What Is a Rainbow Baby?

A rainbow baby is a baby born after a previous pregnancy or baby loss, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of an infant. For many families, the rainbow represents hope after loss.¹

The phrase can hold a deeply personal meaning. We asked six moms what “rainbow baby” means to them, and their answers reflect the love, faith, and memories they carry into parenting after loss.

Why Is It Called a Rainbow Baby?

The name comes from the image of a rainbow appearing after a storm. For families who connect with it, the rainbow symbolizes hope after the pain of loss. The storm refers to that loss, not to the baby who died.¹

Some families mark the arrival of a rainbow baby with maternity photos or rainbow-themed clothing. Others prefer to celebrate privately or use different language. You don’t have to call your child a rainbow baby if the term doesn’t feel right to you.²

What “Rainbow Baby” Means to Six Moms

Here’s what they shared.

“I think you pray for them more than any other child in your womb if that’s even possible. And then, when they’re born, you just marvel at the miracle of life like never before. You never take any of it for granted.

“I also feel a little sad when others say about their child, ‘Oh, my little girl is growing too fast — stay little.’ Or others tell parents, ‘Wait till their teens.’ Life and growing each year isn’t a given, and it really should be celebrated as the wonderful blessing it truly is.”
— Cindy P.

“It makes me think of my daughter. But I see the word not as eclipsing the memory of the child I lost. Instead, honoring my angel baby even as I celebrate milestones with my new child.”
— Samantha B.

“A rainbow baby is the promise of hope we find after experiencing loss from a baby we loved. It’s beyond wonderful to experience tangible hope through a new baby after such a hard loss in a previous pregnancy.”
— Amy W.

“My rainbow baby is the peace at the end of a storm, the joy after pain, the hope after hopelessness, and the light at the end of a dark road.”
— Tara U.

“I’ll never forget lying in the hospital bed, half asleep, when my Dr. came in the morning after giving birth. She handled my miscarriage, and she handled my son. I’ll never forget the smile she had on her face when she said, ‘You have a beautiful rainbow after such a rough storm— congratulations, you did so well.’”
— Kristin B.

“God’s promise fulfilled — my daughter is the answer to prayer given through brokenness. She is my constant reminder that He is faithful, even when He seems quiet.”
— Nikki N.

Remembering a Baby While Welcoming Another

Welcoming another baby can bring happiness alongside grief for the baby who died. Those feelings can exist together, and a new baby does not replace the child a family lost.¹

For the moms who shared their stories, “rainbow baby” is a meaningful part of their experience. You can choose the words that fit your own family. If pregnancy or parenting after loss feels overwhelming, a healthcare professional or a pregnancy-loss support group can offer support.²

Related reading

• A Heartfelt Letter to My Rainbow Baby
• Meeting My Rainbow Baby Was Pure Magic
• 41 Meaningful Rainbow Baby Names for Hope and Healing
• Just Because I Lost My Baby Doesn’t Mean I’m Not a Mother
• A Rainbow Baby Story: One Mom’s Storm and Rainbow • Podcast Ep 66