Clothing and Other Resources for Families Experiencing Loss

Health Foundations Birth Center (St. Paul, MN) recently published a great list of local, regional, and national organizations ready to help families facing loss.

To add to their list, please keep in mind St. Croix Birth & Parenting.  The Tiny Treasures Love Cupboard is now open!  A Love Cupboard is a clothing donation program for families experiencing loss, run by volunteer coordinators, and sponsored by Stillbirthday.  What will families find in the Tiny Treasures Love Cupboard?  Families facing and experiencing loss will find a variety of hand-made tiny/micro-preemie, preemie, newborn and small infant clothes and baby blankets in both gender-neutral, boy, and girl styles, made by Team Tiny Treasures, a group of talented volunteers who knit, crochet, and sew.  The clothes can be used in the interim, if the length of the baby's life is uncertain; or to dress the baby after he or she has passed away.  We also provide maternity clothes for families facing financial difficulties--common when your pregnancy is high-risk.  Here are some examples of lovely donations available now to receiving families, and made by members of Team Tiny Treasures:

• A family who has learned that their baby will be born via miscarriage can find a tiny, hand-crocheted hooded bunting in which they can place their baby once he or she is born

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• A friend of a family who has experienced a miscarriage can visit and pick up a sweet hand-knit kimono and bonnet for the baby

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• A mother who has learned that her daughter has died early in the second trimester can visit and choose a dainty hand-crocheted dress and bonnet for the baby, so that she has an outfit ready, in a small enough size, for her daughter when she is born

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• A grandmother can pick out a hand-knit kimono, baby booties, and baby hat for her larger preterm grandson

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• A father can contact us to ship this sweet gown and bonnet to his family, so that his full-term, newborn daughter can wear an outfit crocheted with love and prayers for her funeral

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Team Tiny Treasures would love to expand!  We are especially looking for additional seamstresses who can make bereavement diapers and tiny shrouds/wraps for miscarried babies.  We are also in need of additional crocheted burial cocoons.  Patterns are available from St. Croix Birth & Parenting.  We would especially love to welcome jewelry makers who would be willing to make matching mom/baby bracelets.  If you aren't the crafty type, financial gifts are always welcome which we will use to purchase items for memory baskets or to ship items to families who are located out of the area, or families who cannot visit the Tiny Treasures room.  Gifts of new or like-new baby clothes up to size 0-3 months and gently used maternity clothes are also welcome!  Contact us for more information, to volunteer, or to donate items.