The CuddleCot device is offered to grieving parents so that they may spend extra time with their baby after they have died.  

cuddle cot is a small cooling device designed to keep a baby’s body cool after death. It usually consists of:

• A bassinet, Moses basket, or crib

• A discreet cooling pad or mattress connected to a quiet cooling unit

• A cuddle blanket works on the same principle but is portable. It is:

  • A soft blanket with a cooling insert

  • Designed so parents can hold their baby in their arms while keeping the body cool

  Unlike a cuddle cot, it does not require the baby to remain in a bassinet, giving families more flexibility and closeness.

The cooling slows natural changes that occur after death, allowing parents and family members to spend extended time (often hours or even days) with their baby.

Cuddle cots are commonly used in:

• Hospital maternity wards

• Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)

• Hospices

• Funeral homes

A cuddle blanket works on the same principle but is portable. It is:

• A soft blanket with a cooling insert

• Designed so parents can hold their baby in their arms while keeping the body cool

Unlike a cuddle cot, it does not require the baby to remain in a bassinet, giving families more flexibility and closeness.

• Give parents precious time for bonding and goodbye

• Allow siblings and relatives to meet the baby

• Help families create memories (photos, handprints, footprints)

• Support the grieving process in a compassionate way

They are widely recognized by bereavement specialists as an important part of perinatal and neonatal end-of-life care.

Cuddle cots and cuddle blankets are suitable for families who have experienced the death of a baby and would like time to hold, bond with, and say goodbye to their child.

• Parents who want extended time for bonding and memory-making

• Families who want siblings or grandparents to meet the baby

• Parents waiting for funeral arrangements

• Families needing time for religious or cultural rituals

A cuddle cot or cuddle blanket can usually keep a baby’s body cool for around 24–72 hours, sometimes a little longer, depending on:

• Room temperature (cooler rooms help)

• The baby’s size and condition

• How consistently the cooling unit is running

• Guidance from the hospital, hospice, or funeral director

They are designed to slow natural changes, not stop them completely. Over time, visible changes will still occur even with cooling.

• The room should ideally be kept cool.

• The equipment needs electricity (unless it’s a specific portable system with battery support).

• Professionals should be involved so you’re supported and legally covered.

Cuddle cots and cuddle blankets work by cooling the baby’s body, which slows the natural physical changes that happen after death. Cooling doesn’t stop these changes entirely, but it delays them.

A cuddle cot usually includes:

• A small bassinet, Moses basket, or crib

• A thin cooling pad or mattress

• A quiet cooling unit connected by tubing

Inside the cooling unit is refrigerated fluid. That cooled fluid circulates through the pad, which lowers the baby’s body temperature.

It works similarly to:

• A medical cooling mattress

• A very gentle, small-scale refrigeration system

The cooling is continuous as long as the unit is plugged in and running.

A cuddle blanket uses the same principle but in a more portable form.

• It contains a slim cooling insert or pad

• The pad is connected to a small cooling device

• It allows the baby to be held in a parent’s arms while staying cool

Because it’s flexible and wrapped around the baby, it allows for closer physical contact than a cot.

What Cooling Actually Does

After death, the body naturally:

• Warms to room temperature

• Begins cellular breakdown

• Eventually develops visible changes

Cooling slows:

• Tissue breakdown

• Skin changes

• Odor development

It does not involve chemicals or embalming — just temperature control

Cuddle cots are commonly used in:

• Hospital maternity wards

• Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)

• Hospices

• Funeral homes

The Ivy Project Charity is dedicated to providing more of these items across the country. 

The charity will have a positive impact at such an awful time, the charity will enable loved ones, to spend very much needed time to grieve, in their home comforts

Jennifer Clarkson

Daniel Barwise

Stephen Milton

Every five minutes, someone in the UK dies without the care and support they need. Find out how you can include a gift in your Will and help those who need it most.

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