If you have other children then you will need to remember that they have also suffered a loss. No matter how you try to protect and shelter your children from the pain, they can sense the emotions around them. We often try and protect our children, but children have an amazing capacity to protect themselves and are often able let you know what they do and do not want, depending on their age.
Many children can feel they are to blame for their parent's distress and sadness if the situation is not explained to them. They can become confused and possibly distressed if they are excluded from what is happening. They may even invent their own explanations for what happened or why it happened or pick up explanations from conversations they have overheard.
Being honest with your other children will help them understand and deal with how you are feeling and how they feel. It is your decision if and how you include your child(ren) but it is now known that children can handle grief and will benefit from being a part of what is happening. Tell relatives and friends what you have explained to the child so that they can be consistent with your explanations and not give their own interpretations that you may not be happy with.
Details about the baby's death can be tailored to the child's age and maturity. Try and give simple, truthful explanations and tell the child as much as you think they can understand. Children will interpret death in different ways at different ages. Remember that they can have a very literal interpretation of what they are told. It is important to choose your words carefully. For example, telling them that their brother or sister 'went to asleep' can create anxieties about what will happen to them when they go to sleep.