Baby Blessing

Not a parent yet but just curious -

Did anyone have a baby blessing in their home? Did anyone decide not to baptize (if you were raised catholic)?

Just something that came up in conversation yesterday and was curious to see if anyone broke tradition and did something else when their kids were born....

Re: Baby Blessing

we (my family) are Catholic DH family is Hindu and Muslim. We chose to do nothing. Neither DH or myself are religous at all. DS can choose his own religion when he is older(if he wants).

And yes, it has caused holy wars on both sides.

Re: Baby Blessing

My BFF did when her daughter was born - they had a non denominational ceremony at their home, and planted a tree in their yard in honor of the baby then had a fun party, it was honestly very moving and very spiritual.

Re: Baby Blessing

I had a baby blessing for ds and will do the same for #2. Dh is Jewish and I was raised Catholic. We decided this was the best thing to do. We used the same person who married us. She did a wonderful job and everyone kept saying how beautiful and person the ceremony was. The best part was we got to pick and choose what we wanted in the ceremony.

Re: Baby Blessing

My husband and I are both catholic, but really not practicing -we never go to church, and so it felt weird for us to baptize out child into a religioin we weren't part of.

I have to say, that I did miss doing something spiritual and I wish I thought to have a blessing -that sounds really special.

Re: Baby Blessing

DH and I are practicing Catholics and are having a traditional baptism at the Church. Nothing unique here!

Re: Baby Blessing

We are Jewish and while we don't have a blessing per se, we do have religious items in her room. She has a mezzuzah on her door. She has the certificate from her baby naming framed and in her room and she has a red ribbon (more superstitious than anything else) pinned/tied to her crib. The ribbon protects her from the "evil eye." The mezzuzah has a prayer inside that is on every doorpost in our home (except bathroom) and her certificate was given to us when she was named in Hebrew in temple that pretty much says she will be raised in the Jewish faith.

I do like the idea of a prayer though.

Re: Baby Blessing

Ok thanks guys

The reason I am asking is b/c my DH and I were both raised Catholic but we do not practice and we are not religious....

We had a beautiful ceremony at the RH when we were married that was very very personal to us....at first my MIL was upest that we were not doing a "church" ceremony but after the ceremony she said our wedding was beautiful and she was wrong for thinking anything negative about our ceremony and she loved it - she said she thought it was much more personal and moving than the weddings at church - and we got tons of compliments about our ceremony from guests which was really nice - i think it's because we had an amazing officiant!....

So last night we were talking with my in-laws about religion and I made a joke to DH about not baptizing our future children if and when we have them - my MIL heard and got a little crazy for a minute....My DH and I are on the fence with baptism b/c we are not religious and we were thinking maybe we would not have a baptism and do something else more personal to us - we knew his parents would freak and I made a comment that kind of just slipped out which started a whole conversation about it...

My MIL was visibly upset at the idea of no baptism - FIL was fine with it....but then we all talked about it and we told her that we would prefer to do a baby blessing at the house....I told her it would be like our wedding ceremony - and that our officiant or someone like her would bless the baby and welcome the baby into our family...she seemed to like that idea....

I am sure there will be more to discuss if and when this all happens....but I was just curious to hear about what other parents have done for their children and how their families reacted...

Message edited 7/30/2009 11:57:08 AM.