect keepsake to g
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
10. Mommy of Rainbow Baby Gift Keychain
This gift not only acknowledges mom’s mixed emotions but also dads, which is very often forgotten at these times.
- 1.A thoughtful gift, or for yourself...a respectful, cherished memory for a special mom/dad with a beautiful rainbow baby.
- 2.Simple and perfect Rainbow Keychain. The rainbow has so many meaning to so many different people.
- 4.Material - Stainless Steel:dont tarnish, dont rust, and dont change color.It is lead free and nickel free
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11. Blessed Mama Coffee Cup
An amazing gift that allows moms to take time and reflect on their feelings while enjoying a hot cup of coffee.
- PREMIUM QUALITY: 20 oz mug, packaged in a plain box, is made from new bone china.
- IN-HOUSE DESIGN: Blessed Mama text and rainbow decal is applied to the front of the mug.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: To best preserve decals, washing by hand is recommended. Dishwasher safe. Microwave safe.
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12. Baby Teether Rainbow Toy
A beautiful and practical gift for the rainbow baby.
- SAFE, RELIABLE & EFFECTIVE TEETHING TOY: Thoughtful design for teething baby 3m~24m.
- EASY TO GRASP & FUN TO BITE: Lightweight, Perfect Size & Shape for babys hands and mouth.
- COME WITH SILICONE BEADED TEETHER CLIP: Easy to attach on babys cloth.
- EASY TO CLEAN & STERILIZE: Can be sterilized by boiling water, steam sterilizer, Dishwasher and sun lig
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13. Our Rainbow After The Storm T-Shirt
I love this gift, it is simple, adorable and so practical.
- Our short sleeve maternity shirts feature rutching along the sides to accommodate for that beautiful growing bump.
- This garment is snug fit. Size up one size for relaxed fit.
- For accurate sizing information, please refer to the size chart featured as a secondary image on the listing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
14. Hospital Receiving Blanket
A great practical gift that is multifunctional.
- Breathable 100% Cotton. Ideal for Newborn Baby
- 85 x 75 cm/33.46 - 29.53, Luxury Super Soft - Ideal for Sensitive Baby Skin
- Unisex prints and colors for both baby boys and girls.
- Light and breathable - will help minimize the risk of overheating while your baby sleeps
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15. After Every Storm…Cuff Bangle
- Material: Inspirational Bracelet is made of stainless steel will never fade, tarnish, and turn wrist green, durable and sturdy, Eco-friendly for skin.
- Size: diameter:60mm(2.36inch) * 50mm(1.97inch); Cuff: 35mm; Width: 6mm; Thickness: 2mm. TIPS:manual measuring permissible error.
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Things You Can Do For A Mom With A Rainbow Baby
After the birth of a rainbow baby moms feel a whole host of emotions some rational others not so much. But as a friend, there are a few things that you can do to help her work through this tough time.
1. The gift of time with their baby
After giving birth to a rainbow baby most moms just want some time with their baby to get to know them and enjoy every single minute. They have traveled a long and often hard path to get to where they are today.
Many moms do not feel up to visitors in the first few weeks or even months after giving birth. Respect their decision for privacy.
You can still be a supportive friend by dropping a quick text every few days just to check in on them, see if they need anything, and just to remind them that you are still there for them – this means a lot in those first few weeks!
2. A rainbow baby photoshoot
Baby photoshoots are a big thing at the moment and most photographers can and will accommodate a theme of your choice. So why not book a themed rainbow baby shoot for your friend’s new baby.
3. Plan a rainbow-themed shower
Many moms of rainbow baby’s, choose not to have a baby shower as they fear that celebrating when there is no technical guarantee their baby will be born may in some way influence the outcome.
Other moms who may have a pregnancy of high risk could end up on bed rest for most of the pregnancy so a baby shower may not be the best option.
But whatever the circumstances there are plenty of ways that you can help your friend to celebrate their rainbow baby while still respecting their wishes.
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4. Allow her to talk
Moms go through a lot of mental stress when they give birth and it is often left unprocessed as they feel that they do not want to burden friends and family with it.
Or they feel that they should simply be grateful for the healthy baby that they have. Ask the question – How are YOU feeling? Are YOU ok? and then let them talk.
This simple question will allow them to see that you care about them, that you are there and open to letting them just talk and process whatever feelings they have – take my word for it this kind of help is so important!
5. Watch what you say – be sensitive
As a race, we are often very thoughtless especially around people who have suffered a loss – we never quite know what to say and so we often say the wrong thing!
Don’t say things like “I am so excited for you to finally have a baby!”
Don’t immediately ask if they plan to have any more children. Pregnancy can be stressful and even more so if it is a high risk one.
FAQs
What does a rainbow baby mean?
A rainbow baby is a baby that has been born after the loss of a baby due to infant loss, stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.
It comes from the idea that a rainbow appears in the sky after a storm, or after a dark time and that rainbows often signify new beginnings.
How long after a miscarriage is it considered a rainbow baby?
There is no timescale on this and a baby born after infant loss or miscarriage is called a rainbow baby whether it be two years after or 10 years after.
Why should I buy a rainbow baby gift?
Rainbow baby gifts are bought to honor the loss of a child but also to celebrate the new beginnings and hope that a new baby brings.
How do I know if it is appropriate to buy a rainbow baby gift?
Personally, I would go on the premise that if the parents have been open and honest about their loss then it is appropriate for you to buy a gift to honor and celebrate with them at this time.
When should a rainbow baby gift be given?
This will very much depend on if your friend is having a baby shower and they have been open about their loss – if they have then the gift can be given then. Otherwise, it may be better to hold on to the gift until after the baby is born.
The Final Thought
Honoring the loss of a child and celebrating the birth of another as a rainbow baby gives parents the opportunity to have their grief acknowledged.
It helps them to see that people are aware that even though birth is a time to celebrate that they may be dealing with many other emotions and that they are there to support them.
I hope our list has helped you to find the perfect gift for your rainbow baby parents!
