Your new baby is the most recent member of a family line that reaches hundreds of generations into the past. Her christening or baptism day is the most recent in a long history of your family’s celebrations. Many parents celebrate their baby’s coming by using aspects of traditional baby ceremonies. Some of those aspects are an elegant christening gown, baptism accessories, and christening gifts.
Vintage Christening Gowns
If you love vintage baby gear, you know that finding the perfect baptism dress in the right size can be hard at best. Fortunately for you, baptism gown companies lean toward traditional styles and usually have numerous blessing gowns and outfits in the sizes and the styles you’re looking for. And many of the dedication gowns they offer are as affordable and as one-of-a-kind as vintage baptism dresses. To get a baby gown that’s truest to vintage, choose a natural material like silk, cotton, or linen. But if you’re okay with cheating a little on the vintage idea, you can find stunning gowns made of synthetic fabrics that don’t wrinkle readily and that are often easier to clean than natural fibers (and that’s a real plus when it comes to heirloom-quality baby apparel).
Baptism Gown Colors
Traditionally, dedication gowns are white, symbolizing your new baby’s innocence and purity. The type of fabric used to make the christening gown, however, affects the intensity of the white color. Satin and silk dresses glow in the light. But whereas satin makes a very bright white, silk is usually closer to cream color. Tulle and lace on a gown diffuse white’s intensity like a thin cloud. The finish of cotton is often very flat, but some kinds of cotton glow somewhat. If you want some color in your baby’s christening gown, you have many options. You can find baptism gowns with pastel ribbons, colored lace trim, and delicately shaded appliqués. If that’s still not enough color for you, use colored baptism accessories and monogramming.
Slips for Christening Gowns
Like camisoles and bodysuits, christening slips also ensure a baby’s comfort in the blessing gown. Slips generally come in two sizes: day length (the length of a typical baby dress) and heirloom length. If your baby’s christening gown is sheer or semitransparent, you’ll definitely want an heirloom-length cotton slip. Many people like to monogram their baby’s christening slip; a monogrammed slip can be the perfect way to memorialize a secret blessing or sentiment for your little girl.
Christening Camisoles and Bodysuits
Forgetting to use a baby bodysuit or camisole under a christening gown is common oversight parents make. With a camisole or bodysuit, your baby’s gown is more comfortable to wear, and (maybe most importantly) her diaper stays snugly in place. If your baby girl’s baptism gown has short sleeves, you’ll want a sleeveless bodysuit—you don’t want camisole sleeves poking out of your heirloom christening gown.
Baptism Accessories
Christening accessories include hats and bonnets (both of which often come in a set with the baby gown) as well as blankets, bibs, and towels (these also look beautiful monogrammed), diaper covers, socks, shoes, tights, headbands, silver pacifier clips, bows, and personalized baby bracelets.
Christening Gifts
Some parents like to give baptism gifts and baptism favors to celebrate their baby’s christening day. You can find many ideas for this online. Here are a few: mother-and-daughter bracelets or necklaces, keepsake frames, songs personalized with the baby’s name, custom painted baby portraits, bibles, rosaries, crosses, and more.
Blessing Gown Preservation
Whatever christening clothing you choose for your baby girl, be sure to protect it. You’ll want to keep this heirloom forever, so after the baby’s baptism day, preserve the christening clothing so it’ll last. You can find preservation instructions online, and christening companies that sell christening apparel often offer preservation materials as well.