When the shock wears off, parents may find themselves left with chronic depression or other symptoms like anger, despair, and bitterness. In many cases, the loss of an infant or child is the first experience of grief for a parent. Different ways of grieving may be experienced by mothers and fathers. While one parent might need to verbalize their pain, the other may prefer to grieve silently. Taking care of the family and marriage during the time of grief can create a lot of stress.

In addition to dealing with loss, grief and even ambivalence toward their deceased sibling, siblings will need to deal with the disruption of the family unit and their own emotions.

You can find additional educational materials and support for families who have lost a baby to SIDS at the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths & by visiting Baby’s Breath.