Our Memory Boxes...
Our original boxes, designed in 2012, contained the following items:
* A pink or blue hand made Memory Box for parents to keep their precious baby’s things in. Each box was carefully lined with pink or blue tissue paper and contained the keepsake items listed below.
* A clay impression kit, which contained a beautiful frame – one side holds baby’s clay prints and one side can hold a photograph.
* An ink-less wipe kit, which contained two pieces of specially treated paper, to allow parents of hospital staff to capture baby’s hand and footprints.
* A beautiful sandblasted glass candle holder, with the words 'Always Remembered, Always Loved' on, a little elephant and a star. There was an unscented tealight included with the candle holder, so that the family could light a candle for their baby on a special occasion or whenever they wish.
* A small keepsake box to keep smaller items in, such as baby's hospital ID bracelet.
* A curl box, to keep a little lock of baby's hair inside.
* A card, so the family can write a poem or letter to their baby.
* A CD to store baby's precious photographs and videos
* Two identical soft elephants, one for the family to give to the baby, and one for the family to take home. Each elephant had a pink or blue ribbon around it’s neck, with a metal charm saying ‘remember’.
* A small card with a message from us on, with Aidan’s hand and footprint. The card contains our website address, where parents can find helpful information and access a list of relevant organisations/charities that can help to support them.
* A pink or blue hand made Memory Box for parents to keep their precious baby’s things in. Each box was carefully lined with pink or blue tissue paper and contained the keepsake items listed below.
* A clay impression kit, which contained a beautiful frame – one side holds baby’s clay prints and one side can hold a photograph.
* An ink-less wipe kit, which contained two pieces of specially treated paper, to allow parents of hospital staff to capture baby’s hand and footprints.
* A beautiful sandblasted glass candle holder, with the words 'Always Remembered, Always Loved' on, a little elephant and a star. There was an unscented tealight included with the candle holder, so that the family could light a candle for their baby on a special occasion or whenever they wish.
* A small keepsake box to keep smaller items in, such as baby's hospital ID bracelet.
* A curl box, to keep a little lock of baby's hair inside.
* A card, so the family can write a poem or letter to their baby.
* A CD to store baby's precious photographs and videos
* Two identical soft elephants, one for the family to give to the baby, and one for the family to take home. Each elephant had a pink or blue ribbon around it’s neck, with a metal charm saying ‘remember’.
* A small card with a message from us on, with Aidan’s hand and footprint. The card contains our website address, where parents can find helpful information and access a list of relevant organisations/charities that can help to support them.
Aidan's Elephants Memory Boxes.
We chose to use elephants in our boxes, as elephants featured in our preparing for Aidan's arrival and in saying our goodbyes to him. His nursery was jungle-themed, and we played the song 'Baby Mine', from Dumbo, for Aidan at his funeral. We have always loved the sentiment that 'Elephants never forget'.
If you received one of our Memory Boxes when your baby passed away, and you would like to give us some feedback you are welcome to email us confidentially.
Click here to view our current Memory Box design.
The Re-Design of Our Memory Boxes.
Our new Memory Boxes feature the following additions/changes:
* We have moved away from using pink and blue Memory Boxes. Our boxes are now white, gender-neutral Memory Boxes that are inclusive for every family who has lost a child, no matter how early in pregnancy. Each box features the words "Always Remembered, Always Loved...", across the top, along with a little Aidan's Elephant and orange balloon. The boxes have a secure magnetic closure, which is secured with a beautiful printed ribbon with "Always Remembered, Always Loved..". We provide individual cardboard packaging for each box, which is removed when given to families but keeps the box safe and pristine during storage.
* The CDs (for storing baby's precious photographs and videos) have been replaced with a 64GB SD card in every Memory Box. These have been very generously donated to us by TESCO. The large amount of storage space on the SD cards allows parents to store videos along with photographs, and gives them the option to add other photographs/videos (perhaps of things that remind them of their baby, fundraising events they have done, birthday events etc) in years to come.
* We decided to remove the clay impression kit from our Memory Boxes, as sadly not all parents are able to collect impressions (for example, if their baby's hands/feet are too fragile to press into the clay). The clay impression kits are still being provided, but are stored outside of our Memory Boxes. Storing them separately to our Memory Boxes means that staff do not have to open the boxes to remove the clay impression kits (if necessary). Instead, staff are able to open the Memory Box with parents - which we believe is a very important process. The clay impression kits will still be offered to all parents, where impressions are able to be taken.
