to ask you if there is a non-religious equivalent to God parents?

[PancakePia]

Expecting our first baby, neither of us religious, but love the idea of 'God-parents' without the God bit. Just throwing it out there, are there any non-religious equivalents?

We would see these people as close friends who would be there for our child (we have discussed this with them already) if something were to happen to us and would be there to guide them if we weren't able to.

Is this just a guardian?

Just throwing ideas out there...

I know someone who used the phrase 'guide parent'

Our DD has “odd parents”

Yes - I know a few fairy godmothers and sponsors

My friends children have Odd Parents😊

Do you mean someone to talk to or someone to bring them up? Godparents are not guardians, they are advisers and guiders.

@JacquesHammer love that.

I'm a nominated guardian for my nephew in the event of anything terrible happening to his parents. In their wills, that is.

@wowfudge not to bring them up. We aren't talking about legal guardians but more a guiding role. DPs mum died unexpectedly when he was young and his dad wasn't around at the time. He had no adult role models in his life that were there on the other end of the phone hence why having someone to look out for our child if something were to happen to us is important to him. I'm just the researcher and trying to work out what other people do in the absence of religion

I am a legal guardian to my niece in that it Is written somewhere and I signed it that if something happens to her parents I am the one who will make the decisions etc

If you have a humanist naming ceremony instead of a christening then you can choose guide parents. We had ours in some beautiful woodland with a forestry commission centre and all our family and friends came together to celebrate - would thoroughly recommend. [https://humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/humanist-namings/]

humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/humanist-namings/

I was also going to mention naming ceremonies. I think you can get them done at the registry office as well.

We had a welcome party for DS 1 and he has a 'godless mother'. I'm afraid we somewhat ran out of steam for DS2 and never even got round to organising anything!

I’ve heard the phrase ‘life mentors’ used before, but it’s a bit wanky. Guide parents sounds nicer.

We sort of wrote our own naming ceremony whereby we read a poem, thanked the godless mother and made a little speech. But it was mainly just a nice gathering of family. We're not married so it was quite nice for DP's parents, who are more traditional than mine, to see us do some sort of public thing that kind of evidenced our commitment to each other and our family.

My family does un-god-parents.

Yep, I was also put off by anything too earnest or wanky so godless mother seemed the best terminology for us!

I’m just having a few additional “aunties” made up from women I love and know will bring different attitudes and perspectives to the baby’s world.

This thread has just solved a huge debate for our baby! Thank you OP!

Guardians

Could you have a naming service of some sort instead of a Christening and appoint the people you want in a god parent like role at that?

I see @Biscuitsneeded has already suggested the same thing.

We gave DD Odd Parents too.

Fantastic idea!! Reckon we could arrange it ourselves without the need for a humanist to run it? It's not an official ceremony so don't see why we couldn't just get a parent or someone to do it? Or maybe just a casual get together with a few readings?

Mentors or sponsors.