The Cost of Cremation for a Child, Infant, or Stillborn Baby

Daniela Fortino

The loss of a child is a tragic and often unexpected experience for parents, guardians, and family. There are many funeral options, so knowing what to expect financially beforehand can help alleviate one of the many burdens a family can face during a difficult time. Here is what to expect regarding the cost of cremation for a child, infant or stillborn baby.

How much does it cost to cremate a child, infant or stillborn baby?

The cost for cremation varies based on the crematorium or funeral home, the cremation process, and the size of the deceased. Generally speaking, the price for the cremation of an adult at a conventional funeral home typically ranges anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

The cost of cremation for a child or infant is typically lower than the cost for an adult. The lower price is mainly due to the lower body mass of the deceased. They would be smaller than the average adult, so the cremation process is quicker and uses less resources.

The cremation cost varies and can be determined by contacting a crematorium or funeral home. At Eirene.ca, see our pricing information. Our standard cost for the cremation of an adult starts at $2,700.

At Eirene, we have partnered with Affirm payments to ensure every family has access to affordable death care. Once approved, Affirm allows you to make time payments for your desired services with no hidden fees or late fees. Even if you are not eligible for Affirm’s payment plan, we will work with you to ensure you get the support you need.

What is included in the cremation fee?  

There are services usually included in cremation fees, apart from the cost for the cremation process. Again, these vary from place to place, as does the price, but it often includes services such as documentation, transportation, preparation, and the cost for cremation.

At Eirene, cremation packages for a child or an infant are relatively similar. The services included in the cost are:

• General services from the funeral director and staff for their help in coordinating the process. This includes cremation arrangements and assistance with authorization and permits.
• Documentation. This includes completing the necessary paperwork to carry out the services such as death registration, burial permit, certificate of cremation, and more.
• Body transportation to the facilities.
• Sheltering fee. This is for sheltering the deceased in the facility while completing paperwork.
• Cremation container for transportation to the crematorium.
• Coroner's fee for issuing the cremation certificate (price set by Chief Coroner of Ontario).
• Municipal death registration fee (charged by the local municipality).
• Crematory fee. This is for the cremation and transfer from storage to the crematorium.

The price difference between an infant and a child varies slightly. There is a discounted price for services of the funeral director and staff with an infant, and there is no cremation container or crematory fee included in the package.

What are the urn options?

Once the cremation process has taken place, ashes are typically stored in an urn. Many funeral homes offer various themes and styles for these urns, including urns specified for infants and children. These are typically smaller in size and display a theme related to children, such as angels, hearts, animals, and the like.

The Eirene urn catalog has different urn types to choose from, organized by material, theme, or size. For example, there is a category specifically for infant urns, which are generally smaller in size and cheaper than average-sized urns. For infant urns, prices range from $100 to $600.

In addition to specialized urns, keepsake urns and jewelry are also popular options. A keepsake urn allows the sharing of remains among members of a family. The ashes get divided into smaller urns so they can be kept in multiple locations. Keepsake jewelry typically contains a small portion of the deceased ashes within it or has the deceased's fingerprint on it.

The Eirene catalog has several keepsake urn options to choose from in various styles, themes, and materials. The price ranges from $50 to $175.

Options for keepsake jewelry in the catalog include necklaces, bracelets, and keychains. These come in a variety of styles and materials, such as silver and gold. Prices range from $85 to $990.

How funeral directors can help

Losing a loved one will always be difficult, but it can sometimes be even more difficult for parents and guardians who have lost their child. Although funeral directors cannot take away their grief, there are things that funeral directors can do to help friends and family during the funeral process.

One of the best things a funeral director can do for loved ones is to help make a funeral as easy as possible. That includes explaining the process and fees to them, helping them finish the necessary paperwork, explaining the procedures, and answering any questions that they may have. Walking them through any complexities helps relieve any additional stress and anxiety that may come from figuring it out on their own.

Funeral directors can provide additional comfort through compassion and understanding. They provide condolences, give them a space to speak if they would like, offer resources and support, as well as only asking what is necessary, and be available to listen.

Jennifer Connolly, Managing Funeral Director of Ontario at Eirene, stresses the importance of letting loved ones take the lead. "Some people want to talk, and that's great. I'm here to listen. Other people see it as more of a transaction and do not want to talk to me about their feelings or their grief, and that's okay too. Either way, we are going to help however we can," she explained.

Whether the individual is an infant or over one hundred years old, "we have to treat everybody with the same dignity and respect," said Connolly.