A Baptism or Christening is a family's way to introduce their child into their church and faith officially during which they are blessed, and thanks is given for the child's safe arrival into the world. However, some parents may choose for it to be a simple naming ceremony rather then a full scale religious one. A naming ceremony is a way to welcome the child without committing the child to the religion.

The first thing you must do to prepare for your baby's Baptism/Christening is to decide if you will have a religious or secular (non-religious) ceremony. Once you have chosen which type of ceremony you would like to do, you will then need to select a date and contact your church.

You will need to meet with your minister, priest, or clergyman to discuss the details of the event. Will you it be held at the church, your home, garden, or another location? Find out about the guidelines for the ceremony, will it be something that is performed during a regular Sunday service or is it something that is done on a separate day and time that you need to schedule. If your church requires it, you may have to take special classes before the Baptism/Christening takes place.

Don't forget to ask questions about the procedures you need to follow during the actual service, as well as the use of things like video and photography during the event. Finding out about these things ahead of time can be helpful when sending out invitations to your guests because you are able to make them aware of the rules they must follow during the ceremony, for example: no video cameras or flash allowed inside the church.

Once you have set your date and determined the information you will need to communicate it to your guests, it is time to send out invitations. It is best to begin looking for invitations about 1 month before the ceremony. You will need time to get them made up and to get them out to your guests. Guests should receive them at least two weeks prior to the big day. For many people, this will mean that you need to choose your invitations before the baby is born.

The most important part of the entire event will be selecting your baby's Godparents, should you choose to have them. The Godparents will be the people who will take care of your child if something were to happen to you and your spouse, so making a hasty decision is not a good idea. Religiously speaking, they're also responsible for directing your child in the customs of your religion.

Traditionally, in many religions, baby girls are given two Godmothers and one Godfather, and baby boys should have two Godfathers and one Godmother, but it's really up to the parents to decide how many they want. You will also want to take into consideration how the chosen Godparents may handle the responsibility of becoming your child's full-time guardian should the need arise. Once you have made the all important decision of choosing the Godparents, the rest of the event will be a breeze.

Traditionally, the Baptism/Christening gown that your baby will wear during the service would be a long white or cream gown, worn by both girls and boys. Many families will have a gown that has been passed to them from other generations, but if you do not have a gown you can choose to buy a vintage gown from an antique store, or purchase a new one. If you are not sure about having your baby boy wear a gown, do not be concerned, in recent years it has become quite common for baby boys to wear formal short suits or a formal white shirt and pants. If you are planning to buy a new outfit, you may want to find out how to preserve it for use by future generations.

The actual service will only last for about 20 or 30 minutes, and then you may elect to hold a small reception afterwards. If you do plan to have a reception, you will need to decide where you're going to have it because you may need to book the venue in advance if you want to use a restaurant or hall.

The food doesn't need to be extravagant, it can be as simple as sandwiches, vegetable and fruit trays, and drinks, or you can choose to have a hot meal catered. If you're going to do the food yourself, prepare as much as you can the night before and store it at your chosen venue and then talk to family members about helping you set everything up. If money is an issue, consider holding a potluck. You're family and friends will be more then happy to bring their favorite dish and you can be sure that there will be plenty of food, without the added financial stress.

Whether opting for a reception or not, it is a good idea to pick up a small favor for your guests. These can be any small gift that your guests will appreciate, and can be given at either the ceremony, the reception, or both. Your guests will appreciate your etiquette and your thoughtfulness. In some communities, it is also common to give a small gift to the godparents.

Once your baby's special day is complete, don't forget to send thank-you cards or letters to all your guests to show your appreciation for coming to your child's Baptism/Christening. For those family members and friends who were unable to attend the event, whether due to distance or other obligations, you may want to consider sending them a Baptism/Christening announcement as a way to share your day and provide them with a keepsake.