Baptism/Christening tips

[anaberry]

Hi everyone,
Im planning on doing Mikeys baptism mid January, but I'm at a loss to where to start planning.
any tips from you more experienced moms will be much appreciated. For example - how do you calculate the size of gown your baby will wear to make the order?
any websites that have good resources or ideas?
what did you guys do for favors?
who do you invite to these things?
any other random recommendations for me to keep in mind?

[misstunes]

Just had L's baptism this past Sunday. I wouldn't classify myself as experienced but here's what we did.
She wore my baptism gown, it was handmade so it didn't have a size. But the little boy that was baptized with her wore a little white suit, it was adorable.
For favors I did scratch tickets for adults and a goody bag for kids that had stickers, bubbles, glow sticks, and an eraser all from Wal-Mart's party favor section. I'm not big on chocolates/soap/junk drawer favors. We invited "the bare minimum" which included our close friends, immediate family, and aunt's and uncles. It was about 40 people still. My friend made an incredible cake. Aside from the ceremony that was the best part.

[abvintage]

Nov 10, 2015 19:07:01 GMT -5 anaberry said:

Hi everyone,
Im planning on doing Mikeys baptism mid January, but I'm at a loss to where to start planning.
any tips from you more experienced moms will be much appreciated. For example - how do you calculate the size of gown your baby will wear to make the order?
any websites that have good resources or ideas?
what did you guys do for favors?
who do you invite to these things?
any other random recommendations for me to keep in mind?

First things first. Depending on what religion and church you may need to schedule it. I know the Catholic Church avoids baptisms during advent and lent. Also there are classes you have to attend and they are pre scheduled out.

Pinterest has lots of great ideas.

Godparents, close friends and family are normally invited but it's really up to you.

[telos]

All of my children were baptized in the same, gender-neutral gown. It's a beautiful, simple white cotton gown with an sweet little yellow and light blue embroidery around the neck. I bought it from a local specialty shop when DS1 was born (back then, we lived in a big southern city, where you were more likely to find a specialty shop selling handmade baptismal and Easter gowns and fancy kids' clothing). I prefer gowns because they are very forgiving with size - DS1 was six weeks old when we had him baptized, DS2 was over twelve weeks old and significantly bigger. The gown fit them both, and it can be passed down in the family as a keepsake. (I'll maybe post a picture later, they're all on DH's phone.) Gowns would be considered the most traditional baptismal attire for boys.

We do gifts for the godparents, typically a bag of gourmet coffee and some other treat, a thank you card, and then later send a framed picture of the godparents holding their godchild in the church.

For us, it's typically just a grocery store cake. With DS1, we were more financially restrained and just had cold cuts at our house after. For DD, we had pulled pork. For DS2, I threw together a menu of slow cooker white chili, Hawaiian rolls, vegetable tray, meat and cheese tray, apple pie sangria, peanut butter pie (the godmother's favorite, from a specialty shop) and cross-shaped sugar cookies that the kids decorated as an activity during the party. We just keep it low key. It's all about family and friends.

Scheduling is important, like abvintage said. We always tip the deacon or priest who performs the baptism, just like you would for a wedding.

[hopefulreturn]

We had a few Sundays to choose from based on the churches organized setup for the year. We invited immediate family and friends that are like family. I ordered some trays of food and a cake to have after. Around here it is not custom to do favors or anything. We purchased a Christening gown online. We did take a one hour required class through the church.

[anaberry]

That's a beautiful cake misstunes!
abvintage, this would be a Catholic baptism. Gahhh I forgot I have to choose godparents! Duh! I hate that I have to do that because I have two best friends and whoever I choose, the other will be sad. That's gonna suck!

[anaberry]

Such a great idea using something gender neutral so I can use it with future kids telos ! Great food for thought.

[zonagirl]

I am anxious to get Ava baptized, but we are new to the area and haven't become members of a church yet. We have found the church we want to join, but have only been able to make it once. Last Sunday I got all dressed up but we missed every service because she was either sleeping or nursing I feel guilty that she is 14 weeks and still not baptized...

[anaberry]

At least you have an excuse zonagirl, I have none.

[zonagirl]

anaberry you could always use both a godparents! My godparents are two of my dad's sisters.

[anaberry]

Nov 12, 2015 4:56:03 GMT -5 zonagirl said:

anaberry you could always use both a godparents! My godparents are two of my dad's sisters.

Really? You don't have a godfather? I'll ask the father I'm hoping will give the service if he will allow this!

[Deleted]

We are doing something very low key. DD's will be on the 29th. She will wear the gown my mom, uncle, me, my brother, my niece and DD#1 wore, a white gown with pale blue embroidery. The four of us will go out to lunch afterwards, or we will get a cake for coffee hour at church. We have no family in the area and I hate entertaining.

[misstunes]

Nov 12, 2015 8:54:09 GMT -5 anaberry said:

Nov 12, 2015 4:56:03 GMT -5 zonagirl said:

anaberry you could always use both a godparents! My godparents are two of my dad's sisters.

Really? You don't have a godfather? I'll ask the father I'm hoping will give the service if he will allow this!

Ours was pretty specific it had to be a male and female. But it was fine that my brother is Christian and not catholic. Some of the rules are so silly.

[zonagirl]

Nov 12, 2015 10:04:59 GMT -5 misstunes said:

Nov 12, 2015 8:54:09 GMT -5 anaberry said:

Really? You don't have a godfather? I'll ask the father I'm hoping will give the service if he will allow this!

Ours was pretty specific it had to be a male and female. But it was fine that my brother is Christian and not catholic. Some of the rules are so silly.

Yeah I don't know if the priest made an exception for my parents, but I do have two godmothers and no godfather!

[lawndog1216]

Start with the church. For DD1, they told us EVERYTHING; dates they had open, when the classes were, who to invite, etc. We invited immediate & local family (by word of mouth) and we had a huge cake from Costco for the post-service coffee hour.

Also, a tip I took from a coworker -- double diaper your kid. Everyone wants to hold the baby and take pictures, and it's a long service with no diaper change. We put DD1 in a regular disposable and then a white clothe cover. My coworker passed on this tip because during family photos (the photographer was provided by the church for us), she peed through her diaper and all over whoever was holding her.

DD2 -- still not baptized and no where to baptize her. We moved here almost 18 months ago, and my husband wanted to try out the baptist church. So far, it's the only one we've been to (though we haven't been since May...) and they don't baptize babies -- they dedicate them. I want my baby baptized, but I'm not sure I can convince my husband to go back to the Episcopal church. Anyone know if the Methodist church baptizes infants?

[cookiedough22]

Is baptism apart of the Catholic faith. I'm Baptist/non denominational and mg church does baby dedications. It's on the 29th during morning worship. Members who want their child dedicated come to the later service. We're going to lunch afterwards at a restaurant.

[nimfalen]

lawndog1216, yes, the Methodist Church baptizes infants.

[lawndog1216]

Nov 13, 2015 13:21:15 GMT -5 nimfalen said:

lawndog1216, yes, the Methodist Church baptizes infants.

Thanks for this!