Parents Donate ‘Cuddle Cot’ to The Alty Funeral Service

Alty's Funeral Casket

Parents of a stillborn baby have raised more than £1,500 to buy a cold cot to allow families to spend one last day with their child.

Sarah Bernasconi and Mark Parsons lost their daughter, Maggie, in the central birth suite at Burnley General Teaching Hospital in June, when Sarah was 39 weeks pregnant. Maggie was placed in a cold cot before her funeral, to allow Sarah and Mark to spend more time with their child. 

Sarah and Mark are kind enough to have donated the cot to Wm. Alty & Sons for future families who use our service. The couple affectionately call the portable device a ‘cuddle cot.’ The cot features a plaque engraved with Maggie’s name and date of birth. Sarah said she felt really proud to carry on her daughter’s legacy by donating the cot to other families. We’re extremely grateful at The Alty Funeral Service for Sarah and Mark’s donation, as now we can continue to share this experience with any customers that need it.

What is a cuddle cot?

A cuddle cot, also known as a cold cot, is a portable device that keeps the body cool to enable grieving parents to spend more time with their child before they’re taken to their final resting place. With the cuddle cot, parents have the oppotunity to take their child home, or visit their child at the funeral service in the Chapel of Rest. The cooling device can be placed inside a cot or pram. In addition, it prevents the baby’s appearance from changing as quickly, so families can bond with them for longer. It also allows families to create any tributes, such as handprints and footprints for necklaces, or take any pictures with their child. 

How long can a baby stay in a cuddle cot?

A baby can stay in the cuddle cot for days to weeks. This depends on how the baby passed away and how soon the body will deteriorate. A doctor should view the body before it is placed within the cold cot to see how long the body has before the deterioration period.

If you would like to know more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01254 503240 (Blackburn funeral directors) or 01772 428580 (Preston funeral directors). Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We are always happy to take your call.