Babies & Children
Growing families are a joyous time to gather with community. With an event called a baby naming, a baby welcoming, an adoption ceremony, or a baby blessing, this ceremony introduces the child to his or her community, and allows the community, parents, grandparents and siblings to welcome the child.
Baby Blessing and Baby Welcoming Ceremonies
A Baby Blessing or Baby Welcoming Ceremony can bring people together for a happy day of congratulations and great hope. Whether you have a baptism or bris or a Hundred Days ceremony as well is completely up to you—these inclusive and interfaith Celebrant ceremonies are perfect for all families.
Baby blessing ceremonies can:
- announce the name you have chosen for the child, its meaning and family significance
- recognize the special roles of parents, grandparents and siblings in creating your loving family
- make “vows” and pledge the commitment of parents, family and friends to support the raising of the child
- appoint those who will have an important role in the child’s development, whether you choose to call them godparents, guide-parents, or mentors
- bring the family and community together as a whole
How Does It Work?
Some families like to have the ceremony soon after the birth or arrival of their child, while others prefer to wait for several months. Two to three months before you’d like to have the blessing is a good time to start planning it, and you may want to reserve the date even earlier. I will interview you, and create a draft for us to finalize together. As a mom myself, I understand how busy this time is — we can be very flexible! I then lead the event that day for you and your guests so you can relax and enjoy. For more information, see How We Work Together.
Your Unique Journey
People become families in many ways, and I welcome and celebrate this. Adoption ceremonies can honor birthparents, pay tribute to your child’s background with music, rituals or foods that honor your child’s ethnic or cultural heritage, tell your adoption story, and recognize your child’s history before he or she came into your lives. We honor same-sex parents and their families, pay tribute to multicultural and multifaith families, can acknowledge fertility treatments, and can recognize any special loved ones you choose.
The Celebrant Motto is: Your Choice, Your Voice, Your Ceremony!
Contact me before—or after!—your little one arrives for a free consultation.
Also… Meaningful Baby Showers
Create a meaningful ceremony at a baby shower for mothers (and fathers, if you choose!) to explore hopes and concerns and receive blessings and advice. We can make the event more than tea sandwiches and piles of baby gear! (Not that that stuff isn’t great too, of course…!) Contact me to talk about what you are considering.