Parents Of Angels
Support for Those Grieving the Loss of a Child
At Listening 2 U, we offer a dedicated counselling service for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child—regardless of the child’s age.
We understand that the term “child” can mean different things to different people. Whether your child was an infant, a teenager, or an adult, your grief is valid, and your loss is deeply personal.
There is no timeline for grief, and no right or wrong way to feel. Our service provides a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where you can begin to process your emotions and move at your own pace.
Support for Those Grieving the Loss of a Child
At Listening 2 U, we offer a dedicated counselling service for anyone who has experienced the loss of a child—regardless of the child’s age.
We understand that the term “child” can mean different things to different people. Whether your child was an infant, a teenager, or an adult, your grief is valid, and your loss is deeply personal.
There is no timeline for grief, and no right or wrong way to feel. Our service provides a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where you can begin to process your emotions and move at your own pace.
We use the term “child” in its broadest sense, because to a parent or loved one, a child is always a child no matter how old they were.
Loss can occur at any stage, including:
Every one of these losses brings its own unique grief, and none is less valid than another. Whether your child was never born, passed in infancy, or died in adulthood, your pain is real and you do not have to face it alone.
Loss can occur at any stage, including:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Early neonatal loss (0–7 days)
- Post-neonatal loss (8–28 days)
- Infant loss (up to 1 year)
- Child or adolescent loss
- Adult child loss
Every one of these losses brings its own unique grief, and none is less valid than another. Whether your child was never born, passed in infancy, or died in adulthood, your pain is real and you do not have to face it alone.
How We Can Help
We offer a specialist counselling service designed to support individuals and families through child loss in any form. You will be met with empathy, understanding, and a space to process your grief in your own time and way.
We also provide training for professionals working with bereaved clients to ensure compassionate, informed, and sensitive care.
We offer a specialist counselling service designed to support individuals and families through child loss in any form. You will be met with empathy, understanding, and a space to process your grief in your own time and way.
We also provide training for professionals working with bereaved clients to ensure compassionate, informed, and sensitive care.
Child Loss in England and Wales: A Heartbreaking Reality
The loss of a child is one of the most devastating experiences any parent or family can endure. While the number of deaths among children under 15 has significantly decreased over the decades, every statistic represents a life lost—and a family forever changed.
Child Deaths Under the Age of 15 (England & Wales)According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS):
While progress in healthcare and prevention has saved countless lives, thousands of families still experience the unimaginable pain of losing a child each year.
The loss of a child is one of the most devastating experiences any parent or family can endure. While the number of deaths among children under 15 has significantly decreased over the decades, every statistic represents a life lost—and a family forever changed.
Child Deaths Under the Age of 15 (England & Wales)According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS):
- 1980 – 48,377 children
- 1990 – 21,178 children
- 2000 – 14,544 children
- 2008 – 14,111 children
- 2014 – 6,953 children
- 2023 – 5,874 children (Latest available figures)
While progress in healthcare and prevention has saved countless lives, thousands of families still experience the unimaginable pain of losing a child each year.
Understanding the Terminology of Child Loss
Loss can happen at any stage, and each type carries its own weight of grief and sorrow:
- Miscarriage - The loss of a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
- Stillbirth – When a baby dies before taking their first breath.
- Early Neonatal Death – When a baby dies within the first 7 days of life.
- Post-Neonatal Death – When a baby dies after 7 days but before their first birthday.
- Infant Death – The loss of a child under the age of 1.
- Child/Adolescent Death – The death of a child from infancy up to the age of 15 or older.
- Adult Child Death - The death of your child when they are over 18
"After Months of Anticipation..."
After months—or years—of hope, planning, and dreams for the future, it’s hard to imagine anything more devastating than the loss of a newborn or child. The silence left behind is immeasurable.
At Listening 2 U, we honour each and every loss, offering compassionate support to those grieving--regardless of the child’s age or the circumstances of the loss.
If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a child, please know: you do not have to face it alone. We are here to listen. We are here to support you.
After months—or years—of hope, planning, and dreams for the future, it’s hard to imagine anything more devastating than the loss of a newborn or child. The silence left behind is immeasurable.
At Listening 2 U, we honour each and every loss, offering compassionate support to those grieving--regardless of the child’s age or the circumstances of the loss.
