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.

Why is 6 months better than v little? Is it just because your DH doesn't want a deadline getting in the way of the first few months of parenthood?

How about suggesting baptism during the Easter Vigil which is when it traditionally happened? Easter is April 4th this year. Then you can move the debate away from the baby's age.

OK, I know this isn't the thread for it but since Lovechoc decided to pick me up on it (and not anyone else...?!) The way me and DH feel about baptism is that it's a kind of 'spiritual vaccination' that protects dd against the evil of the world. We want her to have the benefit of what we see as that protection as soon as possible. If she wants to make an active decision to follow God later in life, she can choose to be confirmed.

Rolf - good idea about the Easter Vigil but it's usually adults and older children who are baptised then (in our church at least) and staying up for hours at midnight might be a bit much for a baby!

Some churches have their Easter Vigil earlier in the evening. Another option is the Easter Sunday service. There were 4 babies baptised at ours last year and it was lovely.

I was a cradle RC who is now C of E. I wanted DS christened asap as that seemed "right" to me. My parents would have wanted that, I'm sure.

However, DH is from a large family that took some coordinating to get together (dear FIL, RIP, was a vicar).

So DS was baptised at 7 months.

DS wore a smart shirt and tank top and little brown smart jeans and looked v cute. DH would have objected strenously to anything that involved pale silk or lace!

Also, DS had become part of the church family through going with us every Sunday, so a lot of people had got to know him.

I felt quite relieved when it was done though. I don't actually believe in Limbo but the idea was still knocking around when I was lttle.

I suspect that the more Protestant you are, the later you would be happy to have your chld baptised, or the less it is likely to matter and the more Catholic you are, the more important infant baptism is, or the more significant it might seem.

Mine are 3 and 4 years old and I still haven't had them baptised, for one reason and another. I like to think God still sees them as part of his family though and we are all v welcome at church.

From a shallow point of view though, spring/summer is a lovely time for a party - MUST get round to organising dcs baptism this year.