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Support Groups for Child and Grandchild Loss

Grief · 7 min read · First published 2005 · Updated November 2026

A hand on a grieving person's arm beside a teddy bear and a candle
Photo by The Good Funeral Guide on Unsplash

You do not have to carry this alone. The groups below support parents, grandparents, siblings and families after the death of a child or grandchild. Many have local chapters, and many now offer online meetings or virtual groups, so you can find others who understand even if there is nothing nearby. Each group's website has current contact details, meeting times and ways to join.

If your grief feels too heavy, or you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) or chat at 988lifeline.org. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists local lines. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

How to Choose a Group

There is no right group, only the one that feels right for you. A few things may help.

  • Try it more than once. The first meeting can feel overwhelming. Many people need two or three visits before they know if a group fits. You are allowed to just listen.
  • Look for people who share your kind of loss. The pain of losing a baby, a teenager, an only child or a child to violence can be very different, and a group that fits your situation can feel like a relief.
  • Ask how the group is run. Is it led by trained volunteers, by other bereaved parents, or by a professional? Is what you say kept private? Is there a faith focus you do or don't want?
  • Think about format. In-person groups offer a hug and a cup of tea. Online groups are there at 3 a.m., which matters if you live far away or can't face leaving the house.
  • Trust your gut. If a group leaves you feeling worse each time or pressures you to grieve a certain way, you can leave and try another.
  • Groups can sit beside other care. If you are struggling to eat, sleep or get through the day, a grief counselor or your doctor can help too.

Online Communities

Online support can reach you when nothing else can. The Compassionate Friends offers online support and private Facebook groups. Star Legacy Foundation, below, offers live online groups, and M.E.N.D. has virtual groups. Before you join, look at who runs the group and how it is moderated, think about what you want to share publicly, and remember that you can read for a while without posting.

For parents and families after the death of a child

The Compassionate Friends (compassionatefriends.org) Supports families after the death of a child of any age, from any cause. Their website lists more than 500 local chapters across the U.S. and offers online support, including private online groups. You can also call 877-969-0010.

Bereaved Parents of the USA (bereavedparentsusa.org) A volunteer-run group for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. It offers local chapters, a library of readings and guides, a section for siblings, and a contact form on its website.

Alive Alone (alivealone.org) A volunteer-run network for parents whose only child, or all of their children, have died. It offers a magazine, writing opportunities, resources, and online support, including Zoom meetings for some membership levels.

After miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a baby

M.E.N.D., Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death (mend.org) A Christian nonprofit supporting families after miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death. It offers local chapters, virtual support groups, a magazine and memorial events. (Faith-based, so you may want to check that it feels like a fit.)

Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support (nationalshare.org) Has supported families since 1977 after the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in early infancy. It serves parents, grandparents, siblings and other family and friends, with online chats, in-person groups and resource packets.

UNITE (unitegriefsupport.org) A Philadelphia-area nonprofit offering peer support since 1975 after miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or infant death, including groups in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specialized groups for fathers, grandparents and for parenting after loss.

Star Legacy Foundation (starlegacyfoundation.org) A stillbirth education and support organization. Its site describes live online groups for families after a perinatal loss, separate groups for people who are pregnant after a loss, a helpline you can call (952-715-7731, Ext. 1) or text (952-715-7731) during business hours, and peer companions. Outside those hours, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential and open 24/7. You can call or text 1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA), in English or Spanish.

Postpartum Support International (postpartum.net) Not a loss-specific group, but its HelpLine (1-800-944-4773, press #2 for English or #1 for Spanish, or text "Help" to 800-944-4773) offers support for emotional health during pregnancy and after birth, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. It also lists online support groups. It is not an emergency line. In a crisis, call 988 or 911.

A miscarriage or stillbirth is the death of a baby, and your grief is real whether the loss came early or late, and whether others around you understand it or not.

CLIMB, Center for Loss in Multiple Birth (climb-support.org) Supports parents, grandparents and families who have lost one or more twins or higher multiples, from pregnancy through childhood. The site offers reading materials, resources in several languages, and a Facebook group for bereaved parents and grandparents.

After the death of a child by violence

Parents of Murdered Children (pomc.org) Founded in 1978, POMC supports the families and friends of those who have died by violence, with survivor support, information and advocacy resources.

For grandparents

Grandparents grieve twice, for their grandchild and for their own child who is hurting. Bereaved Parents of the USA, Share and CLIMB all welcome grandparents. Grandparents often feel they must stay strong for their grown child, and may have no one to talk with about their own sadness. If that sounds like you, look for a group that welcomes grandparents, or a counselor who can see you on your own. UNITE offers specialized groups for grandparents in the Philadelphia area. You can grieve alongside your family and still need support for yourself.

For children and teens who are grieving a brother or sister

Brothers and sisters often feel overlooked while the adults around them are overwhelmed. They may feel sad, angry, guilty or just numb, and some feel they should protect their parents by hiding it. Bereaved Parents of the USA has a section for siblings, and Dougy Center, below, has activities and tips for children, teens and the adults who support them.

Dougy Center (dougy.org) The National Grief Center for Children & Families, in Portland, Oregon. It offers peer support groups, toolkits with tip sheets, activities and podcasts for kids, teens, parents and supporters, free resources for grieving families, resources in Spanish, and a worldwide program directory to locate grief groups.

Sources

Written by Words to Comfort

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