Purchasing Guidelines

All sales are subject to inventory on hand.

Baby Caskets (Burial Cradles, Baby Coffins)

Each casket was designed with an approximate age to guide your size choice. The suggested sizes:

Preemie Caskets are for preemies in their first to second trimester.

Stillborn Caskets are for second to third trimester preemies and stillborn babies.

Newborn Caskets are for newborn babies and smaller infants up to two months old.

Infant Caskets are for infants from two months up to one year old.

The larger Burial Cradles should be given consideration if you are dealing with the loss of twin babies.

Remember that babies are generally in a fetal position, with their legs curled up. Every baby’s growth is unique; some are larger and some smaller. As you choose a casket, please keep this in mind for you may need to choose a smaller one or a larger one depending on your baby’s size.

Often loved ones wish to place a special blanket, toy, stuffed animal or religious object in the cradle. If this is important to you, the actual casket size you need will be larger, depending on the size of your baby plus those additional items to be included at the time of burial. A larger cradle will provide more room.

We recommend two pallbearers be used to carry the Infant and the Newborn Burial Cradles.. The hearts are not only decorative, but function as handles as well.

Many times, you will only have a day or two to select a baby coffin. When selecting a casket, you may not remember everything you normally would, in part because of the emotions involved in the entire funeral planning process. If this is true for you, have a family member or close friend help you in the selection process.

If you working with a funeral director, they can help you with decisions involving any contracts that may need to be signed. Write down any questions or concerns you may think of before you go to the funeral home.

Losing a baby is the worst thing a parent can ever experience. If the burden of grief can be lessened by being knowledgeable about your casket purchase, then your road to healing will be that much smoother.

Important guidelines when purchasing a

casket outside of a funeral home:

The Federal Trade Commission states:

• Funeral homes are not allowed to charge a handling fee if a casket is purchased elsewhere.

• They cannot refuse or ask for a receipt if a casket is purchased elsewhere.

• A disclaimer or waiver must be signed by the family.

• Funeral directors and personnel may not slander the company from where your casket was purchased.

Burial and Cremation Laws in Your State

Each state has laws affecting what happens to a body after death. For example, most states have unique rules about embalming, burial or cremation, scattering ashes, and how to get a death certificate. It is also important that you check with the cemetery you choose for interment; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container.

Further, local governments may have additional rules governing private burials. Before burying a body or scattering ashes on private land or establishing a family cemetery, you should check county and city zoning rules.

For burial and cremation laws in your state, visit: Burial and Cremation Laws

Preemie Urns, Baby Urns, Infant Urns

Cradle Urns are made of wood and are urns for baby ashes.

The following sizes are available:

Preemie Urns are for preemies in the first to second trimester (8 Cubic Inches).

Baby Urns are for babies in the second to third trimester and up to stillborn (21 Cubic Inches).

Infant Urns are for stillborn and newborn babies and infants up to one year old (42 Cubic Inches).

How to determine the proper urn size:

Urns are sized according to volume, in cubic inches. A simple rule to guide you is 1 pound = 1 cubic inch. For example, for 8 pounds you would need at least 8 cubic inches. It is always good to have more space in the urn than you need. Remember too that if a baby or child is cremated in a casket, you will receive back more ashes. For the smallest infant you would need to add on at least 5 cubic inches. Using the example above, 8 pounds plus 5 cubic inches extra to account for the casket would require at least 13 cubic inches so our Baby Urn (which is 22 cubic inches) would have plenty of room for the ashes.

By choosing a larger size urn, you will have sufficient room for tiny mementos such as a hospital bracelet for preemies and/or booties. With our Baby Urn and Infant Urn we provide for free a small white flannel bag for this purpose.