Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

My church finally got back to me last night. They had none of the April dates available that I wanted (my mom will be in Italy for two weeks so that takes up a chunk of the month) so they had one last spot in March, and a ton in May.

I spoke to my mother and she was upset that Tyler wouldn't be baptized until he was 7 months old if I went with a May date. She said that I should choose the March date (which I did, mainly because we have two big family Communions in May)

What is your opinion? Is there a certain timeframe in which a child should be baptized?

Message edited 1/30/2010 8:22:54 AM.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

in my family, its always been done within the first few months. DS was 8 weeks. I think I was only 6 weeks when I was baptized, and I was born in the heart of the winter.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Ultimately before a year old I would say but in our family 3 months seems to be the time we do it. For both my kids it will have been a little shy of 3 months because I want to have them baptised before they start daycare.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Im my family its done as early as possible. I was baptized at 3 weeks. My sons were both baptized at 4 weeks.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

DS was over 6 months. He had colic and was a fuss bucket in general. I don't think it really matters God will accept of all our babies no matter what

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

I definitely think it should be before a year old. I definitely wanted my DC baptized by 4 months the latest. My DS was baptized when he was 2.5 months and I wanted to do the same for my DD, but it didn't work out so we did it at 4 months.

My cousin didn't baptize his baby until he was almost 11 months and my brother baptized my nephew at 9 months.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Posted by maybesoon

DS was over 6 months. He had colic and was a fuss bucket in general. I don't think it really matters God will accept of all our babies no matter what

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Both my girls were 6 months, not on purpose, it just took mr that long to get my act together

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Jack was baptized at 4 months. I wanted to wait until April so that flu season would kind of be behind us. I guess March 21st is as close as it gets!

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Personally I feel it should be done within the first few months. That's generally how it's been done in my family.

My kids wear the Baptismal gown my mother made from her wedding dress. We all wore it before we were 3 months old, so we have a sizing issue if we wait too long.

Diana- you'll get it all planned. And it will be PERFECT.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

There's no time frame in my mind. Typically they are younger, but if you can't do it, you can't. It's not the end of the world.

Also, when we baptized DD there was a 7 yo and 9 yo getting baptized. Better late then never.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

No, I don't have a timeline to get a child Baptized by - like the other poster, I think God will accept all babies no matter what. However, it can be easier if done within the first few months!

My DD was Baptized at 2.5yo along with my 3.5yo niece. My little spitfire DD did wonderfully, even helping the Priest pour the Holy water on her head. My usually calm and reserved niece screamed bloody murder and refused. There were jokes flying around that it was a Baptism and an exorcism in the same day.

We had waited so long because we live OOS from both of our families and it was easier for us to do it back home. We had to find a familiar church available at the time we were going to be home for vacation, then coordinate our families to be there. We postponed more than once because someone in our immediate family wasn't able to make it. With the next child, we are only going to be concerned about the Godparents being there and that's it. Everyone else can clear their schedules if they want to come.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

A friend of mine who is a priest said before a year old is preferable.

That being said, the older the baby is the harder it is to find a traditional baptismal gown.


I baptized the twins at 9 weeks, on the COLDEST day of the year! It was soooooooooo cold that day that the priest heated up the water because the church was cold!

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Personally i dont think there is an age. When their younger it's easier, IMO. We had one DD done at 9 months and the other at 3 months.
My friends and family have had them done as late as 4 years.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

I do not think it matters, I only baptised my kids early as I wanted to do it while still out on maternity leave

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Personally, no I dont think so. My DD was baptized when she was almost 14 months. DH was deployed for the first 12 and then we wanted to wait until we could get back to NY so the grandparents and her godparents could be there. I do however believe that they should be blessed by the church as soon as possible. We took DD to our local chapel when she was 2 days old, they said a few prayers, did a blessing and then we were more at ease with waiting for the actual baptism.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

My sons were 7 months, I wanted to wait for warm weather.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Due to what the sacrament is actually about, I feel it should be done within the first 3 months.

I was baptized at 3 months, my brother was baptized at 4 weeks due to a sudden illness.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Considering Ava is three and not yet baptized, no,I don't think there is a certain age they should be baptized by. Honestly, I think that if she never got baptized, her life as a good person will be her ticket into heaven. That being said, I'm not religious anymore and I'll only be baptizing her and our next child for the sake of my family.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

if u asked my MIL she would have said within the first month. DS was baptized just shy of 12 weeks b/c of the holidays.

Now a days people baptize children when they're kids. I dont think age is such a big issue these days.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

No, I do not believe that a child should be baptised by a "certain age".

# 1 was 6 months old
# 2 was 8 months old
# 3 was 10 months old

IMO, it does not matter when its done.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Lily was 4.5 months old because we had to wait for better weather here in Chicago. (all of our family was flying in for it) I was not so happy at first about that (I always thought around 3 months was the perfect age,) but it worked out perfectly. My opinion is as long as it's before 6 months, it's fine.

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Re: Do you believe a child should be baptized by a certain age?

Posted by maybesoon

I don't think it really matters God will accept of all our babies no matter what