How to Register a Stillbirth and Plan a Baby Funeral in Singapore

8/3/2025

Losing a baby is an incredibly emotional and difficult experience, and handling the necessary arrangements can feel overwhelming. However, Singapore has a streamlined process for registering a stillbirth and planning a baby funeral, ensuring that these sensitive matters are dealt with with compassion and respect. Here's a guide to understanding the steps involved.

How to Register a Stillbirth in Singapore

In Singapore, the process of stillbirth registration has been simplified and automated to ease the burden on grieving parents. When a stillbirth occurs, it is automatically registered through an online system. This process ensures that the registration happens quickly and efficiently, so parents can focus on their grief and recovery.

Key Points About Stillbirth Registration:

Threshold for a Stillbirth: A stillbirth is defined as the loss of a baby after the 24th week of pregnancy. If the baby is born without signs of life after this point, it is considered a stillbirth.
Automatic Registration: When a stillbirth occurs, a doctor will electronically certify it, and this triggers automatic registration with the Singapore authorities. There is no need for parents to physically visit a counter to register the event. This system is designed to make the process as seamless as possible during such a difficult time.
Digital Certificate: Parents can download a digital stillbirth certificate within 30 days of the event through the My Legacy website. This certificate serves as an official document and can be used for future purposes, such as planning a funeral.
Commemorative Birth Certificate: Naming Your Stillborn Child. Recent amendments to the law now allow parents to register a name for their stillborn child within a year of the stillbirth. This gives families the opportunity to honour their child with a name, if they choose to.

This straightforward approach to registration helps ensure that parents can proceed with the next steps without unnecessary delays or complications.

Planning a Baby Funeral in Singapore: A Compassionate Process

After the registration, the next important step is arranging a funeral. Planning a baby funeral can feel incredibly overwhelming, but in Singapore, there are compassionate services designed to support grieving parents through the entire process. The goal is to provide a dignified farewell that honours the memory of the child, no matter how short their time in the world.

Steps Involved in Planning a Baby Funeral:

Choosing a Funeral Provider: There are several funeral service providers in Singapore who specialise in baby and child funerals. These providers offer tailored services to meet the specific needs of parents during such a sensitive time. The Life Celebrant, for instance, is a provider that offers personalised and respectful funeral services for babies and children.
Selecting the Right Casket: For infants, stillborn babies, or young children, choosing the right casket is a key part of the funeral. These caskets are smaller and specially designed to fit the size of the child. Common sizes range from 25 cm to 43 cm, depending on the age and size of the baby.
Personalising the Service: Parents often choose to make the funeral service more personal by adding meaningful touches such as:
- Themed caskets or decorations reflecting the baby’s interests or personality.
- Balloons, photographs, and personal keepsakes inside the casket.
- Memorial readings, poems, or songs that hold special significance for the family.
Burial or Cremation: Depending on the family’s preferences or religious beliefs, the baby can either be buried or cremated. Some funeral services also offer options for parents to keep a portion of the ashes in a memorial urn or another special keepsake.
Memorialisation Options: Many families also choose to create lasting memories through memorials such as engraved plaques or keepsake jewellery. This provides a tangible reminder of the child's brief life.

Practical Considerations and Support Services

While organising a baby’s funeral, there are some important considerations to help ease the process.

Funeral Duration: A typical baby funeral Singapore lasts one to two days, depending on the family's wishes. This timeframe provides ample opportunity for family and friends to gather, pay their respects, and for parents to grieve in their own way.
What If No Birth Certificate Was Issued?: If the stillbirth occurs before a birth certificate can be issued, parents can still proceed with the funeral. A memo signed by a doctor will be sufficient for cremation or burial arrangements.

Final Thoughts and Support for Grieving Parents

Dealing with the loss of a baby is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences any parent can face. While the steps for registering a stillbirth and planning a funeral can seem overwhelming, there are compassionate services in Singapore to help guide you through the process. From automatic registration to personalised funeral services, everything can be handled with the utmost care and respect.

At The Life Celebrant, we are dedicated to supporting you during this incredibly difficult time. Our team of experienced funeral directors will work closely with you to ensure that every detail is taken care of with compassion and dignity.

Contact us now for more information on how we can assist you in arranging a meaningful and respectful farewell for your precious child.

0 Comments

How to Register a Stillbirth and Plan a Baby Funeral in Singapore

How to Register a Stillbirth in Singapore

Planning a Baby Funeral in Singapore: A Compassionate Process

Practical Considerations and Support Services

Final Thoughts and Support for Grieving Parents

Leave a Reply.

Archives

Categories

ADDRESS

PHONE

EMAIL