How soon after the birth did you have your child baptized?

Laura - posted on 06/14/2012

Well, remember the point of Baptism. I wanted my baby baptized asap, God forbid something might have happened. He was under a week. If a party is a concern, why not just do the party another week after that or so?

Jamie - posted on 12/20/2011

24 days after :o)

Angie - posted on 09/13/2009

The Church reccomends that your child be baptised within the first 6 weeks of life. Don't let a party define when you will baptise your child, you can always have a getting to know you party after baptism. We lived far from our parents when all of our children were born and we only had the Godparents in attendence. All of our children were baptised later than I'd like - about 1 month of age.

Robyn - posted on 09/02/2009

We had to wait until my son was about 7 months because my mother was terminally ill and my husband was stationed 4 hours away so we couldn't get things worked out until then. My son was the oldest baby being baptized but surprisingly only by a few weeks. The other two babies were about 3 months old.

Katherine - posted on 08/06/2009

All three were baptized within the first three weeks. It's better not to take any chances!

Shibahn - posted on 07/27/2009

My daughter was just baptized recently at about the 2 month mark. My husband wanted it done way earlier but my sister was the godmother and we knew she was going to be in the area around this time. I asked him to compromise and thankfully he did. It is never too early to baptize your baby. Make the occasion what you want it to be and be sure to enjoy it. It's an extra special day!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - posted on 07/22/2009

I am a Catholic mom and mom-mom of four daughters, three of them married with children. One daughter sends her children to CCD and goes to church during the school year and takes off for the summer. Another daughter joined the Methodist church (which wasOK) and had dropped out due to her son playing ice hockey Sun. am.

The third daughter's husband won't let her go to church. What, if anything, could I say tactfully? Donna

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - posted on 07/22/2009

Yes.

Donna

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - posted on 07/22/2009

Six weeks with both children. They used to baptize the first week.

Miranda - posted on 06/13/2009

I think it would be a wonderful blessing to baptize your son or daughter that soon! I wish we could have but due to the timing of Baptisms at our parish, we had to wait until our son was about 2 months old. My son was born on a Thursday, and I didn't have any complications, so I was discharged on Saturday and that Sunday, we took our little blessing to Mass with us and he slept all the way through!

Colleen - posted on 05/29/2009

We had to wait until we could find a date that our godparents could be there. It was three months for all four kids. I hated waiting that long!

Herminia - posted on 05/26/2009

We had our last daughter baptized when she was ten days old. I did everything ahead of time so that I wouldn't have to worry about it after the birth. A very good friend of mine told me that it should be done in the baby's first month.

Bobbie - posted on 05/25/2009

My oldest was around two months, my second about 6 weeks and my twins at 3 weeks. I think if you feel up to it go a head and plan your baptisim when ever you wish. I too feel the sooner the better.

Sofia - posted on 05/23/2009

As soon as possible.

Sabrina - posted on 05/17/2009

We had our little girl baptized at 2 weeks old. Of course we were never shy about bringing her out and around family. I know a lot people say to not even bring the baby out of the house until they are a couple of months old but we just couldn't do it! She's done great though, not a bit of trouble with anything. Our priest and my husband definitely believe in the sooner the better! Congratulations!

Elizabeth - posted on 05/16/2009

I had three c-cetion. My frist born was baptized two weeks later, my second was about two weeks and my thrid was five days old. My husband feels the sooner the better. It's up to you and your husband and how you feel!

Donna - posted on 05/15/2009

You are right to figure in recovery time for baptism as some mothers do encounter c-sections and other birthing difficulties that may put off the baptism for a short time. However, in answer to traditional time periods for baptisms, you'll need to check with your parish not only for seasonal restrictions and times that are already reserved for special events within the church's community. I know that for my church it was desirable to have an infant baptized within two months after the baby was born (my own mother-in-law felt it necessary to have it done as soon as possible as she had my husband baptized within 3 weeks of his birth!).... It's really now a matter of personal choice I would say....

Kate - posted on 05/14/2009

Keep in mind that the due date is really a guess at best! Your baby may decide to stay put an extra week or several days, or require (God forbid!) hospitalization, or you may have a difficult delivery or c-section.

That said....(lol!) with our first I planned the baptism for the week after the due date - I just couldn't resist having it on Divine Mercy Sunday, and my husband is also a big believer in early baptism. We had to set an advance date because my family needed to make travel plans. As it turned out, Guillame was born 3 weeks early so he was a month old at the baptism. Good thing too, because I suffered an injury during the delivery and really wasn't up to much for the first few weeks! A month was about perfect, and we planned for that with our second. Of course, he was born 7 weeks early....

