Flowers for the Death of a Toddler
- Flower arrangements for a toddler's funeral should be small in size.Mimi Haddon/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Sending the appropriate flowers after the death of a toddler sends the right message of sympathy. After the death of a young child or toddler, the family will be overwhelmed with grief, and their responses to everyday situations may fall out of the range of reasonable. At this especially sensitive time, using the proper etiquette is of utmost importance. This sometimes is a very private time; be sure not to intrude with unwarranted gifts. Contact the funeral home prior to sending flowers. Some families prefer that donations be given in lieu of flowers. - Often, small children or toddlers are identified by colors of pink or blue. Little girls are dressed in pink and little boys dressed in blue to erase any doubts of their gender. In death, these colors may present themselves at funerals and wakes. When selecting flowers for a toddler's funeral, consider these gender-based colors. A small vase of pink roses for a girl or violets for a boy may be the answer. Carnations or cornflowers may also be options. Keep the colored bouquet simplistic with only a few decorations of ribbon or baby's breath. Stick to tea-size flowers if possible and choose a plain vase or pot.
- A bear holding simple flowers may be used for a boy or a girl.teddy bear and mistletoe image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
Toddlers are typically at an age where their toys are a large part of their world. These toys become part of paying homage to them also in death. A teddy bear holding a single white or red rose can be an appropriate addition to the funeral or wake for a toddler. A larger bouquet held by a bear may be used if the flowers are small in size. For a small boy, a toy truck with the bed filled with flowers may be appropriate. A florist can design a bouquet for this toy, or fill the bed with rose petals or Baby's Breath. For a little girl, an arrangement may be created inside of a princess-like crown or placed in a doll's lap or hands. - For an alternative to a typical flower arrangement, consider using balloons. Children typically enjoy balloons. The items are often used for celebrations such as birthdays. For celebrating the short life of a toddler, balloons may be the solution. Attach a single flower to the string of a single, helium-filled balloon. Be sure a weight is attached to the bottom of the string to prevent the item from floating away. A larger group of balloons with more flowers may be created for an outdoor wake or funeral.
