Design Ideas for Infant Headstones
With different design themes to consider
when creating an
infant headstone for a precious angel, how does
one settle on a design? Coming up with a plan for an infant headstone
design can originate by a peaceful walk through a serene cemetery.
It is here that many ideas are realized. When one has the opportunity
to view the beautiful artwork that graces the
infant headstones and grave markers in a memorial park, it can make the design process
a little easier.
Before we move further let us consider
the material used to produce an infant memorial. Infant headstones
are available in mainly two types of materials: bronze infant
headstones and granite infant headstones.
Sandblasted Granite Headstones
These types of
infant headstones are
very common as they are usually the most economical. The granite
surface is engraved by means of
sandblasting the design and lettering onto the surface of the granite memorial.
Although this method does not allow for the finest detail work,
it does have good contrast. When properly engraved, the designs
and lettering will be clearly visible for many, many years to
come.
Laser Engraved Headstones
In the last 20 or so years laser technology has crossed over into the monument industry bringing new design possibilities with it. Laser engraving works mainly with Jet Black granite as it provides the optimal contrast with this color. The laser engraving machine can etch fine details and unique artwork onto the flat polished surface of the granite. Photographs, fine artwork and just about every conceivable design is possible with laser engraving technology.
Bronze Infant Headstones
Rich memorial bronze has the ability to capture
very fine details that are not possible with granite.
Bronze infant headstones are cast in relief form whereas the design is raised from the surface,
featuring a sculptured effect. The raised portions of the bronze
are brushed to reveal the natural bronze coloring which contrasts
nicely with the dark painted background. Yet, with age this contrasting
effect will be less apparent.
Infant Headstone Designs
Of the many design possibilities for infant headstones
one of the most popular is the angel themed designs. These
can vary from little cherub angels sleeping on a cloud to adult like
angels carrying a baby or praying for the infant. Some of the other
designs for infant headstones include:
- Baby toys or items such as building
blocks, a baby rattle, baby booties or a pacifier
- Religious figures such as Jesus or Mary
holding a child or infant
- Animal designs such as: Lamb Designs,
Teddy Bear Designs and Bunny Designs
These examples should give you some ideas,
you can also visit our bronze or granite infant headstones page
to view more design ideas.
Personalizing Infant Headstones
Upon the selection of an infant headstone
design, now is the time to personalize the memorial with a name
and date(s). When lettering an infant memorial with the child's
name, many parents choose to include a nickname. If the infant
was a stillborn, the birth/death date is traditionally represented
as a single date on the memorial.
Emblems
Emblems are small design elements that can be
added to most infant headstones in an effort to further personalize
the memorial. There are numerous emblem choices many of which
carry symbolic meaning. These
emblems can be added to the design of most infant headstones.
Epitaphs, Verses & Inscriptions
If there is enough space on the infant headstone
a short epitaph or inscription can complete the personalization
process of the memorial. Epitaphs such as:
- Sleep, my little one, sleep
- Remembering a tiny angel
- So small, so sweet, so soon
are commonly used as they emphasize the
preciousness of the child.
Hopefully these ideas will help you in
choosing an infant headstone design for your precious loved one.
For more design ideas you can visit our
infant headstones catalog
and view the different options available
for infant headstones.You may also consult the following articles
for related reading materials.
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