Baptism Gown or Pant Suit?

I had the same thing happen. Go with tradition, it's not that bad to have a boy wear the gown, they don't wear it for that long. I didn't catch any flack for having my son wear a baptismal gown and it was family tradition.

M., to me the gown is almost sacred no matter the gender. I

know babies all come into this world the same and the only major

difference is their "plumbing". If you are truly celebrating

the consecrated moment go for the gown, if it is his gender you

are so, so proud of, then a pant set will do. E.

M.,
I don't think it matters. I teach school and I asked my students because many of them are catholic. I got mixed messages too about what families are doing these days. I would do what you want to do because you might regret it later if you don't.

I'm not catholic and may not be much help but my sister-in-law dressed both of her boys in the traditional gown. I would say do that if that's what is traditional in your family. Best wishes!

Hi M.

I have to say I'm all about the gown. My son was baptiaed at 9mo and since he was a big baby we could not use the gown in the family because it was to small, but I really love the idea of doing that. It is kind of hard to find gowns now that don't look like they are just for a girl, but some of the small specialty stores have them. I have also seen them on line too. I think the suits are cute, but I really like the traditional look of a gown. Being that my son was not a newborn when he was baptized I did catch a lot of heat (all joking though) about putting my son in a dress. And to this day, my son is 8 yrs old now, I even tell him it was the only time mommy could get away with putting him in dress. I don't think it looks bad or weird for a boy to be in a gown as long as you find one that doen not look like it is just for a girl. I don't know what kind of church you are doing it in, but I know in the Catholic church a gown on a boy is normal and acceptable.

I say go with what you like and want. The last Catholic baptism I went to the parents had the baby put all the way in the water (not an option at my church) and they took the outfit off the baby anyway, I don't even remember what he was in, I want to say gown though.

Well good luck and do what you want, it's your son and a very special day. And even though the day is not about the outfit it is still a day you will remember forever and one you will enjoy telling him about so at least have it your way. You don't want to look back and think how perfect the day was except you wish you had put him in what you wanted. It's your day and his day and since he does not care what he has on for the most part the nice thing is you get to decide so go for it. Besides it will not be to long before that sweet little baby looks up at you and asks "do I have to wear that" , you may as well do what you want while you can. So just enjoy and do what you want.

Good luck!!

T.

Its absolutely approriate and totally traditional for either a boy or girl to wear a baptismal gown. We have a family gown thats been passed back and forth and has been worn for 100 years by both the boys and girls, and wouldn't dream of using anything else. If you have a family gown you should definately use it. If not, maybe you could start the tradition. Our gown was made from my great grandmothers wedding slip. You could do something similar, or with white fabric that means something to your family. :)

Good Morning M.! Congrats on your new little boy! My girls are being baptized this sunday in a catholic church. They are much older 5 and 4 but at least I'm getting it done =).

I think that having him in a gown is perfectly fine. People that usually have a problem with it is the people that aren't catholic. Yeah times have changed but at the same time I think if he isn't walking then a gown is perfect!!

Congrats again!!

Hi M.,

I had my son baptised about 4 months ago in a Lutheran church and I put him in my baptismal gown from when I was baptised. My mom made it and she kept it all these years. So, I see no problem with putting a little guy in a gown. It gave me a chance to pretend I had a girl for a day!

If you do decide to dress him in a gown I've heard of moms having one made out of their wedding dress. Pretty cool idea for re-using your wedding dress, that is if you don't mind cutting it up.

M. have you ever heard of Burlington Coat Factory. They sell baptismal pant set for little boys I think that is where my aunt got my sons. Hope this helps.

I think a gown would be just fine. It's your decision and you should do what makes you happy. Congratulations on your baby boy and his baptism. My daughter is being baptized today!!

Our son was almost 3 months when we baptised him. He's two now. We went with the traditional gown. Our son wore my dad's gown, which is the same one I was baptised in. If everyone is getting together after the baptism, you could get him a cute pant suit to wear then. If you live around the Edmond area, go to Sacred Heart on Broadway. They have some amazing gowns & pant suites.

