Life insurance
1 - Nothing can replace a family member. The emotional loss is staggering. When purchasing life insurance it is wise to consider a policy that is ten times the lost income. Think about it this way. Why stress the remaining parent by making them work that much harder to compensate instead of spending precious time with their family.
2 - Term life insurance is a great way to start for a young family just getting started financially. It is very cost effective. Try and lock in the price for 20-30 years and make certain that it is convertible to a permanent policy for when the time comes.