Death during early years is described as which term?

• A. Childhood loss
• B. Infant loss
• C. Sudden loss
• D. Anticipated loss

Answer: (A)

The term used for death occurring in the early years of life is childhood loss because it identifies deaths that happen during childhood, not infancy. Infant loss is strictly death of an infant (0–12 months). Sudden loss describes how quickly death occurs, and anticipated loss describes a death that was expected due to illness; neither specifically names the age of the person. So, when the death happens in the early years, the appropriate label is childhood loss.