Baptism gown for baby girl: My choice or MIL's?

lolc

My baby girl is getting baptized next month.

Part of my excitement.... is getting her a new christening dress. They are so cute, and right now there are some adorable ones on sale. I was actually more than a little excited to do this....

Then my MIL brings over the christening outfit that my DH was christened in. It's nothing fancy - at all. It's not even cute. It's made of cotton, and it's just a slip, essentially. She expects me to use it.

Should I go with my original plan and put her in a dress that I want her in?

Or should I put my daughter in DH's christening gown, which would make my MIL happy? (And I suppose has the significance that it was the same thing her daddy was christened in...?)

 

DandelionMom

Your baby = your choice but it would be nice to find some sort of compromise -- Take your DD for pictures in the family dress but use yours for the actual baptism OR if you want to humor DH's family (it does sound like a nice tradition) use the family dress for the ceremony and your dress for the photos and reception

Marchmamma

I would use both.  Use your husbands baptism for the church and your gown for everything else. 

I think not only would it make MIL happy, but mostly DH too.

wildfloweragain

I was ready to say your choice, but we did use DH's.  She only offered it for our boy, though.  I bought one for DD #1 - an irish one with white shamrocks embroidered in it (the heritage of both DH and I.)  Then when DS came along she offered up DH's gown (I think it had shorts with it.)  And we haven't had the baby baptised yet.

cnybride2be

another way to compromise is by adding the cute hat/bonnet of your choice or sweater or even have an overlay made to go over the cotton dress, kind of adding to the family heirloom.  you could even go with the whole church is cold and baby needs some warm stuff route. 

r9stedt

What does your DH want?

juniper19

Can you bring the gown to a seamstress and have something added to it so that it is more your style?

AnnapolisLari

Use it as a slip for the dress you want?

Yodajo

cnybride2be:

another way to compromise is by adding the cute hat/bonnet of your choice or sweater or even have an overlay made to go over the cotton dress, kind of adding to the family heirloom.  you could even go with the whole church is cold and baby needs some warm stuff route. 

Great ideas!  If your MIL is remotely reasonable, I can't see her being offended by this.

shiloh17

If this is your only daughter, I would get her something new and her own! You can dress her in the old gown and snap a few pics for posterity. I wouldnt start the habit of feeling obligated to use hand-me-downs, b/c you will get stuck in that rut for every lil thing. Just tell your mil that the gesture is very nice, but you already have your heart set on a dress for the baby. She'll get over it. Its your child's special day, remember that! Good luck!

lolc

DH couldn't care less...

Can't do anything to the gown, my MIL would have a fit...

I'm adding a pic of it so you can see it. It's extremely lightweight (which isn't the problem when it comes to weather, since we are in FL) - but it's so lightweight that you can see right through it (and one of the designs is a cut-out). It's also not very wide, so I can't add this gown *on top* of another outfit. Baby girl would need a onesie at the very least underneath it. It is so long it wouldn't work being underneath anything either.

I thought about adding a bonnet.... I'm open to compromise...

Pic:

AnnapolisLari

I am all about the heirlooms, but  NO. Take a few pictures in Daddy's gown, but get something less Puritan looking.

Just no.

DandelionMom

Hmm, that's a tough one to work with.  I'd very politely explain that you already have a dress and then do a photo session for your MIL of the baby in the family dress. 

shiloh17

I agree w Lari! Def get that baby a pretty dress!

penguingrrl

I'm very big on the family heirloom thing, so I would probably use DHs gown for that purpose.  That said, both of my girls changed out of the formal gown and into a pretty dress for the reception.  I would use the family heirloom for the church to keep MIL happy since heirloom wedding gowns are a very big deal in some families then put a really pretty dress of your choosing on her for the reception.

Bellisimo

No way in helll would my MIL get to make that choice.  I would politely decline the offer and tell her that you already had one picked out or bought.  I would go for something more girly and modern.  I'd use his gown for a few pictures, but I wouldn't use it as THE gown.  Offer to frame it for her.

Disneygeek77

I also suggest taking a few pics in his gown but use your own.  I know it is an heirloom and that is wonderful but you also don't want to set a precedent.  Soon MIL will be picking out her first Christmas dress, halloween costume, Easter Dress etc. 

EMT

That's a tough one but that dress is FUG. I'd totally do what the others said and buy your own and wear that one for a few pics.

Zenya

I actually like it.  I was expecting something horrendous like this:

I think it depends on how your MIl is.   Is she likely to spend the whole day near tears at how special 'her' gown looks and generally making the whole day about her?  If so I'd pick whatever you and your DH like.

BubblyToes

Meh, I had no say in the matter.  My kid wore a gown that's been in H's family for four generations.  I loved the history behind it.