When is the correct time to have a Catholic baptism?

lily_721

We have one cousin who always does hers early (at two-three months).  After that they have ranged to three years old (which seems really late).  I wasn't raised Catholic and all of our baptisms were within the first year. 

I would like to do an October baptism (with a June baby).  It is before the holidays and our summer weddings will all be over. 

NativeFloridian

There's not a set time.  I didn't have DD2 baptized at all, but DD1 was baptized at 3 months old.

blush64

Just like PP said, there is no correct time. Usually people do them within the first year. Many times when the baby is still quite young, but not always.

I will have this baby babtized at 2-3 months. My oldest was a year old and my younger son was about 6 months.

hjk5000

There's not a "correct" time. My Grandma insisted my mom get me baptized almost as soon as my parents left the hospital, but that's pretty old school.

We didn't get DS baptized until right after his 1st birthday, because that's when we could get everyone together to celebrate.

Bonjuju

In my family and social circle most people do it around 3 months....even non Catholics.

EIsieMae

I had DD baptized at 9 months. I'm gonna try and get DS baptized a little sooner, but I'm sure time will fly once LO gets here.

can_can

We've had friends do it at 10 days old, and others do it close to 9 months old. DS was 6 months, and for this baby, we're going to try to do it earlier, since my sister's wedding (out of state) is going to coincide with that timeframe. Like others said, no set time!

bhawk0527

Maybe I'm a little old school but I always thought the sooner the better to protect their little souls I think we had DD baptized at 3 months but that was because we couldn't baptize her during Lent

JenniD2

As other PPs have said, there is no set time limit. Some people try to get it out of the way while others wait. It may also depend on what your church will want you to do as well.

With DS, we will have to wait a bit as he will be born during lent, and our church will not perform Baptisms during that time. But that is fine; it gives him times to build his immune system.

ANA6

I am planning mine for April, waiting on the church to call us back on a date. DD didn't get baptized till she was almost 2yrs unfortunatly all the moving prevented us. Laura is getting hers done at the same church as her big sister. DH's mom and I are going as far as collaberating together in making her gown. I'm trying to keep our Italian heritage as much alive in our children as our families did. 

ANA6

You may want to find out how long the bapism class is, our last Church it was 6 months and they had to meet with he godparents who unfortunalty live in South Florida. When we moved our new church only had us watch a 30 min movie on it and that was it.

lily_721:

We have one cousin who always does hers early (at two-three months).  After that they have ranged to three years old (which seems really late).  I wasn't raised Catholic and all of our baptisms were within the first year. 

I would like to do an October baptism (with a June baby).  It is before the holidays and our summer weddings will all be over. 

animalcrckr

We scheduled our baptisms according to when we could travel back home for a visit.  Living overseas we did not want to have a baptism with just our little family.

With DS1, he was baptized at 13 months, DS2 was at 6 months.  The priest did not care when we did it (family friend).   

agytay

EIsieMae:

I had DD baptized at 9 months. I'm gonna try and get DS baptized a little sooner, but I'm sure time will fly once LO gets here.

This was us as well. 

Angela814

There is no correct time for the church anymore. At least at our church, it's not nearly as old fashioned as it used to be. We had DD1 baptized at 78 weeks, and she was extremely fussy the entire service. We waited longer with DD2 and had her baptized at 3 months. That was a much better experience. We'll probably have DD3's baptism around the same age.

watermellens

DS #1 was about 5-6 months old when he had his baptism.

kanga1622Wed220857

We do ours at about a month old because if we wait at all baby won't fit in Daddy's baptismal gown.

valeivegas

I've heard of some Catholics doing the bapitsm in the hospital - seriously.  We did DS's at 4 weeks - he was the youngest baby there.  Like pp said - there is no 'right' time.  But - we did have to take a class - i think we met twice - & do some prep work.  But I thought it was kind of fun. Also you have to make sure they have time when you want to do it - we wanted the Sunday afternoon private ceremony - not during the church service.

drewiekc

Its really just whenever is convenient for you.  We baptized DD when she was 2 months old because I wanted to do it before I went back to work, and will be baptizing this LO around the same age.  Check with your church to see about the class, ours was only like an hour long and we dont even have to do it this second go-round.

skio

There's no correct time. Do it when it's convenient for you.

We're raising our kids Protestant and it's convenient for us to do it in the warm months, because we can't fit both if our families in our house for the afterparty. So, we had DD's in late July when she was 4.5m, and this baby will probably be in late August or September, when he/she'll be about 2.5 months. We have a BBQ afterwards with food and drinks.

RussianMommy

no set time. I was baptized at 3 months, my H was baptized at 35 yrs old.

AshleyR2452

It's up to you.  At our church (Lutheran), we tend to baptize as early as possible.  We had DD on 12/15, and baptized her on 1/23, and felt like that was late (for us and what we wanted).  However, whatever works best for your family is just fine.  Most take place within the 1st year, but certainly not all.

Lariah14

I would say most practicing Catholics do theirs on the earlier side - 2-3 months is on the older side I'd say, and only if family is out of town. Traditionally it was soon after the birth, as long as it wasn't Lent. Only babies who are sick/in danger are baptized during Lent as a special exception. We did ours around 8 weeks b/c our family lives out of state.

 Our Baptism prep class was only about 2 hours, one afternoon. 

Ashleymarie9807

8 weeks after birth, but we baptized my daughter at 9 months because we where waiting for my husbands mom to fly in from AZ.

HappyMama30

Well, both of my children were almost a year by the time we got organized for a baptism.  My DD was fine, but DS was so antsy it was not that peaceful of a moment.  This time around I would like to do it within 3 months, so babe will be a bit easier to manage.

cheshirekaatttt

i don't think there is a "correct time" for a baptism. With us, we always have a party after, and it all depended on having the money to throw a party.  Our first was 9 months and our second was 15 months.  It all depends on when it's right for you.  Religiously though I think they want you to get it done as soon as possible since anything could happen, and it'll make sure your child goes to heaven if something terrible does happen.  I hate thinking that way, but that's what i learned about the meaning of baptisms.  Good luck!! we had #2's baptism in october and the weather was great, and your right.. just far enough before the holidays!