This document discusses issues surrounding infant cremations that were revealed in Shropshire, England. Between 2004-2012, no ashes were returned to families after 29 infant cremations at one crematorium. The equipment was outdated and unable to recover ashes. Parents were either not informed ashes would not be returned or only found out after the funeral. Having consistent national regulations and practices for infant cremations could help prevent further distress to bereaved families.

1. The harsh reality of infant cremations
If people don’t like to think about death and funerals
generally, they want to think about the death and
funeral of infants even less. It is, of course, one of the
worst things any family has to deal with and most of us,
thankfully, never experience it.
But this lack of experience means that parents and
families have little idea of what to expect if they are
ever in that position. A recent public outcry in
Shropshire revealed that there are issues which need to
be more widely understood, if only to prevent
heartbreak for future bereaved families.
The local BBC Radio station reported that out of 29
infant (under 6 months old) cremations at Emstrey
Crematorium between 2004 and 2012, no ashes had
been returned to families. Ashes were returned after
one cremation in 2013. Parents said that they had
either been told that there would be no ashes in
advance (but with no explanation given) or had only
discovered that ashes would not be available after the
funeral service was over. Shropshire Council ordered a
full investigation which was published at the end of
May.
What upset the families the most was that, had another
crematorium been used, it would have been possible to
recover some ashes. At that time, the equipment at
Emstrey was out of date and in poor repair (it has
subsequently been updated). There was no foetal
setting to reduce the temperature or turbulence, nor a
baby tray. The lack of consistency – both locally and
nationally – of cremation arrangements for infants
meant that other parents in the same situation were
able to take a small amount of ashes away, whilst at
Emstrey and elsewhere, parents were left with nothing.
Parents of deceased infants are probably the most
vulnerable people anyone in the funeral industry is
likely to deal with. They were almost not anticipating
the death of their baby; they are most likely young and
may well be financially constrained. Until national UK
regulations and practices are put into effect, these
desperate families will continue to find out, too late,
that they will not get the service they expected.
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