subject: Shopping For Christening Outfits: The Ins And Outs [print this page] One tradition most Christian denominations share is a babys Christening. Whether it is a rite of baptism or simply a blessing, pronouncing a Christian name on the baby, they share a common desire to dress the baby in white a symbol of purity. Earlier generations would dress the baby in a long christening gown with lots of embroidery, fancy stitching and/or lace whether the baby was a boy or a girl. They used to be hand-made by the mother, grandmother or godmother. But today, with the many efficient improvements of clothing manufacture, the manufactured christening gown has all but replaced the hand-sewn one. The upside of losing such a wonderful tradition is that there are now thousands of styles that are now available for christenings for both boys and girls. And that means that boys dont need to be christened in a gown anymore. The wide variety of boys christening outfits include fancy rompers, bubbles, creepers, suits, and multi-piece sets in knit, silk, cotton, satin, linen as well as some new state-of-the-art fabrics. Generally, most of the baby baptism clothes come in sizes larger than newborn, too with some makers offering sizes up to 24 months for those people that put off the christening for one reason or another. When it comes to girls, their christening outfits include long gowns, medium length daygowns and short dresses in knit, silk, cotton, satin, linen and more. One tradition that has not died, however, is the desire to save the christening outfit even if grandma did not make it. Some will use the same outfit or gown for all the children in the family and have the names and christening dates embroidered on the hem. Needless to say, such an article would be a cherished keepsake that should stay in your family for generations, thus creating the need for the knowledge and skills on preserving a christening gown Needless to say, it is very important to select the right outfit for you child.
One consideration would be whether or not you should get a family gown or individually choose one of the many available christening outfits for each child separately. The drawbacks of a family gown are you usually have to get a gown that is simple enough to be used for a boy and a girl. Most dads these days dont like the idea of a gown on their son. And with the huge choices of absolutely stunning christening gowns these days (many modeled after the current styles in bridal gowns) you could be shortchanging your daughter. Plus, you would have to decide to which of your childrens families youd bequeath it. Whereas, if one is chosen for each child, you wont risk having two or more grown children vying for a cherished christening gown. But the best reason for an individual outfit may be that you can choose one that fits your childs personality, current size, as well as a style for the particular season the christening is held. You have options such as short sleeves, short pants and creepers in lightweight fabrics for a summer christening - or long pants, long sleeves and sweaters in warmer fabrics for the winter-time. In short, your children should be comfortable while wearing the christening outfits that you have bought them.
Aside from christening outfits, you will want to spend some time looking at the myriad of christening gifts and accessories available that will go well with your christening outfit. This includes shoes, socks, jewelry, blankets, preservation bag, unusual keepsakes and a bib (all important if your child is teething or prone to spitting up). Christening outfits and accessories can be purchased from department stores, but their selection is usually rather bleak since their buyers tend to be en masse only a few times a year, so that the best choices sell out in the first weeks, leaving you with the styles others passed on. The best place to look is in a specialty childrens boutique or an online specialty baby boutique. Some small childrens stores specialize in dress wear which include a large supply of christening outfits. Some online stores have such a large selection that it can take your breath away and create an altogether new problem the difficulty of making a decision. The prices range with that variety, too. Meaning, whether you want to spend hundreds of dollars or keep it around $50, both are possible.
