Losing a baby is a heartbreaking experience! However, thanks to modern technology, bereaved parents can have the gift of time with their little ones with the help of a cuddle cot.
A cuddle cot has a specially designed cooling pad under the mattress that helps to gently preserve a baby’s body after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or death just after birth. This valuable concept has done wonders in helping parents come to terms with their loss, and help them along the road to healing.
Key points
- Cuddle cots are refrigerated baby beds that allow the body of deceased or stillborn babies so they can be preserved for days or even weeks
- Cuddle cots allow grieving parents and families the opportunity to spend some time with the baby to allow them to bond and say goodbye
In this article
- How Does A Cuddle Cot Work?
- How Long Can A Baby Stay In A Cuddle Cot?
- How Are Cuddle Cots Beneficial?
- Can I Take A Cuddle Cot Home?
- Do I have to use a cuddle cot?
How Does A Cuddle Cot Work?
A cuddle cot is a thin cooling pad that fits beneath the mattress of a bassinet or cot. The bassinet’s mattress is often thin enough for the cuddle cot to cool down the body of the deceased baby enough to slow down the natural effects of their body. This allows the parents to have more time with their baby before saying goodbye.
The cuddle cot is often connected to an insulated hose that runs from a cooling unit, keeping the pad at the optimum temperature for as long as the parents need to say goodbye. The use of cuddle cots have given parents the valuable gift of time with their babies, helping their grieving process.
The cuddle cot mattresses are versatile enough to be used with a range of beds, including those found in hospitals and at home. This means that they can be used wherever the baby has passed away, rather than only being available in hospitals. They can even be used in prams.
Each cuddle cot comes with a refrigeration unit, a cooling pad, and insulated pipes.
How Long Can A Baby Stay In A Cuddle Cot?
The cuddle cot has been designed to work for as long as the parents need to grieve their baby’s death. This can be for days or weeks, depending on what the parents want. The cuddle cot is designed to remain at the optimal temperature to preserve the baby’s body, slowing down the natural stages of deterioration. The cuddle cot is portable, so you can take it from the hospital to your house or even the funeral home.
The cuddle cot allows you to take your baby for a walk in their pram or even hold them for cuddles without their temperature rising. Some parents have even used the cuddle cot cooling mattress in their own beds, so that they can sleep with their children.
How Are Cuddle Cots Beneficial?
We have detailed some of the benefits of the cuddle cot below:
It Allows Parents To Make Memories
One of the biggest benefits is that it allows parents to have more time with their babies before they have to say goodbye. They can take pictures, introduce their baby to family members, and even take them out. Being able to make memories with their child before having to say goodbye can make the grieving process a little easier for new parents.
Parents Can Keep Their Baby Close
One of the hardest parts about losing a child is the thought of them alone in a funeral home. The cuddle cot allows parents to keep their babies at home until the funeral, taking away some of this guilt and worry.
It Is Easy To Move
Cuddle Cots are designed to be versatile and portable. The cooling pads have been designed to work with multiple beds and baby furniture, so your little one isn’t confined to one space. This makes the experience a little easier for parents as they can hold their baby, take them outside, and interact with them in other areas besides their cot.
Can I Take A Cuddle Cot Home?
Whether or not you can take the cuddle cot home is up to the hospital. Some allow parents to take the cuddle cot home to use how they wish, while others have policies that mean the cot has to stay at the hospital. You’ll still be able to pick your baby up and interact with them the same way in the hospital, but some parents prefer to take their babies home to grieve in a natural environment.
For hospitals that require the cot to stay in the hospital, parents will either have to stay with their baby in the hospital room or visit during visiting hours. We recommend you contact your local hospital to get their individual policies on how cuddle cots are used there.
Alternatively, you could buy your own cuddle cot to use how and where you wish.
Do I Have To Use A Cuddle Cot?
Parents are not forced to use a cuddle cot – it is an option for parents to use if they feel it will help their grieving process. Experiencing the loss of a child is extremely painful, and some parents prefer not to use a cuddle cot at all. Some will use it for a few hours, while others will use the cot until their baby’s funeral. The choice is completely up to the parents.
Bereavement practitioners might suggest grieving parents use a cuddle cot to help them through the process, but it is never a forced-upon decision.
Final Thoughts On Cuddle Cots
The loss of a child is one of the worst experiences a parent can go through, and the cuddle cot has been designed to help them through the grieving process. A cuddle cot can keep a baby at the optimal temperature to slow down the body’s natural processes after death, allowing parents days or even weeks longer with their children.