Christening question

[crokky]

Do all babies/children wear a Christening gown? My DD is 7m and my DS is 2.7 - I would like to just get them Christened together in their ordinary clothes - is this extremely disrespectful? Very sorry for my ignorance. I am not really one to dress up and am not after a fancy Christening etc, just close family members to be there.

My DS was baptised (in Church of England) in blue cord trousers and a jumper (at about 2 months old), and there was absolutely no problem. There's nothing disrespectful in not having a christening gown, though I expect family would think it was nice for them to have a new outfit for the occasion.

Not sure if Roman Catholics have different expectations though. I think they have something in the service about white clothes symbolising innocence, which wouldn't work with colourful ordinary clothes.

DD was 6 and wore a cream dress which MIL had made

DS was 2 and wore a white linen shirt and cream chinos

They both looked lovely, but neither wore proper christening robes! Had them done together.

MIL made DD's dress, it was v pretty and she stitched some tiny pink roses on neckline, then made an identical one with lilac roses for my niece to wear (same size as my DD, but younger)

Luckily SIL phoned me and said "v insensitive of my mother, DD will be wearing something different"

No need for a gown.
Ds was 9 mths and wore a smart wee outfit, but even if he'd been 2 wks old I wouldn't have put him in one.

However, what you may need is a white 'garment'. We are RC, don't know if it is common to all churches, but in teh RC church, the child is wrapped in a white garment as a symbol of their purity. It is only round them for about 2 minutes at a specific point in the ceremony and we just used a nice shawl that ds already had and had been snuggle din as a wee baby.

We're RC and a white garment is required (although as someome else said, it doesn't have to be robes).

My sons were christened at 6wks and 4 wks and they wore a christening robe and a shawl. However, robes can be expensive, so you shouldn't feel as though it has to be done. Mine cost next to nothing because both my Mum and I sew, embroider and knit, so the robes were hand-sewn by my Mum and hand-embroidered by me.

I've seen plenty of children baptised in our church with smart clothes (although they do tend to be white/cream) and I've seen plenty with gowns.

Thanks for your help. I was hoping to put DD in a white babygro so at least I know it's not rude to ask now - I'll check with the vicar.

I agree, not at all disrespectful. Sometimes people spend far too much on Christenings, big family parties, expensive clothes, etc. Fine(ish) if they can afford it, but no-one should feel they have to spend spend spend.

I wouldn't do a Babygro (pyjamas), but anything nice and clean. It doesn't have to be white, but babies look great in white.

When my DD was baptised at 10 months, she wore an everyday white dress and white tights. My son who was 4 wore chinos and a rugby shirt.

If you already have something that you considered her 'best' outfit, then that would probably be fine. It is not necessary to go out and buy something new.

We have a family christening gown, quite plain, suits either boy or girl. Was originally my Dads, worn subsequently by 5 aunts and uncles, 3 cousins, my sister and my eldest daughter. My youngest was christened at 12 months, family gown didn't fit so I got a new silk one for her intending to pass down for my grandchildren in similar fashion. It is expensive to buy a gown just for one occaision but makes a very special family heirloom.

I have had one child baptised as a baby and she wore a white everyday dress and white tights (I typically put my babies in white).

I have had two older children baptised (ages 4 and 6) and they wore 'smart casual' - chinos and new rugby shirts (nothing white).