If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a child, please know: you do not have to face it alone. We are here to listen. We are here to support you.
After the Loss of a Child, a Parent May Feel...
The grief that follows the loss of a child is profound, complex, and deeply personal. Every parent's experience is unique, but some common emotions may include (though this is by no means an exhaustive list):
- Overwhelming sadness – A deep, constant sorrow that may feel impossible to escape.
- Guilt – Wondering if something could have been done differently, even when nothing could have changed the outcome.
- Anger – At themselves, at others, at circumstances, or even at the world for the unfairness of the loss.
- Shock or numbness – Feeling emotionally detached or unable to comprehend what has happened.
- Fear or anxiety – Worrying about the future, other loved ones, or experiencing intense anxiety from the trauma.
- Isolation or loneliness – Feeling as though no one else can truly understand their pain.
- Hopelessness – Struggling to imagine a future without their child.
- Longing – An intense yearning to be with their child again or to relive moments shared.
- Confusion – Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or a sense of disorientation.
- Relief (and guilt about it) – In cases where the child suffered illness, relief from their pain may be followed by guilt.
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It is important to remember: there is no "right" way to grieve, and no timeline for healing. Support is available, and you do not have to carry this pain alone.
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The Loss of a Child: A Grief Like No OtherI
t doesn’t matter what age your child was — whether they were a baby,
adolescent, or fully grown — a parent who loses their child is still a parent
grieving for their child. That bond never ends, and neither does the love.
Hearing the traumatic news of your child's death throws you into a state of
shock and disbelief. Your mind tries to defy reality, to pretend it hasn’t
happened. The sheer intensity of emotion, the depth of despair, and
even the physical pain that comes with such loss can lead to a deep
numbness — a form of protection from the enormity of the truth.
The death of someone you love is devastating — but the death of your own child turns your world upside down. To see the life you created, someone who is quite literally a part of you, gone while you remain, defies the natural order. It leaves parents trying to make sense of what feels like senselessness.
We expect to grieve our parents — not to outlive our children.
There is no rulebook for grief. Every parent’s journey is different. The overwhelming, raw emotions may make you feel like screaming at the unfairness of the world, or like shutting down completely, unable to face the reality of your pain for fear of being swallowed by it.
The Long Road of Grief and Adjustment
Bereavement means being robbed — robbed of your future, your hopes, and your plans. As the reality of the loss sinks in, it can bring with it anger, hatred, blame, and guilt. Often, the person a grieving parent blames most is themselves.
This guilt and anger can spill over into relationships, even the strongest ones. Partners may grieve differently, and that difference can feel like emotional distance, even isolation. When the child was from a previous relationship, the only person who might fully understand the depth of that loss could be an ex-partner — and this can bring confusion and conflict in current relationships.
As time goes on, you may begin to feel glimpses of relief or even happiness — but these moments can be followed by a renewed wave of guilt. How can life go on? How can I smile when my child is no longer here?
Daily life becomes a mountain to climb. Even basic existence — getting out of bed, functioning at work, engaging with friends — can demand immense energy. Others may struggle to understand your fatigue, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, or emotional reactions around anniversaries and milestones.
The Pain of Final Goodbyes
One of the most surreal and agonising moments for a parent is planning their child’s funeral. Seeing the small coffin. Hearing the words spoken. Watching as people gather to say goodbye. It’s the moment when the finality of the loss becomes painfully, brutally real.
And then there is the heartache a real, physical pain. It lives in your chest like a weight that won’t lift. It’s not imaginary. It’s the pain of a broken heart — a grief that words cannot fully describe.
A Grief That Evolves, But Never Ends
There’s no time limit on grieving a child. At every life stage they didn’t reach, the wound can reopen: their first day at school, birthdays, exams, graduations, weddings — the grandchildren who will never be. Grief returns in waves, sometimes gentle, sometimes crashing.
The truth is, nobody "gets over" the loss of a child. The grief doesn’t end. Instead, you learn to carry it, to live alongside it, to adjust as best you can.
It is important to remember: there is no "right" way to grieve, and no timeline for healing. Support is available, and you do not have to carry this pain alone.
© Listening 2 U Ltd Company Number 07925832