Bereaved Parents' Perceptions of the Doll Reenactment After Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths

A death scene investigation is required to determine sudden infant death syndrome, and a doll reenactment optimizes the information obtained. The aim of this study was to explore how acutely bereaved parents experience doll reenactments that are conducted after the sudden and unexpected deaths of their infants.

A mixed-methods design, including surveys and semi-structured interviews, was used in a cross-sectional, national study to explore the experiences of doll reenactment among 45 bereaved parents.

Forty-four percent of parents reported moderate to high distress during the doll reenactment, with significantly heightened distress in those who discovered their child lifeless and who later reported posttraumatic intrusions. An analysis of parents' narratives showed that the doll reenactment was challenging, particularly because of the doll's appearance and the activation of intrusive images in those who found their child lifeless. Parents overall experienced less distress than anticipated during the reenactment, and no lasting difficulties were reported. Some parents identified benefits from the reenactment, such as sharing a coherent narrative of the death. The parents' reactions to the doll reenactment were multifaceted and complex.

These findings illuminate the emotional challenges parents face during a doll reenactment and emphasize the delicate balance between obtaining crucial information and avoiding additional trauma in the aftermath of infant deaths. Because the doll reenactment's diagnostic utility or benefits to post-loss coping are uncertain, anticipatory guidance about its psychological dimensions may mitigate distress, and incorporating a gateway for professional support may further align it with the needs of acutely bereaved parents.