Infant baptism facts for kids

Infant baptism is a special ceremony in many Christian churches. It is also known as christening. During this ceremony, very young children or babies are baptized. In some Christian traditions, this practice is also called paedobaptism or pedobaptism.

What is Infant Baptism?

Infant baptism is a religious ritual where a baby or young child is welcomed into the Christian faith. It usually involves pouring or sprinkling water on the child's head. Sometimes, the child might be briefly dipped in water. This act is a symbol of cleansing and new life in the Christian community.

Why do Churches Baptize Infants?

Many Christian churches practice infant baptism for several reasons.

• Tradition: Some churches have done this for a very long time, believing it connects to early Christian practices.
• Grace: They believe baptism is a gift from God, showing His love and grace to the child.
• Community: It marks the child's entry into the church family. The parents and godparents promise to raise the child in the Christian faith.
• Original Sin: Some traditions believe that all humans are born with "original sin." Baptism is seen as a way to wash away this sin.

Churches That Practice Infant Baptism

Many large Christian denominations practice infant baptism. These include:

• The Roman Catholic Church
• Many Protestant churches, such as Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Anglicans.
• The Eastern Orthodox Church

Believer's Baptism

Not all Christian churches baptize infants. Some churches believe that baptism should only happen when a person is old enough to understand and choose to follow Jesus. This is called believer's baptism.

Why Some Churches Don't Baptize Infants

Churches that practice believer's baptism have different beliefs:

• Personal Choice: They believe baptism is a public declaration of faith. A baby cannot make this choice.
• Bible Interpretation: They interpret the Bible to mean that baptism should follow a personal decision to believe in Jesus.
• Age of Accountability: They believe people should be old enough to understand what they are doing.

Churches That Practice Believer's Baptism

Examples of churches that typically practice believer's baptism include:

• Baptist churches
• Pentecostal churches
• Anabaptist churches (like Mennonites and Amish)
• Many non-denominational churches

Related pages

• Anabaptists
• Baptism
• Believers baptism
• Church

Images for kids

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  Water is poured on the head of an infant held over the baptismal font of a Roman Catholic church

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  Baptism by immersion in the Eastern Orthodox Church (Sophia Cathedral, 2005).

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  Christening photograph showing the oil moment and Baptism in Greek Orthodox Church.

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  German reformer Philipp Melanchthon baptizing an infant

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  A baptistry in a Methodist church

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  Baptism of a Yazidi child in Lalish