Baby Naming Ceremonies

If you’d like to have your baby officially named, but don’t want to have a formal christening or baptism, then there are plenty of alternative options available.
Having a Naming Ceremony
If you’re not religious, but would like to have a naming ceremony for your baby and share the occasion with friends and family, then a non-secular service is a great way of doing so. It’s a great opportunity to bring together your family and friends and celebrate the life of your new baby – as you would with a christening, but without the religious element.The ceremonies can, to a certain extent, be however you’d like them to be, but typically last about 20 minutes to half an hour. You can organise the whole event yourself, from choosing the location, how you’d like it to be, any readings or poetry you want read out and any godparents or mentors you’d like your child to have.
If you need a bit more direction and help with preparing the event, then organisations such as the British Humanist Association can help with arranging naming ceremonies (the ceremony is in no way legally binding). The idea with a naming ceremony is for the parents to declare their love and care for their child, and how they’ll always be there to support them during life, and for any named godparents or mentors to declare their commitment too.
Having a Blessing
If you like the idea of having your child welcomed into the Christian church, but don’t want a fully fledged christening, a blessing is a good alternative. Perhaps one of you is a Christian and the other isn’t, or you believe in the opportunity for your child to choose their own faith when they grow up.Many churches are now happy to offer a blessing as an alternative and agree that it’s fine to wait until your child is old enough to decide for themselves whether or not they’d like to be baptised. Blessings are usually carried out within a main church service, although it is always worth enquiring to see if a separate service could be carried out (or, for example, some people have it as an add-on if they are getting married and already have children).
If you’ve chosen to have godparents, then it’s a chance for them to be recognised. The family, baby and any godparents will usually have to go to the front for the blessing and say a few words. The congregation at the service will then make their promise to look after and support the child. Sometimes churches are happy for families to write their own words for the blessing, otherwise set words may be used.
Having a Thanksgiving
If a blessing still sounds too formal for you, another alternative is a thanksgiving. It works in a similar way to a blessing, and godparents can be included, but it focuses more on giving thanks for the birth of your child and you don’t need to make declarations of faith.As with christenings or blessings, many families like to have a bit of a get-together afterwards, to wet the baby’s head and socialise.
- Post-Birth Contraception Options
- Why Might I Need to Stay in Hospital After Giving Birth?
- Post Birth Checks and Visits
- How Might I Feel After a Natural Delivery?
- How Might I Feel After a Caesarean Section?
- Donating Your Breast Milk
- Post Pregnancy Sex
- Expressing Your Baby Milk
- Introducing Baby to Siblings
- Postnatal Depression
- What If Your Baby Has to Stay in Hospital?
- Foods to Eat After The Birth
- Keeping Fit After The Birth
- Returning to Work After Giving Birth
- Cot Death (SIDS)
- Dealing with Miscarriage and Still Birth
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
My wife is 32.6 weeks ...and the babys weight is 1971gms...is that normal or not...please reply me.....
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
my 18th week and baby weight 252 it is gud or bad...please tell me....
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
Hello!i have 21 weeks and 4 days pregnancy.. and my EFBW is 430gms.. is that normal?? Will my baby healthy or not??
Re: Abdominal and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Left pelvic pain, backpain pregnency positive' is any problem, already ectopic happen
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
At 24 weeks what should be my baby's EFBW in gm
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
My wife is 21 week 2 day . In scan report EFRW 415 GM is normal or not . Can you please help me to know current status of…
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
I am 34.1wks pregnant my baby weight is 2215gm is my baby healthy
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
My wife is 37weeks 5days pregnant E.F.B.W - 3010 grams how is she
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
I am pregnant of 36 week 2 days and my EFBW is 1949 is it normal..?
Re: Ultrasounds - What is EFBW and GMS?
i had my ultrasound rhis sept 19 i wonder what is rhis number for efbw 2336 stands fir can you please give me an idea…