Courtney - posted on 04/28/2009

If this is your first baby then you are not sure how you will be feeling. Planning is fine, but know that you may have to reschedule. I had c-sections, so all my kids were baptised at about 6 weeks. Also, babies like to take there own time so if you are scheduleing with your due date as a delivery date, then you may find yourself still pregnant come that scheduled day. If family is comming into town a little advanced warning is nice. good luck.

Maria - posted on 04/28/2009

Depending on your recovery time, and the soonest available time possible at your parish church, it may go from 6-12 weeks after you give birth. My first-born was 8 weeks old, and the youngest was 9 weeks old ( I had emergency C-section ).

Teri - posted on 04/27/2009

I personally wouldn't...you have to allow for the unexpected. Not only that, but you're going to want some time to recover yourself, get yourself established, and thin out the first wave of visitors My daughters were baptized at 2 and 3 weeks respectively, and it worked out great for both. I wasn't physically uncomfortable, and I felt relaxed as a mom and was able to enjoy myself

Amber - posted on 04/27/2009

my son was baptized at 2wks old only because I was not recovered enough for the first sunday. I stongly believe the sooner they are baptized the better. there is no such thing as too soon. I've known too many babies who have died, even healthy ones. It's so wonderful to know that the ones who were baptized are now saints in heaven watching and interceding for us.

Nicole - posted on 04/05/2009

Hi, we had all of ours baptized at about 3 months old.  Part of that was being able to coordinate work schedules of my husband, in-laws, myself, and the godparents.  We're going to baptize our newest son next month and he'll be 3 months as well, just luck I guess.

Kelly - posted on 04/04/2009

Heh. We've always lived far from grandparents, so we always allow a couple of months between birth and baptism to make sure that everyone who wants to come can arrange it. After #4, grandma said, "oh, you always baptize your babies late" in a mildly disapproving manner. Sigh. Can't win!



Although I would like to baptize sooner, I console myself with the truth that if an emergency came up I could baptize the child myself.

Shawna - posted on 03/30/2009

I ahd my son baptized at 6 weeks. My husbsnd wanted it earlier but the baby was so little he wasn't a premie but he was the size of one. So I put it off until I felt comfortable to take him out in to public.

Patty - posted on 03/28/2009

We baptized our daughter when she was about 7 weeks old, we had planned on having her baptized around 3 - 4 weeks old and had it scheduled with the church for a weekend my parents were going to be in town, then she was born three weeks early.

Jodie - posted on 03/26/2009

My 1st daughter was born when she was less than 3 weeks old and my 2nd daughter was baptized when she was almost a month old. We liked getting it done right away, and in my church you have to take the class and plan the date ahead of time, so I had plenty of time to arrange for the godparents to travel and all that. Although, my babies have always been born within a day or two of their due dates, so I got lucky with the date planning. ;p God Bless!

Melissa - posted on 03/16/2009

For both of my children we the godparents needed to travel, so the Sunday after birth would have been too soon.  Especially for my son who was born on Saturday!  He was baptised at 4 months on Easter and the little one was 6 weeks.

Nicky - posted on 03/16/2009

My baby was about 3 months old when we had her baptized.  I wasn't married in the Church and I wasn't yet confirmed when she was born so I had to do that first.  It was cool though.  We had a private ceremony and the priest blessed our marriage during the baptism.  With the next one, I plan on doing it around 4-6 weeks old.

Angela - posted on 03/15/2009

Hi, for us, we had our daughters both baptised around 6 weeks of age. Gives you time to recover, get into a kind of routine. Make sure you are both healthy and the experience is a wonderful one. Also, we chose to have it done at the Sat. evening mass, as it was a better time of day for me(not a morning person) and the baby was a little sleepy, i enjoyed it. Good luck with everything. God Bless.

Di - posted on 03/15/2009

Depends on wether you are going to have a big celebration or just low key. Remember that you have just given birth and getting used to your child so you will be more tired. My first was emergency baptism in hospital 12 hours old and then in the church for all the rest of the ceremony at 5 weeks. I baptised my second at 5 weeks also. It really depends on how you are feeling, but my advice would be if family offers help, take it.

Shirley Ann - posted on 03/11/2009

Quoting [no name]:

How soon after the birth did you have your child baptized?

Both my parish church and my husband and I believe in having the baby baptized as soon as possible after the birth, but what I am wondering is, is there such a thing as too soon?

I guess I am wondering in terms of recovery time--Is it realistic to plan a baptism for the first Sunday after the birth? What do you think?

Normally in my time you baptized within 2 months. Now a days you see  all age groups. I would think the 1st Sunday might be too soon, just because I am old school - I dont tbelieve in taking newborns out and about alot of strangers - germs!