Ideas for a 'remembrance' gift

[podkin]

My best friend's 2 year old son died last year and the first anniversary of his death is approaching. Would like to get an appropriate gift for her and her family in remembrance but am a bit stuck for ideas. Any suggestions ?

How about a tree or a rose for the garden ?

Thanks WW. They are putting a water feature in their garden and I know one or two other friends are getting plants. Might end up doing the same as it is a nice idea, but wondered if there was anything else I could get...

Did they already plant a tree or shrub for him, either in woodland or in their garden?
We have a crab-apple tree for our prematurely stillborn son and, as Triplets (from whom I got the idea) says, this pretty little tree always has something of interest going on - glorious little red apples now, which hang on after the leaves have fallen, blossom in Spring. It will not grow big enough to unbalance even a small garden and ours means the world to us.
If they have a tree already, maybe you could offer to buy some fragrant bushy shrubs to plant round it - chamomile, lavender, hyssop, rosemary, thyme (all of which are reasonably hardy).
I am very sorry their little son died, podkin.

Lovely ideas Marina and thanks. Sorry to hear about your son...

posts crossed with WW.
Podkin, only you know whether this would be appropriate or too upsetting for your bereaved friends, but how about offering to sponsor a child in the developing world in their son's name.
Dd's godparents sponsored the piccolo pipe in a cathedral organ restoration appeal for Tom. As we have all sung together in choirs over the years that was a lovely thought, even though we live so far from the cathedral in question we still have not visited...
Is there some shared interest like this for you and your friend?

What kind of water feature are they having, podkin? I wonder if you could find something ornamental to go in it - a tiny statue or something? I will have a look on google.

Mostly I should think they will be very very touched that you have remembered. Very sad for them.

Thanks podkin. This was over three years ago now and we have had dd since, but we will never forget him and still remember him with love. Dd is two and how I would feel if we lost her I cannot begin to imagine Toddlerhood is such a special, funny, lively time in a child's development, and I know from experience that the death of a small child is felt very keenly by family friends too. My sympathies to you all, you must miss him very much. It is good your friend has people like you to remember him with.

We do all miss him terribly. My own DS was only 10 weeks old when my friend's son died, and I have just given birth to my DD, and I think I appreciate and love them both all the more after what has happened (not that I could love them any less of course).

thanks JanH also for your idea, another to think about...

I lost my daughter aged 19 months in April. People gave me rememberance gifts on her and my birthday all with the theme of a butterfly.
The butterfly is a symbol used by childrens hospices and in remembering a child as it stands for beautiful,fragile and short lived.
Whatever you buy them will be greatly appreciated believe me as just you remembering that certain day will mean so much to them.

like Marina - my god daughter died 2 years ago and on her birthday we bought "presents" from a Developing World charity - her parents bought a cow (she would have found that funny!) and I bought some exercise books and encils and stuff for a school in Africa.
Podkin - my DS was 10 weeks when my god daughter died - they have a special connection in our minds as DS was the only child she saw when she was poorly

Have spent some time thinking about this. We have a local donkey sanctuary where you can sponsor a donkey rescued from the Holy Land. What are people's thoughts on this for a suitable gift ?

My sister got me a figurine of an angel craddling a baby. I love it soooo much and it comforts my heart.

she got it from usa though.

i have had two miscarriages this year and i wanted something to remember my two lost little babies. willow tree do a beautiful range of angels that you can buy in the uk.one range you can hang on your christmas tree,the other are small ornaments for use as a general ornament.i bought two little angels to hang on my own tree and also two ,of which one was an angel holding a baby.the range is very affordable and so simple and sweet.these are absolutely ideal for anybody that has lost a baby or child.i hope this will be of help to anybody else.

Could you get her some earrings or a pendant with his birth stone in? Or did you want something for her and her husband? What about a really nice frame for a picture of him?

if you want statues, garden centres have selection

Try Bereavement Gifts from The Gluttonous Gardener. They have beautiful gifts for bereavements such as their Rose for Remembrance Crate - this is a white rose bush, which comes with a copper tag to engrave with the plant - they send them out in large wooden crates. Just a nice gift that will last longer than if you just bought some flowers and same if not lower price wise.

My dear friend's daughter Ruby was stillborn in July 2007. I bought my friend a Willowtree Angel which she has on her fireplace. For Ruby's 1st anniversary I bought an Angel Dream Catcher with a ruby stone.

My friend has since gone on to have a baby boy so I have bought her a Willowtree Guardian Angel - an angel holding a little boys hands. As stingray says Willowtree have some lovely figures. I know my friend figures are cherished by her.