If you want to dress your baby in a Baptismal gown, than you should do so. I made one for my second grandson to wear at his baptism in 2001. His little brother was baptised in it in 2004 and than in 2006, I carried it to Germany so that our granddaughter could wear it at her baptism. Whether you make one or buy one does not matter; it can be saved and used for any other children you may have or children of relatives or friends (as needed). It will become a very special part of your family history. Best wishes with your baby boy.

I'm not Catholic but if a gown is traditional surely it would be okay. Didn't Miranda baptize her son in a baptism gown on Sex in the City?

M.,

I think it is up to you and what you want to do. My brother and his wife used our families antique baptismal gown for both their son and daughter. If you have a gown that has family ties then I would use it otherwise just look for something that you like.

J.

Gown gown gown! I'm old school but some traditions are worth preserving.

Yes, it is ok for your baby boy to wear a gown. I believe gowns for boys are still the "norm". My son was baptized in the catholic church in 2006 and he wore the family gown that has been passed down through generations. Do not let other people question your judgement. He is a baby, he can wear a baptismal gown.

I think that most boys are dressed in white pant suits but you are free to do what you want. If you like the gown, then go for it. I just baptised my son in December and he is 18 months old. I couldn't find a white suit for him at his size so I dressed him in a fancy outfit, kahki pants, button down shirt and a sweater vest. He still looked adorable and no one said anything! Good luck!

Go with what you want for him. I think the gown is fine. Don't worry about what others want for him since he is not their child.

I had my son baptized last Christmas in the Catholic church. I purchased his baptismal outfit at a Catholic store/bookstore. It looked strikingly similar to a baptismal gown, except it had legs in it. It was specifically made for boys, cream silk with little teddy bear buttons. It was absolutely perfect. I would check with your local Catholic store and see what they have.

I purchased a beautiful little white suit for my son to wear for his christening. I believe I found it at Dillards. His Godmother gifted him a fine white blanket (his christening was in January). You can also get Precious Moments bibles with the child's name engraved on the front cover. We got my son's at the Christian book store in Olathe.

I'm newly pregnant for the first time and was actually thinking about that in the shower the other day.

I got on a Catholic website and found both suits and gowns for boys. I believe it is whatever you're comfortalbe with and what YOU prefer.

M. - it's your son's baptism, so please don't let other people's attitudes affect what you dress your son in. I think either a gown or a pantsuit is fine. My son was a little older when he was baptised, and I had him in pants and a sweater, but it was the Methodist church, not Catholic, and the baptismal gown tradition isn't the same.

Dress him in what makes you happy.

S.

Traditionally all children regardless of the gender wore a gown. It has only been within the last 20 years or so that the christening suit was created. I think whatever you feel most comfortable with is going to be best. It's about the sacredness and symbolism of the event, not the attire. I hope that helps.

I am not a Catholic but my in-laws are and my mother-in-laws says that usually the priest will instruct you what is appropriate in his church.

I think whatever you decide will be fine. I used a gown for my girls and a cute pantsuit for my son, but it is really up to you. I am sure he will be cute in anything you decide.

L.

This is truly your decision. If you grew up in the Catholic Church you know the importance this moment in your child's life this really is. Do what you want! Don't let other people change your mind. There is nothing quite so precious in the world as seeing a beautiful new life (be a boy or a girl) in a long, white Baptismal gown commiting their life to Christ.

We just had our second son baptized (Catholic church as well) They were both chunky babies and looked like little stuffed sausages in those little pants suits so we didn't get them. My Italian Catholic background says go for the gown-it is traditional and honestly they spend so little time in the outfit or they have a blanket over them- do what you want-you'll remember what they wore more than ANYONE else anyway.

When we had our son baaptized we bought him a little gown or shirt to be baptized in. It was white and had a little cross on it in the chest area. We also bought some white shoes and socks. We then covered him in a white blanket and that is what we used. I know that the gowns can be expensive so it is up to you. I think that I have always heard of Catholic children being baptized in white clothing or gowns. It is up to you but I think that I have also heard that the white signifies purity and that the child is untouched by evil and ready to be lead in the way of the church. Good luck.

Gowns are soooo cool on boys and so ok to do.

