Not all Siblings Walk Side By Side Footprint Art (Free to Print)
If you are reading this, I want you to know — you are not alone. This post was written by a mother who has walked this road. I have experienced four miscarriages and the stillbirth of a precious baby, and I know firsthand how desperately you search for something — anything — that helps you hold onto the memory of the child you lost.
I created this printable for you, and for every family carrying a love that has nowhere left to go.
There is a quote that stopped me the first time I read it.
“Not all siblings walk side by side. Sometimes one has wings to fly.”
It is one of those sentences that says in twelve words what grief counselors spend years trying to articulate. That your angel baby is still part of your family. That the sibling bond does not require two children walking hand in hand down the same hallway; it can span heaven and earth and still be completely, beautifully real.
That is what this free printable is about.
This footprint art printable was designed for families who have experienced pregnancy loss, miscarriage, or stillbirth — and for the siblings left behind who are trying to understand why their brother or sister is not here. It is a gentle, faith-filled way to honor an angel baby and to give that love a place to rest.
What Is the “Not All Siblings Walk Side By Side” Printable?
This free printable features golden baby footprints, an angel halo, and a single wing, alongside the quote:
“Not all siblings walk side by side. Sometimes one has wings to fly.”
It is designed to be printed, framed, and kept — a quiet, permanent reminder that your baby existed, was loved, and is still part of your family’s story.
The design is intentionally simple and peaceful. There is no dramatic imagery, no clinical language — just a small pair of footprints that say everything.
The printable is available in a high-quality format suitable for printing on cardstock or quality photo paper. Standard 8.5 x 11 paper works beautifully, and it fits perfectly in a standard frame.
The Meaning Behind the Design
Every element of this printable was chosen with intention.
The golden footprints represent the impression your baby left on this world and on your heart — small but permanent, delicate but deep. No matter how brief their time here, every child leaves footprints.
The halo and wing speak to the faith so many grieving families hold onto: that their baby is not gone, only gone ahead. That they are held in the arms of a loving God. That the separation is not forever.
The quote itself was chosen because it speaks directly to the siblings left behind — the children who grow up knowing they had a brother or sister in heaven. It gives them language for something that is genuinely difficult to explain, and it does so with gentleness and hope rather than sadness.
How to Use This Printable
There is no single right way to use this printable. Here are some of the ways families have found it meaningful:
Frame it in your home: A quiet, permanent place in your home that acknowledges your angel baby’s presence. Many families place it in a nursery, a bedroom, or a memory corner alongside photos and other keepsakes.
Use it for a sibling craft: Print the template and invite your living children to add their own footprint or handprint alongside the angel footprints using washable paint. This is a beautiful way to help children process grief and feel connected to the sibling they did not get to know here on earth. See our full guide to handprint crafts for kids for ideas.
Include it in a memory box. Many families keep a memory box for their angel baby — ultrasound photos, a hospital bracelet, a card from the funeral. This printable belongs there too.
Give it as a gift to a grieving family: If someone you love has experienced pregnancy loss, this printable, printed and framed, is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer. It says: I see your loss. I honor your child. I have not forgotten.
Use it for remembrance days: October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Many families light candles, visit gravesites, or gather together on this day. This printable makes a meaningful addition to any remembrance gathering or ceremony.
Include it in a birth announcement or memorial card. Some families create simple memorial cards for their angel babies to share with family and friends. This printable can be incorporated into those designs.
For the Siblings Left Behind
One of the hardest parts of pregnancy loss is explaining it to the children who are already here.
How do you tell a three-year-old that the baby in Mama’s tummy went to heaven? How do you help a child grieve someone they never got to meet? How do you make sure your living children know that their angel sibling is still part of this family?
This printable was created with those children in mind too.
The quote — “Not all siblings walk side by side. Sometimes one has wings to fly” — gives children a picture they can understand. Their sibling did not disappear. Their sibling has wings. Their sibling is still there, just in a different way.
For families of faith, this opens a conversation about heaven, about God’s love, and about the truth that death is not the end. That is a conversation worth having, as hard as it is, because children who grow up knowing about their angel sibling often carry that knowledge with deep tenderness and love.
More Resources for Families Experiencing Pregnancy Loss
You do not have to navigate this alone. Here are some posts from 24 Hour Family written specifically for families walking through grief:
- Comforting Words for Those Experiencing a Miscarriage — words to say and words to avoid, for both the grieving and those who want to support them
- Miscarriage Quotes to Give You Comfort — a collection of quotes for when you need words that meet you where you are
- Bible Verses About Miscarriage — scripture for the moments when only God’s word is enough
How to Download the Free Printable
The printable is available as a free download. Enter your email below to access it instantly. Once downloaded:
- Open the file on your computer or phone
- Print on white cardstock or quality photo paper for the best result
- Standard 8.5 x 11 paper fits a standard frame perfectly
- For a softer look, print on cream or ivory cardstock
A home printer works beautifully. If you want a higher quality print, most local print shops (Walgreens, CVS, Staples) can print it from your phone or email for just a few dollars.
You Are Not Alone
Pregnancy loss is one of the loneliest griefs there is — invisible to many, unspeakable for some, and deeply misunderstood by those who have not lived it.
But you are not alone.
One in four pregnancies ends in loss. That means there are millions of mothers and fathers carrying the same love you are carrying — a love for a child who is not here, but who is not forgotten.
Your baby was real. Your grief is real. And your love for that child is one of the most sacred things there is.
I hope this printable gives that love somewhere to rest.
— Tonya
If this printable brought you comfort, I would be so grateful if you shared it with another family who might need it. You can save it to Pinterest, share it on Facebook, or send the link to a friend. You never know whose heart it might reach.
A note on support: If you are struggling with grief after pregnancy loss, please reach out to someone who can help. The Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support (nationalshare.org) offers compassionate resources for grieving families.
