Supplies FAQs
What is the Vessel for?
The use of the vessel filled with water gives the body of the baby a womb-like environment. We recommend a saline solution 0.9% saline or 0.9% contact solution, to “preserve” the baby by slowing down the deterioration process by a using this natural preservative. We also recommend that families place the baby in a cold not frozen place when not viewing the baby to slow the deterioration. These techniques can be used for a couple to a few days until burial. For more information, to go our Saline Info
What size Urn do I need?
We offer a variety of urn sizes. Each urn describes the capacity of cremated remains in “cubic inches”. You should ask the funeral home/hospital for the cubic inches of your baby’s cremated remains to be sure you order the correct size.
What size Casket should I order?
Chart: Casket Size Guide by Baby Gestation and Length
The caskets on our website are divided by gestation of your baby, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester. 1st trimester (weeks 6-12) order 4″ – 9″ casket. 2nd trimester (weeks 13-26) order 9″ – 18″ casket. 3rd trimester (weeks 27-40) order 18″-27″ casket. You should order a casket that is about 3-4 inches longer than your baby’s length.
Are you associated with In the Light Urns, Perfect Memorials, or Mainely urns?
We are not associated with In the Light Urns, Perfect Memorials, or Mainely Urns. If a family chooses and urn elsewhere we are still willing to serve them with information and support services We are not a large company. We are a small non-profit ministry that serves families who are experiencing the loss of a baby.
How do I use the saline?
Please visit our saline info page for instructions.
Burial FAQs
Where can the baby be buried?
You may find it helpful to visit our burial referral spreadsheet listing organizations that help families bury babies, help financially with the cost, and funeral homes that work with families to discount prices.
Each cemetery operates differently. Some cemeteries will allow burial on a family member’s grave with permission of the family, some will not. Some cemeteries have “Baby Gardens” designated strictly for babies. One may find a cemetery that charges the same for a baby burial as an adult, while others offer space charging significantly less or nothing for babies.
Call around to get specific prices and information from cemeteries, and be prepared for a variety of results. Know that there is often a price for the ground and a price to open and close the grave.
Most, if not all cemeteries, are unwilling to give the grave marker for free. You may find that Catholic and other religious cemeteries charge less for baby graves than their public counterparts.
If you decide a cemetery burial is not feasible, then a home burial may be your only option. Be sure to check the laws in your area that govern this. Laws regarding miscarriage are less restrictive. Information on state laws can be found on this page: STATE LAWS.
Prior to digging on any property, be sure that your burial site is not over any underground dangers such as buried wires, gas lines, etc. Also, be sure to mark your burial site with some sort of permanent marker. You may consider burying a large metal object a few inches under the ground and over the burial site so that it can be detected with a metal detector at a later date.
How can I afford burial?
Visit our Help Affording Burial Page.
For Catholic Clients: What is the Catholic view on burial?
Catholics are required to bury caskets and urn in blessed ground.
The Catholic Church’s position on burial of baby from miscarriage or stillbirth:
CCC 2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being. A funeral is permitted for an unbaptised infant.
CCC 1684 The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.
For Catholic Clients: What is the Catholic view on cremation?
The cremation instructions call attention to the care taken of the cremated remains. They should be treated with the same respect we give to the body of the deceased. The remains are to be placed in a worthy vessel which then is carried and transported with the same respect and attention given to a casket carrying a body.
Their final disposition is equally important, say the instructions: “The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium [a cemetery vault designed for urns containing ashes of the dead]. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” The instructions also state that, if at all possible, the place of entombment should be marked with a plaque or stone memorializing the deceased.
Taken from http://www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/ac1097.asp
For Other Denominations/Faiths: What does my tradition say about burial?
Different faiths have different rules regarding burial. We do not publicize the traditions and rules for all faiths. If you have a tradition that you would like to share with our readers, send it to us (support@heavensgain.org) to share with others. Learn more about faith in loss here.
Shipping FAQs
How quickly will my items be shipped?
Any order placed by 12 pm EST Monday through Friday will be shipped the same business day. Any order placed after 12 pm EST will be shipped the next business day. Orders received Friday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday will be shipped the following Monday, unless that Monday is a holiday.
What are your operating hours?
Our order fulfillment center located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is open Monday through Friday from 12:00pm to 5:00 pm
How long will it take to get my shipment?