* Our Memory Boxes now contain printed packs of Rosemary seeds which parents/families can plant in memory of their baby.
* We have added a 5x7" canvas board to each of our Memory Boxes, which parents can use however they wish. We suggest that they are used (with the help of Airedale staff, who have coloured ink pads, paint pads, pens and embellishments to use on the boards) to create a canvas of baby's fingerprints, along with those of the parents and other family members.
* Each Memory Box contains a card for parents to write a note/letter to their baby. There will also be another card provided (stored outside of the Memory Boxes) which has an aperture frame to hold baby's hand/footprints (taken with our ink-less wipe kits). One of the wonderful Airedale Midwives personalises each card, writing baby's name/birth weight/date onto these cards in beautiful calligraphy.
Our newly designed Memory Boxes still feature:
* A beautiful sandblasted glass candle holder, with the words 'Always Remembered, Always Loved' on, a little elephant and a star. There is an unscented tealight included with the candle holder, so that the family can light a candle for their baby on a special occasion or whenever they wish.
* A small keepsake box to keep smaller items in, such as baby's hospital ID bracelet.
* A curl box, to keep a little lock of baby's hair inside.
* A card, so the family can write a poem or letter to their baby.
* Two identical Aidan's Elephants. One for the family to give to their baby, and one for the family to take home. Each elephant has an orange ribbon around it’s neck, with a metal charm saying ‘remember’.
* A small card with a message from us on, with Aidan’s hand and footprint. The card contains our website address, where parents can find helpful information and access a list of relevant organisations/charities that can help to support them.
* We have moved away from using pink and blue Memory Boxes. Our boxes are now white, gender-neutral Memory Boxes that are inclusive for every family who has lost a child, no matter how early in pregnancy. Each box features the words "Always Remembered, Always Loved...", across the top, along with a little Aidan's Elephant and orange balloon. The boxes have a secure magnetic closure, which is secured with a beautiful printed ribbon with "Always Remembered, Always Loved..". We provide individual cardboard packaging for each box, which is removed when given to families but keeps the box safe and pristine during storage.
* The CDs (for storing baby's precious photographs and videos) have been replaced with a 64GB SD card in every Memory Box. These have been very generously donated to us by TESCO. The large amount of storage space on the SD cards allows parents to store videos along with photographs, and gives them the option to add other photographs/videos (perhaps of things that remind them of their baby, fundraising events they have done, birthday events etc) in years to come.
* We decided to remove the clay impression kit from our Memory Boxes, as sadly not all parents are able to collect impressions (for example, if their baby's hands/feet are too fragile to press into the clay). The clay impression kits are still being provided, but are stored outside of our Memory Boxes. Storing them separately to our Memory Boxes means that staff do not have to open the boxes to remove the clay impression kits (if necessary). Instead, staff are able to open the Memory Box with parents - which we believe is a very important process. The clay impression kits will still be offered to all parents, where impressions are able to be taken.
* Our Memory Boxes now contain printed packs of Rosemary seeds which parents/families can plant in memory of their baby.
* We have added a 5x7" canvas board to each of our Memory Boxes, which parents can use however they wish. We suggest that they are used (with the help of Airedale staff, who have coloured ink pads, paint pads, pens and embellishments to use on the boards) to create a canvas of baby's fingerprints, along with those of the parents and other family members.
* Each Memory Box contains a card for parents to write a note/letter to their baby. There will also be another card provided (stored outside of the Memory Boxes) which has an aperture frame to hold baby's hand/footprints (taken with our ink-less wipe kits). One of the wonderful Airedale Midwives personalises each card, writing baby's name/birth weight/date onto these cards in beautiful calligraphy.
Our newly designed Memory Boxes still feature:
* A beautiful sandblasted glass candle holder, with the words 'Always Remembered, Always Loved' on, a little elephant and a star. There is an unscented tealight included with the candle holder, so that the family can light a candle for their baby on a special occasion or whenever they wish.
* A small keepsake box to keep smaller items in, such as baby's hospital ID bracelet.
* A curl box, to keep a little lock of baby's hair inside.
* A card, so the family can write a poem or letter to their baby.
* Two identical Aidan's Elephants. One for the family to give to their baby, and one for the family to take home. Each elephant has an orange ribbon around it’s neck, with a metal charm saying ‘remember’.
* A small card with a message from us on, with Aidan’s hand and footprint. The card contains our website address, where parents can find helpful information and access a list of relevant organisations/charities that can help to support them.
