Every October, Baby Loss Awareness Week invites us to pause — to remember, reflect, and talk about the babies who never got to grow up.
For many dads, though, this week can bring up emotions they’ve kept buried for years.
Because while loss affects both parents, dads often find themselves pushed to the sidelines — expected to “be strong,” to hold everything together.
But baby loss changes you. And that change deserves to be acknowledged.
Why this week matters
Baby Loss Awareness Week (9–15 October) shines a light on the impact of miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal loss — experiences that are heartbreakingly common, yet rarely spoken about openly.
It’s a time to remember the babies who are loved and missed, and to push for better care and understanding for families who experience this kind of loss.
The silent side of grief
When a baby dies, the world often focuses on the mother — and rightly so. But dads grieve too.
Many fathers describe feeling helpless, invisible, or unsure how to process their pain.
They might bottle it up, return to work too soon, or tell themselves they need to “move on.”
But grief doesn’t vanish when ignored. It stays, quietly, until it’s given a voice.
Why conversation helps
When dads talk about loss, it changes the culture around grief. It tells other fathers they’re not alone. It shows our children that emotions aren’t something to hide.
Even small acts — lighting a candle during the “Wave of Light” on 15 October, wearing a pink and blue ribbon, sharing a memory online — can make a difference.
Closing thought
This week isn’t just about remembering what’s been lost. It’s about recognising that dads grieve, too — deeply, silently, and with love that never fades.
And maybe, through compassion and openness, we can help make baby loss something no parent has to face in silence again.
