A rainbow baby describes a child born or adopted after losing a baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or death in infancy. The rainbow symbol is used to signify that something beautiful has followed a storm.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Small Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas
- Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas With Their Name
- Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas With Quotes
- Matching Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas for Parents
- Gratitude Tattoo Ideas for a Foot
Perhaps you would like to celebrate your new addition to the family, but you also want to honor the life that was taken too soon. In that case, you might want to get a rainbow baby tattoo.
Here are some design ideas for a rainbow baby tattoo. We will also give you quotes to incorporate into the design (or to use as captions for your photos on social media). Of course, make sure you talk with a trusted tattoo artist to find the best design for your situation.
Small Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas
One website, in particular, has a lot of fantastic rainbow baby tattoo ideas. However, don’t be limited by what you see online. Your story is unique, so don’t be afraid to use your imagination to create a visual representation of your experiences.
1. Rainbow footprint
A rainbow footprint tattoo tells the story that you are happy with your new arrival, but at the same time, you would like to honor the life of the child (or children) that passed.
2. Colorful rainbow heartbeat
Hearing your baby’s strong heartbeat is undoubtedly a cause for celebration. However, a black heart followed by a rainbow EKG heartbeat pattern shows the pain you suffered before experiencing this miraculous sound.
3. Clouds and rainbow
One online design that seems to get a lot of attention depicts clouds followed by a colorful rainbow.
4. Rainbow mother and child with hearts
If you have lost multiple children, you might want to honor each life with a small tattoo. For example, one online design shows a mother holding a “rainbow baby” with two nearby hearts incorporated in the design.
5. Angel baby
A parent’s arms can hold multiple infants. Perhaps one of those infants has wings while the other does not. This design might be one way to celebrate the birth of a child while at the same time remembering one who passed.
6. Children playing
Another way to honor and celebrate your children is to depict two children playing together on a small tattoo. Like the previous example, one could have wings representing the child who passed.
7. Initial with wings
If you are new to tattoos and would like a subtle design, consider using the initials of the child you lost surrounded by wings. Follow this with rainbow-colored initials to celebrate your new addition to the family.
8. Rainbow heart
Unlike other tattoo hearts, a rainbow heart symbolizes that the parent experienced storms before receiving the gift of a child. A rainbow heart is a particular type of grief tattoo.
9. Footprints in black followed by rainbow footprints
Some families struggle for years before having a rainbow baby. Remember the lives of those you lost with sets of black-inked footprints followed by a rainbow-inked footprint.
10. Rainbow feather
Feathers, especially white feathers, sometimes are used to represent communication with the spiritual world. A rainbow feather can be used to symbolize that, while you are grateful for your rainbow baby, you are still mourning the loss of those who were not able to survive.
Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas With Their Name
Any of the previous ideas could be altered to include your children’s names or initials. In fact, adding them would be an excellent way to share with the world the names of all of your children.
Here are some rainbow baby tattoo ideas that include a name or names.
11. Rainbow stripes with the name of the child over the top
Some rainbow baby tattoo designs use rainbow stripes instead of a curved rainbow. Use the rainbow stripe background to highlight the name of your rainbow baby.
12. Rainbow elephants
Rainbow elephant tattoos seem to be prevalent online. The trunks of these baby rainbow elephants sometimes hold a parent elephant’s tail.
Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas With Quotes
Some people may not understand the term “rainbow baby.” Make the message of your tattoo even more clear by adding a phrase to your rainbow baby tattoo.
13. “We rejoice when the sun comes out after a storm and a rainbow shines bright all around us.”
While this isn’t the most concise saying, it expresses the thankful attitude many parents have when a rainbow baby joins their family.
14. “Thunder precedes the sunlight.”
This is a short quote to use for your rainbow baby tattoo.
15. “A rainbow baby reminds us to hold hope and love in our hearts.”
We know how difficult it is for couples to stay positive and hopeful when they experience the grief of loss.
16. “Rainbows are fleeting reminders of what is lost and what is promised.”
We like this quote because, unlike many of the other ideas, it doesn’t mention the idea of a storm.
17. “Angels paint rainbows across the sky when a baby leaves heaven to join us on Earth.”
An image of an angel can be incorporated into this design.
18. “Rainbows gently kiss the Earth as mystical reminders that hope is eternal.”
You might want to read gratitude books to find inspiration for your tattoo.
19. “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” – Genesis 9:16
Read chapter nine of Genesis to find a quote for your rainbow baby tattoo. Consider reading many different versions so that you can find the best-sounding translation for your situation.
20. “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.” – Ezekiel 1:2
Christians might also consider using this verse from Ezekiel for their rainbow baby tattoo.
21. “Hope”
Don’t overlook the idea of using one impactful word in your rainbow baby tattoo.
22. “I held you every second of your life.”
We know that this quote is more appropriate for a miscarriage tattoo. However, you might want to tattoo several designs that remember the life of the babies you lost while at the same time celebrating your rainbow baby.
23. “When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” – C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis wrote a book about grief and the Narnia series.
24. “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dared to dream really do come true.” – Yip Harburg
You will recognize these words from the famous song from The Wizard of Oz.
25. “For this child, we have prayed.” – 1 Samuel 1:27
Hannah’s prayer follows this verse.
26. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” – Corinthians 13:7–8
This passage from the Bible is often used at weddings. We think it is appropriate for a rainbow baby tattoo as well.
27. “Everyone wants happiness, no one wants pain; but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.”
Acknowledge that your journey to parenthood hasn’t been easy.
Matching Rainbow Baby Tattoo Ideas for Parents
Would you and your partner like to get matching or coordinating tattoos to celebrate a rainbow baby? Here are some ideas.
28. Set of wings
We like this matching tattoo. Parents who lost a baby had angel wings tattooed on their backs. Then, when another baby arrived, they placed the child between their tattooed wings for a photoshoot.
29. Seeds
We also found this article about singer Halsey. She and her partner got matching tattoos on their feet of the word “seeds” written in each other’s handwriting.
Gratitude Tattoo Ideas for a Foot
The foot is a popular place for tattoos for a variety of reasons. Here are some rainbow baby tattoo ideas that express gratitude.
30. Grateful
Beautiful words can make beautiful tattoos. Consider the word “grateful” for your tattoo to express your emotion. One photo online showed a tattoo of the word “gratitude” written in the shape of a circle – to show that their gratitude was without end.
31. Tree
Tree tattoos aren’t only beautiful, but they also symbolize “family.” Your tattoo can celebrate the ancestors who came before as well as the subsequent generations.
32. “As long as there is someone in the sky to protect me, there is no one on earth who can break me.”
Do you like the concept of guardian angels? This might be the right statement for your tattoo.
33. Spiral
A simple spiral symbolizes infinite gratitude. You can create the spiral in rainbow ink to signify your gratitude for your rainbow baby.
34. Flowers
Learn the language of flowers and use your knowledge to create a "thankful" tattoo. For example, yellow lilies are sometimes used as a symbol of gratitude.
Share Your Sorrow and Happiness With a Rainbow Baby Tattoo
While reminding you of all you have to be grateful for, a rainbow baby tattoo also honors the life that was taken too soon. Your tattoo will not only be meaningful to you, but it could also offer hope to those who are suffering from infertility and/or miscarriages.