Choosing Christening Gowns for Babies
Your baby’s christening is a special occasion for the family. It welcomes him or her to the Christian world and marks a milestone in his or her life. Besides preparing for the reception and calling on your best friends to become godparents, it is also important to make sure that baby has everything needed for the big day. Christening gowns and caps are requisites for the baptismal rites to this day.
A Little Background
The traditional white gowns in christening events which are now the norm for the occasion, started with the Victorians. Theirs was long and elaborate and can sometimes be uncomfortable for the baby. It was a tradition started by Queen Victoria, who was said to have had her child’s Christening gown fashioned after the fashion and fabric of her own wedding gown.
Why White?
White remains the colour of choice for gowns. As with other religious ceremonies, it is a symbol of purity and holiness. This naturally fits your little angels. For girls, the Christening gown, which is naturally white is the first of three white dresses she will be wearing. The next one will be during her first communion and the final one on her wedding day. This is the traditional route though. Nowadays, the gowns are still dominantly white but can have hues of pink, lavender and yellow for the girls and boys will have the color blue.
To be on the safe side, you can ask the vicar or priest who will be officiating the ceremony if he has a prefered colour for the gowns used for Christening. If he insists that it should be purely white or off-white, you would have to oblige.
The Style
Traditional gowns are long and flowing. This template stays the same for both boys and girls. The modern alternative is to have the boy wear a polo and shorts or pants and then drape a separate Christening gown and cap on him during the actual ceremony. This “removable” gown is sometimes given by the Churches to make sure that the parents comply with the requirements. The child gets to keep this gown as a keepsake of the ceremony.
As for your little boy there, is the choice of either a romper or a suit, four or five piece suit and these are particularly popular for Naming Ceremonies.
How Should it Fit?
Christening gowns, if you are to wear the one-piece kind, should be long and flowing. It can be several feet longer than the actual child and can be accessorised with ribbons, pearls, lace and other trimmings. As a ceremonial garb it is meant to be loose and elaborate. If you are the non-traditional type, a white dress for a baby girl will also do. It has to be a special dress though, and not one that is simply bought off the rack.
What’s important is that the baby feels comfortable in the Christening gown he or she is wearing. Otherwise, have the baby change into more comfortable clothes during the reception.