When Should You Baptize?

[PhuturePriest]

I was having this conversation with my sister yesterday. I agree with apologist Tim Staples that, if possible, your child should be baptized a week after he is born. But my sister says you can't do that because you are expected to throw a party afterwards. That doesn't seem quite right to me. This is about your child's salvation, not about giving everyone enough time to attend the after-party. I'm not saying that you are a bad person if you wait a month or two after your child has been born, to be clear. I just don't see why you would wait without grave reason (Priest is too busy that week, you're too busy that week, the godparents can't come that week, etc.). But this isn't meant to be a debate so much as to see what people think, so please do not turn it into a fight.

[Nihil Obstat]

I think a week is ideal. Over a month seems to really be pushing it, if there is not some serious reason.

[dominicansoul]

i think it's more difficult to baptize babies soon after birth, because the Church now has requirements for the parents before Baptism can be obtained.  Some parishes baptize en masse only once a month.  Or, at least that's how it is done in the churches in this area...

[PhuturePriest]

i think it's more difficult to baptize babies soon after birth, because the Church now has requirements for the parents before Baptism can be obtained.  Some parishes baptize en masse only once a month.  Or, at least that's how it is done in the churches in this area...

 

In my area, there are so few Catholics that you basically just ask a Priest to baptize your child and he sets up a date. If there are more babies at the same time that need to be baptized, he baptizes them all on the same day if possible.

[brianthephysicist]

I have an uncle and a cousin that are deacons.  Baby will get baptized, no worries.  

 

Plus, how hard is it to tell all of your family and friends "Baptism followed by potluck dinner next Saturday.  Be there or be square!"

[carmenchristi]

Well... You will know ahead of time before the baby is born ;) ... Unless it is a premie, you could start planning the whole thing a month or so before the birth, so you can have the quick baptism and the party at the same time.

[PhuturePriest]

I have an uncle and a cousin that are deacons.  Baby will get baptized, no worries.  

 

Plus, how hard is it to tell all of your family and friends "Baptism followed by potluck dinner next Saturday.  Be there or be square!"

 

She said she wouldn't want to be planning a baptism after just giving birth. I can understand that, but I don't see why she would need to be running around constantly making sure the punch and salad bowls are full. If anything, she can just say "Michael, I gave birth. This party is your problem." and be done with it.

[GeorgiiMichael]

I wasn't baptized for 3 months after my birth.

[PhuturePriest]

I wasn't baptized for 3 months after my birth.

 

Your parents' fly-by-night lifestyle might explain the tattoos.

 

I'm joking, of course. I'm pretty sure I wasn't baptized immediately, either.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

My siblings and I have all been born about 2 weeks past mom's due date, and when she was pregnant with my littlest sister, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord was a week after her due date, so she was really hoping she could get the baby baptized that day. But no, my little sister decided to be born on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. But wait, there's more. My sister's Godparents all got a horrendous stomach flu a few days before the scheduled Baptism date, so we had to reschedule and do it a few days later. So if my memory serves me correctly, she was baptized around 2 weeks old, maybe a little less.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

I was baptized at 2.5 years old along with my brother who was 3 months old. (Today is our Baptismaversary, actually), but the reason for that is that my parents were not practising the faith, and after we were Baptized (with the urging of our Godmother to-be), my parents have been practising ever since.

[PhuturePriest]

My siblings and I have all been born about 2 weeks past mom's due date, and when she was pregnant with my littlest sister, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord was a week after her due date, so she was really hoping she could get the baby baptized that day. But no, my little sister decided to be born on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. But wait, there's more. My sister's Godparents all got a horrendous stomach flu a few days before the scheduled Baptism date, so we had to reschedule and do it a few days later. So if my memory serves me correctly, she was baptized around 2 weeks old, maybe a little less.

 

Perhaps you could have asked the Priest to baptize your sister and give the godparents anointing of the sick at the same time? Win-win.

[MissyP89]

Better yet, have somebody come to the hospital for the baptism and to bring the new parents communion. ;) Have a party a few weeks later when mommy feels better.

 

I was baptized at 9 months old but I was premature and in the hospital for the first several months of my life. My parents are not practicing, but baptized me once I was able to leave the house safely.

 

My parish has baptisms on a monthly basis with a class required beforehand. They require at least one month notice. Most of the children in my family were a few months or a few years old at baptism.

 

Personal preference: let's baptize the kids as soon as I am feeling physically decent and we can call everyone. 

Edited April 22, 2013 by MissyP89

[MissScripture]

My son was about 5 1/2 weeks old at his baptism. We had to schedule it before he was born, and I wanted it at least 2 weeks after the last possible day he could be born (they would not let me go past 2 weeks past my due date) in case there were complications. I wanted to make sure I could be there! It also had to be my husbands weekend off, so that pushed it a week further. I ended up having him a couple days before my due date, hence the 5 1/2 weeks. I put my mom in charge of the party. I would've also liked the baptism as part of Mass, but didn't want to wait until after Lent, because that would have been too long, Imo. Also, during Baptism prep, we went through emergency baptisms, so we were prepared if anything were to happen in the meantime.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I was 11 years old... :(

[brianthephysicist]

I was baptized at 2.5 years old along with my brother who was 3 months old. (Today is our Baptismaversary, actually), but the reason for that is that my parents were not practising the faith, and after we were Baptized (with the urging of our Godmother to-be), my parents have been practising ever since.

 

Congrats!!!

[EmilyAnn]

I was baptised at 12 years old. :|

 

Actually it was 10 years and 2 days ago (April 20 2003). 

My old parish used to hold baptisms every few months, but that was a large parish. In my current (smaller) parish baptisms are individual and on request. So my answer would be as soon as is reasonably possible. 

[GeorgiiMichael]

Basically what we're saying here, FP, is that when to baptize is up to the parent's discretion and you should let your sister baptize her child when she wants to and not give her any grief about it.

[fides' Jack]

According to the Church, Catholics are obliged to try to get their children baptized within a few weeks of birth:

 

 

Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it. (Can. 867 Â§1)

 

 

[fides' Jack]

So if you don't, you're a bad Catholic...  :P