Baptism in Older Babies?

I had my son back in March and I've been slacking on getting him baptized. It's been a really hard year- my father was diagnosed last November with stage 4 esophageal cancer, my parents lost their house, my grandmother's dementia began to progress quickly and dangerously to the point where she recently had to be moved to an assisted living facility. All in all, it just didn't happen. I want to try to have it in February but I don't think my church has one that month. Plus then it would be February- christening, March DS's 1st birthday, April DD's 4th birthday.. and it's just... a lot. Did anyone have a baby older than a year baptized? Am I going to hell in a hand basket? We've already decided to keep it low key- baptism followed by immediate family back at the house. But I just can't seem to get it together.

Baptism in Older Babies?

Sorry about all the problems you had.

I think you are giving yourself more stress than necessary about this. Book the church and call a restaurant for a small dinner party. Pick up a cake and maybe a small centerpiece (s) if you have time. Sometimes things seem very stressful and once it’s over and done you realize it wasn’t too bad.

My children got baptized young but I have seen plenty over a year.

Baptism in Older Babies?

We adopted our daughter so a bit different but she was baptized at 14 months old. No one batted an eye. Do the time that is convenient to you.

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Thanks- we're totally fine with not having a party and keeping it low-key. It's just the church we belong to only does it every 3 months and the timings have been terrible for us. I don't want to have an event (even a small one) every month for 3 months in a row so I was thinking of pushing it until the summer. I just always see young babies and I've never seen any kids over a year being baptized so I wasn't sure if this was frowned upon ya know?

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Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

We held a Baptism for DD when she was 4. When she was born we weren’t going to follow organized religion but over the years our feelings changed. If were going to have our children join the Church we would be all in, as in attend Church most Sundays, CCD every year until Confirmation and all. I wanted to be sure we could keep the commitment. It was a non issue and no one at all, Priests included, blinked an eye or questioned why we took so long. There was also another older kid being Baptized the same day that appeared around 6 or 7 along with his young sister who looked around 1. Most babies appeared closer to 1 and few were actually newborns.

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

I baptized my 1st at 1.5 years old. He essentially was walking at the time.

Who cares? My church didn’t. We threw a big party, dressed him in white linen and it was adorable and perfect.

Our second was baptized around 6 months and had a big party and the third got baptized late, had a teeny party (many don’t think I baptized her at all) and I couldn’t even tell you at what age because I stopped caring.

Baptism in Older Babies?

The church will more than happily take your money if the kid is 2 months old or 12 years old.

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My First DD was 14 months old at her christening

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

Baptism in Older Babies?

There was a little girl who was at least 4 getting baptized when DS was baptized. Do it when it’s right for you and your family.

Message edited 1/1/2020 5:52:07 PM.

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

That makes me feel so much better! Every time I see family they question when it's going to be so I've been hearing a lot of it with all the holidays and feeling terribly guilty. I didn't even think of the Lent thing- I'll have to double check. Thanks again!

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

Or the opposite side of the coin- the ones who ONLY come to church on Christmas and Easter.
Do you ever notice how crowded those masses are as opposed to a regular old Sunday?




True! My sister makes me laugh because some years, she purposely doesn't go on Christmas and Easter because she can't deal with the crowds. She figures she goes almost all the other Sundays of the year, so she doesn't go on the major holidays.

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

My son was 2 1/2 when he was adopted. It’s fine, your son and you will be fine. No one is going to hell if a kid is adopted at an older age. I also didn’t have a party, just lunch at a restaurant with his god parents and their kids. We decided to save the money we would use for a party and put it towards a trip to Aruba!!

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

That's fine and no one will think anything of it.

Baptism in Older Babies?

My son was 15 months when he was baptized. We bought an adorable white suit for him to wear, instead of the christening gown. It went well, with the exception that it took place during his nap time, so he wasn’t in the best of moods during the ceremony. If my church offered a morning ceremony, it would’ve been better- ours was at 1pm

Re: Baptism in Older Babies?

It’s fine. My kids were all around a year old when baptized. People need to delay baptisms for all sorts of reasons, sometimes even longer. I don’t think it’s all that unusual to have it done at any age.

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Message edited 6/1/2020 4:29:27 PM.