subject: Baptizing Your Son Or Daughter When Is The Right Age? [print this page] How do you choose the proper time to baptize your son or daughter? Since the applicable answer is determined by your unique circumstance, all you can do is educate yourself about your options.
Following are some things that may aid you with your decision:
If you belong to a church you may want to speak to your priest or church leader and debate with him or her the tenets of that particular faith.
You might decide to do some detailed research by reading. The stores carry many books and publications that deal with Baptism.
The most commonly accepted description of the word baptism is ........ a rite of cleaning with water as a symbol of religious purification and consecration.
Why do you want to have your son or daughter baptized? Is it because you consider it a naming ceremony or an occasion for a party? A little one is named when their entering the world is registered. A party is a celebratory event, and of course the birth of your child is worthy of a celebration and thankfulness for his or her safe birth however it is not vital to go to the lengths of a baptism for this.
Some parents believe a child should be given a choice in their faith. Those families may decide not to baptize their child until he or she is sufficiently mature to help in the decision. If thats you, you may wish to have a Dedication ceremony where the child gets to meet the church family, his or her name is noted, and then all move to a party or gathering to rejoice in the birth of the baby. Luckily, you dont have to worry about an age cut-off for baptisms, nor is there a best before date that must be considered.
If you have an understanding of the commitment required for the baptism of your child, the godparents willing to decide on the little ones behalf, and the approval of your minister or church leader, then you should decide to have the ceremony.
Your alternate option is to delay until your son or daughter is old enough to contribute an opinion. If youre in no hurry, theres no immediate reason for a baptism ritual.
