Children's Memorial Headstones

There are few things harder than having to bury your own child. Choosing a headstone allows families to express the everlasting love and profound grief that the death of a child leaves behind. We explain everything you need to know about designing a child’s headstone.

Headstones for Stillborn and Infant Loss

When parents have to say goodbye to their children even before they have had a real chance to get to know the world, it can be incredibly difficult. What remains is the desire to honor their brief stay on Earth and to create a place of remembrance. In cemeteries in Germany, stillborn babies and infants are often laid to rest in communal graves. Understandably, many parents want to create a more personal gravesite with a beautiful child’s headstone. Many cemeteries offer special plots for the littlest ones. Especially for stillborn babies, these are often decorated with stars. However, these children’s gravesites often do not resemble typical cemeteries: brightly painted stones, childlike symbols, and toys. Children’s graves are meant to remember those who moved on shortly after they arrived.

Headstones for Children: Materials

The selection of materials for a child's grave is extensive. The choice of a headstone is not only a matter of personal taste but also of budget. However, beautiful and individual headstones do not necessarily have to be expensive. Locally sourced natural stone is an affordable and beautiful alternative for a headstone.

Marble

Marble stands out with its natural beauty, elegance, and durability. This luxurious stone comes in various colors and patterns, offering great variety. However, since it cannot be locally sourced, it is comparatively expensive and quite high-maintenance.

Granite

Granite is known for its robustness and longevity due to its classification as a hard stone. It is available in various colors and patterns and is very low-maintenance and weather-resistant. Double headstones made of granite are timeless masterpieces that last for generations.

Learn more about our works and the stories behind them.

Motifs for Children's Grave Markers

To make your child's grave site particularly personal, loving symbols are a wonderful option. These can be intricately carved into the stone by the sculptor, often through engraving. Depending on the parents' wishes, certain motifs can also be added as ornaments to the headstone.

• Angel
  The angel symbolizes protection, innocence, and divine companionship. It represents that the child is now safe in heaven.
• Heart
  Eternal love, affection, and a place in the hearts of those left behind - the heart symbol on children's headstones stands for these sentiments.
• Rainbow
  The rainbow is a symbol of hope and new beginnings. It is meant to provide strength during the difficult times of mourning.
• Star
  A star is often found on the graves of so-called star children. It also represents hope, brightness, and guidance during dark times.
• Butterfly
  Adorning the headstone with a butterfly signifies transformation and freedom. It shows that the deceased child is now at peace and free.
• Moon
  The moon symbolizes tranquility during the night and sleep itself. On children's graves, it represents the eternal sleep of the departed.
• Bear
  The bear - especially the teddy bear - stands for protection and comfort. It signifies that the child is always safeguarded and cherished.

Unique Design Elements

Exceptionally beautiful and unique: Gravestones made of glass. Colors, photos, images, or even your own drawings can be incorporated into a glass ornament. Glass is just as durable as natural stone and can be wonderfully combined with it. Children’s gravestones should be something special - glass makes that easy.

The grave border also plays an important role. It not only serves as an aesthetic element but also fulfills a functional purpose: It surrounds the grave and provides a clear boundary. Traditional and classic options are the rectangular or square grave borders. But modern alternatives like curved or rounded borders are also possible. Here, too, you can choose from various materials such as sandstone, limestone, marble – or even glass.

The decoration of gravestones is a very personal matter. Whether it’s lights, stuffed animals, toys, or pictures – whatever provides comfort is allowed. Especially children's graves are often colorful and full of memories.

The Flat Children's Gravestone

Flat gravestones, also known as ground or slab stones, are laid flat on the ground – often even by the family members themselves. Although flat gravestones are more discreet, they can still be highly personalized, for example through ornaments, inscriptions, or reliefs. Their biggest advantage: Due to the easy installation, flat stones are particularly cost-effective and low-maintenance.

Children's Gravestone: Duration and Extension

Unlike for adults, the resting period for deceased children and babies is only 10 to 20 years. Once this period has ended, the usage rights can be extended. The costs for this vary depending on the cemetery and region – ranging from several hundred to thousands of euros. Important: While family plots can be extended indefinitely, the usage rights for single graves cannot be extended.

A Gravestone for the Very Young

The choice of a children's gravestone is not made lightly by any parent. It is crucial to take the time needed for this difficult decision. At Messerschmidt, we are here to help create a place of hope and comfort. We offer unique burial sites made of natural stone, crafted in the classic sculpting tradition from our own workshop. Feel free to contact us; we provide personal and non-binding consultations.