Hi M.,

I think either is fine. It's more of a personal choice. Whatever you decide should be fine. My daughter was baptized in a gown, but if I had a son, I would probably choose a gown anyway. Enjoy your son's special day!

It's completely up to you. My husband and I both had our gowns that we were baptized in that have been passed down between both our families. We decided before I had my baby that if it was a girl, we'd use my gown, and if it was a boy, we'd use his gown. Well, we had a boy and we're going to use my husband's gown, there is nothing wrong with using a gown!! it's your choice! we're going with tradition and using a long passed down gown!! good luck on your decision and whatever you choose will look great on him!! :)

I'm not sure if the people giving you mixed messages are familiar with baptism in the Catholic Church. In our family we have one beautiful gown that has been in the family for generations. All babies wear it - boys and girls. Of all the baptisms I have attended in the past 10 years nearly all boys were in gowns. I would say that if a family did not have the money to buy a gown just for the event, then another nice outfit would work just fine. But given the choice I would choose a baptismal gown.

On Maddox's baptism day he wore the traidional gown. It has been in my family for years, (it was made from fabric of my grandmother's wedding dress, and all of her 10 children in addition to 40+ grand/great grandchildren have worn it) so it has a lot of sentimental value to our family. We had the baptism after mass, so in an effort to keep the gown clean and the baby comfortable we just put him in regular "church" clothes and then put the gown on him after mass.

M.,
Do whatever you want. It's your choice, no matter what anybody says. It shouldn't matter what they where. I never thought about it, I just went shopping and bought my son a short set(it was summer). If you want to do a gown, go for it. It may be harder to find a neutral gown though. Unless you make one. I just recently had my daughter baptized and all the gowns were very feminine. Granted that's what I was looking for.

Hi M.,
Do what you want and don't worry about what anyone else says - he's your son and this is his day. Make it be the most joyous possible, and if you are dressing him in something you're not entirely comfortable with, that is all you will be thinking about.
My son was just baptized on Sept 16, 2007, and he wore a white pant/vest/shirt combo. It was very cute, and just what we wanted. It seemed all of the new gowns are either very plain or very girly. (And baptismal apparel tends to be very expensive as well. It's almost like buying a wedding dress.) We caught some flak from my mother-in-law for not having him in a gown; she wanted him to wear a frilly antique gown that her daughter wore. (If my husband had actually worn it we would have considered it.)
But the day came and no one even commented about his outfit except that he was adorable in it, and I think they would have said that no matter what he wore.
In the end it doesn't matter what your son wears - just that it's a joyous occasion to celebrate him and his baptism.

When my son was baptized I got his white onepiece tux looking outfit from Babies R Us. S.

Both of my sons were baptised in the Catholic church
in baptismal gowns and looked adorable!

My baby boy wore a while pant suit and looked adorable, but truly, it's not really what the baby is wearing that's important. It's the baptism, so just find something you like or something that he'd be comfortable in. Congratulations on your baby boy!

I think it depends on the age of the baby. I got both of my boys baptized on the same day. The 1 mo. old wore the gown I was baptized in, and his brother who was about 17 mo. wore a white pant suit. Each outfit seemed appropriate for each boy.

We had both our boys baptized Lutheran when the were babies. With my 1st one I dressed him in his great grandfathers gown. I thought that that was so cool, except the Pastor in the middle of the Baptizum started refering to him as a girl and was calling him a her. This really bothered me since we had been going to this churh for like 4 years and they all knew us very well. I think he got nervous and just looked down and saw the gown. My 2nd son I just did a cute little outfit. Luckly because somehow he managed to pee all over the pastor. My second was WAY to fat to fit in the 100 year old gown anyway. At least I will have funny stories to tell them when they are older. I would suggest that you do what you want and not worry about what others think. EVERYONE will tell you their oppinion on everything as he grows up. Congrats!!! on the baby. Anyway that you go will be fine.

I would put him in whatever you feel comfortable with. All 3 of my boys wore a gown (that my great-grandmother made out of the petticoat of her wedding gown) Consider if you would be disappointed or not later on if you didn't do a gown but go with what feels right.