question for the catholic mamas

little-peanut · May 2011

Does anyone know if there are rules about how early to baptise a baby? Griffin was baptised at 5 weeks only because that is when my parents could be here to celebrate with us. Now we are attending a different parish (we actually haven't officially even joined yet) and I need to get on the ball to find out the details. This time around it will be the same thing. My parents are OOT and would be here around Thanksgiving and I was thinking of doing it either the weekend before or the weekend after. The baby would most likely be either 2 or 3 weeks old. I just thought I would ask here first. I know under certain circumstances it is done very early. Thanks ladies!

escape1st · May 2011

I don't think there are any rules, but perhaps general practices of the parish. Last month there was a two week old baby baptized at our parish because the grandparents were from OOT, etc. Your situation, really.

I would contact the parish rectory office and just inquire about age of baptism, can you get your baby's baptism on the calendar already (since it is a busy time of year) and then get back to them closer to the day.

DRockH · May 2011

escape1st:
I don't think there are any rules, but perhaps general practices of the parish. Last month there was a two week old baby baptized at our parish because the grandparents were from OOT, etc. Your situation, really.

I would contact the parish rectory office and just inquire about age of baptism, can you get your baby's baptism on the calendar already (since it is a busy time of year) and then get back to them closer to the day.

This, In fact I think that it is preferred that babies get baptized asap!

buckeyethor · May 2011

I think it is pretty much up to you but you can always call the parish office and ask. We did not get DD baptized until she was 8 months old. Between the NICU and preemie stuff, plus DH being laid off, it just didn't happen.

riabiron · May 2011

asap is preferable. sophia was 3 weeks old. annie just over a month. my grandfather had a fit that it wasn't done earlier.

gandcnky · May 2011

Avery was baptized immediately after birth, so I know there aren't restrictions on how early it can be. Of course that was a different situation, but I know you can do it whenever. When we had Brady baptized, we asked at our parish about the general practice of how early babies were baptized. He was about two months old when we had him baptized, and our pastor said that was the general timeframe for most people, but that it was just a matter of preference.

Ttimes3 · May 2011

I'm the wrong person to ask. We have yet to plan W's baptism. Embarrassed

buckeyethor · May 2011

Ttimes3:
I'm the wrong person to ask. We have yet to plan W's baptism.

Audrey was a lot older too. My grandma and great aunt asked me quite a few times about it but we just weren't ready to have her around those germs plus our schedules.

Moesten · May 2011

In our parish it is entirely a matter of personal preference. There is no rush to get them baptized, I am surprised to see that pp's parishes want it done so quickly. The literature our parish provides reads that unless there is a medical reason that the child might need to be baptized early that it can be done whenever is convenient for the parents.

In our parish, most children are between 3 and 7 months but they can be younger or older. Call your parish.

Lucky_N_Love · May 2011

At least according to my grandma the rules used to be that the baby was baptized the Sunday following their birthday. I don't think she was even at the baptism of any of her kids because she was still recovering from childbirth. FWIW like everything in the catholic church everyone is different and some more liberal than others. Audrey was about 2 months old. My only requirement was i wanted to do it while on maternity leave so that I wouldn't have my work schedule to juggle with planning.

sprads · May 2011

If the same woman still works in the parish office, she is really nice. Just call and talk to her. If Fr. J pushes back on you, stand your ground, he will back down. I will tell you more background on him in person.