Best age for Baptism

[Fibilou]

This probably shouldn't be in here but I would like some opinions. We're Christian so will be getting baby baptised; I don't really see the point in waiting to have it done (as part of the point of baptism is welcoming them in to the Church family so surely you would want it done earlier..) and would like to have it done when she is around 3-4 months old. DH won't countenance doing it before 6 months. So we seem to have reached an unexpected impasse over this.

There is no way I would not have her baptised so this is not an option, but I would be interested to know people's thoughts and experiences to see if I am being unreasonable for not wanting to budge from an early baptism.

I went to my nephew's christening on Saturday, he's only about six weeks old. The chapel was bloody freezing though! And I giggled when my husband had to renounce satan.

And why on earth is this in AIBU?

Can't imagine it makes any difference. Might be nice in the summer though, could have a nice BBQ/garden party afterwards?

Mine were 7 months, 6 months and 2 months old when baptised if that helps.

We don't baptise in our church until the child is old enough to make thier own decision.

You might find it more difficult to get a christening gown to fit an older baby.

DD was nearly 11 months when we had her baptized but this was because:

a) FIL had had a major opertaion and wasn't well enough to travel for a few months but we wanted to wait until he could be there

b) Our church only did them one Sunday a month and we then had to wait for the next one where they could fit us in.

By then she was too big to fit in to either of the christening gowns my Mum or MIL had used for us as babies.

I got a really nice christening outfit for her in the end but it wasn't a traditional gown and was quite expensive.

Mine were both over a year old - eldest delayed because of house move, youngest caught up with 6-month delay in Millennium year backlog .

I couldn't have coped with it at 3-4 mths anyway tbh. Lots of logistics with family living some distance away.

5 foot 5, that is another consideration - we have a family gown and that will only fit up to about 4/5 months. So another tick in the "early christening" box

DD was baptised at 6 months (Catholic) and that was late enough for me. Family would have preferred it earlier but you do need time to get your head round it. Also, as someone else said, I noticed very few gowns for older babies when we were looking. Not that that should influence you but should you leave it later and have to buy one it's one more hassle IYSWIM

DS1 was 4 months
DS2 was 8 months
DS3 was 18 months (but it was more a formaility to get the paper in his case - he couldn't have been much more of a part of the church family if I'd tired LOL)

If you haven't done so already it would be worth asking at your local church, how soon could they fit in your baby. Our village church had a 6 month waiting list !!!

That said as it took me years to persuade DH that it was a good idea, our kids were 1 and 3 years old respectively, when we got them baptised together. I hope DC3 will be baptised much earlier.

between 4 and 6 months? no difference at all except @ 6mo you have a more settled baby who is less likely to yell...

is there a scriptural basis for it? is there hell...

(i know you weren't asking that, but this is AIBU)

Fibilou, shallow as I am the gown was a major consideration for the baptism for us! Like you, have old family one and DD3 was growing steadily. Eventually left a few buttons undone and covered up with shawl.

I was going to comment that if you have a full immersion (like we did with 6mo DD3), they may prefer to do it prior to 1 year, as some kind of holding-breath reflex goes afte this time (according to Our Vicar (wasn't listening very carefully), but looks like that is not an issue for you. But congratulations anyway, I am sure it will be a lovely time for your and your church family!

All the babies in our family have been baptised between 3 and 8 weeks old.

"We don't baptise in our church until the child is old enough to make thier own decision."

sensible.

we will be letting DC making their own mind up when they are old enough to do so, in whatever faith they choose they will be supported.

Both of mine were 4 months as they wouldn't have been able to fit in the family christening robe.

Mine varied from 11 months to 4 years...

My family hail from a long line of catholics. Some children were baptised as early as 2 days old, most within 1 or 2 weeks, but otherwise within a couple of months.

There was far less emphasis on a celebration, family get-together then, and more on the religious need for baptism. It used to be at the back of the church with possibly (but not always) a cup of tea and cake afterwards.

Things have changed...

Not 27months They are heavy, wriggle and would rather play with toys in the children's corner and announce this very loudly!

Both of mine were about a year old, but that was because DH was away until then (Navy). Ideally I would have gone for between 4-6 months. I was Christened at 6 weeks.

By the way, vicar took one look at DS1 (a big boy) and said, "Err, I think you'd better hold him." He looked like Muhammed Ali next to all these dainty babies in gowns!

DS was 7 months. It was the best day of my life seeing my precious enter the Catholic Church as I was not baptised as a baby and always wished I had been.