We offer shipping options through UPS Ground and FedEx. Express. Express options are Overnight or 2nd Day. The delivery time for Ground shipping depends on your distance from our mailing location in Cincinnati, Ohio. Typically the shipping time is 3-5 business days, not including the weekend, but could take up to 10 days. The costs are calculated automatically during the checkout process.
What happens if I order on a weekend or a holiday?
If you order on Friday afternoon, Saturday, or Sunday, your items will be shipped the following Monday, unless that Monday is a federal holiday. Orders received on a federal holiday will be shipped the next weekday business day.
What is your return policy?
If you accidentally ordered the wrong item or changed your mind, you may return the item within 30 days of receipt. You will be required to pay the return shipping, and any difference in cost if you are replacing the item for a more expensive product. All returned items have a $20 return fee that will be deducted from the refund. Refunds will be issued within 7 days of receipt by us. Shipping is not refundable. If your order has errors or arrives damaged, contact us within 7 days and we will replace it for free or issue a full refund.
What if I made a mistake on my nameplate?
If you made an error on the name plate that you ordered, replacement name plates are $10 for a new one line name plate, or $20 for a new multi-line name plate in addition to shipping costs.
What is your Privacy Policy for phone numbers?
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
More Shipping and Processing Information
Online Ordering
We prefer you place your order on our website. This allows you to double check the spelling, date, and any other details. When ordering multiple caskets and/or urns, funeral directors receive a 10% discount. Please call (513) 888-4200 for the special discount code before placing your order, or if you need us to place the order for you.
Shipping Speeds
Shipping options and prices are displayed during checkout but before your credit/debit card is charged. Choose between guaranteed (Overnight or 2nd Day Express) or non-guaranteed delivery (UPS Ground).
GUARANTEED date delivery: FedEx Overnight or 2nd Day
NOT guaranteed delivery: UPS Ground
Only Express mail has a guaranteed delivery date.
Typically, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, southern Michigan and Chicago, IL are 1 business day using UPS ground, but it’s not guaranteed.
Order Details
Orders are sent out the same business day if the order is placed before noon (EST). Exceptions to this rule are if it’s a federal holiday or the product requires more processing time as noted in the product description.
If you will be sending an order in after noon EST but you would prefer it go out the same day call to see if that is a possibility.
If an order is placed on Friday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday, it will be shipped the following Monday (unless that Monday is a holiday). Rarely there is an unavoidable delay. In this case, you will be contacted through phone and/or e-mail and offered options. Be sure to give us a phone number where you can be reached.
Memorial items and books may be shipped separately. Most memorial items are shipped with the casket or urn. Larger items that do not fit in the same box will be shipped separately. If the memorial item or book is shipped separately, it will be shipped within 2-3 days.
After placing your items in the cart and entering your mailing address, several shipping options will be shown, including Express or Ground. Overnight and 2nd Day Express have guaranteed delivery dates, while ground does not. Ground typically takes 3-5 business days but can take up to 10 business days.
Errors
We try very hard to make sure your order is personalized and made to your specifications. Occasionally there is a mistake. In that case, contact us within 7 days of receipt and we will replace the item for free or issue a full refund.
Please don’t worry. We take great care of our clients, so errors rarely happen and we are committed to making it right.
Refunds will be given within seven days after the item is received by us.
Returns, Refunds and Exchanges
If you accidentally ordered the wrong item or changed your mind, you may return the item within 30 days of receipt. You will be required to pay the return shipping, and any difference in cost if you are replacing the item for a more expensive product. All returned items have a $20 return fee that will be deducted from the refund. Shipping is not refundable.
If we’ve made a mistake, we will pay the return shipping, and not charge a return fee. Refunds are not submitted until the returned item is received by us. If you made an error on the name plate that you ordered, replacement name plates are $10 for a new one line name plate, or $15 for a new multi-line name plate in addition to $7.00 priority mail shipping.
Refunds will be given within seven days after the item is received by us.
International Shipping
Under special circumstances, we can ship internationally. Please call or e-mail us your address and what you plan to order. International shipping can be expensive and takes at least 2 weeks to arrive. We will provide an estimate shipping cost so you may decide whether to place your order.
Catalog/Print Materials
Contact
If you need further assistance call us (513) 888-4200, or email staff@heavensgain.org