How to Perform a Baby Blessing Ceremony (Examples & Script)

Welcoming a newborn into the world is a joyful occasion! 

 

There’s no right or wrong way to perform a baby blessing. Different faiths and cultures embrace different traditions to welcome a child to their community, and many of these customs have been blended together over the years to create new types of ceremonies. 

 

Baptism, christening, saining, wiccaning, naming ceremony, brit milah (bris),  simchat bat, adhaan, Namkaran – all of these ceremonies and many more are used to celebrate and welcome a child! 

 

Baby blessings are frequently performed by an ordained minister or other clergy (such as a rabbi, priest, or priestess), a celebrant or community leader, a close friend, or a family elder. Like baptisms, naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals, a baby blessing celebrates an important part of the life cycle as a member of a larger community. 

 

• Get ordained online and learn how to perform weddings, blessings, and other ceremonies in your community.

 

The basic ceremony outline below contains the elements found in most types of blessing ceremonies, along with a simple example of what to say during each portion. 

 

In this outline, a symbolic wreath of flowers and foliage is placed around the child as part of the blessing ritual. This is only one example of what you might include in your blessing. 

 

Other popular ritual elements include: 

 

• Anoint the child with water or essential oils
• Candle lighting ceremony with guest participation
• Sage or incense burning, smudging
• Loved ones each read a poem, quote, religious verse, etc. 
• Calling on the four elements, cardinal directions, or spirits of nature
• Calling on the spirit of ancestors or gods
• Clergy member delivers prayer
• Guests play instruments or sing a song or hymn
• Small gifts are placed on a table for the child or family (books, clothing, supplies - similar to a baby shower)

 

 

 

A Simple Baby Blessing Outline with Sample Script 

 

Opening the Ceremony

 

• Welcome friends and family members 
• Describe the purpose of the occasion
• Introduce the child and their caretaker/s 
• (If this is also a naming ceremony, you might wait to share the child’s name until the ritual begins)

 

Sample script: 

“Hello, dear ones! Thank you all for gathering here today for such a hopeful and happy occasion. We join together today, with Nevin and Carol (parent/s/ guardian/s names), to celebrate the newest member of our community as she begins her journey with us. To offer her our collective love and protection as she begins this life and finds her path. 

 

If you haven’t met this little angel yet, let me introduce you to Elise Charity Clement Williams (child’s name; guests cheer and clap)!”
 

 

Performing the Blessing

 

• Perform whichever blessing/ ritual you choose (Suggestions are included above) 
• Announce the child, Honor the parent/s or guardian/s
• Ask for the support and blessings of the group

 

Sample script: 

“Sweet Elise, sweet child, today we promise to always be your family. We promise to carry you through these early years and to support you always. We promise to keep you safe, to teach you everything we know, to love you unconditionally, and to give you every opportunity to become your most true self. We love you completely, and we can’t get to know you. 

 

This wreath is a symbol of our hopes and wishes for you. Although these flowers will fade, our promises to you, and our love and blessings, will stay with you always. We offer our blessings of calm and strength, protection and wisdom, laughter, intelligence, and love. 

 

(The officiant/ celebrant places a wreath of various herbs and flowers around the baby, including chamomile flowers, jasmine, ivy, maple leaves, etc.) 

 

Dear ones, let’s take a moment now to bless little Elise. Please close your eyes and send her all your love! 

 

(The guests offer blessings)

 

Let’s also take a moment to honor the people who have brought this child into our lives! Nevin and Carol, you are such a deeply loved part of our family. We offer you our support, knowledge, and lots of meal deliveries, as you start this journey of parenthood. Anything that you need, we’re here for you. 

 

 

Closing the Ceremony

 

• Thank everyone who’s participated 
• End of Ceremony

 

Sample script: 

Thank you all for coming today to bless Elise and honor this new family. 

 

Now, in this circle of warmth and joy, let’s all give one more big, happy welcome to little Elise!

(The guests cheer and clap.) Come on up and see this beautiful baby! 

 

(Guests come to hug the parents and see the baby.)” 

 

 

 

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Why are we talking about baby blessings on American Weddings?
  

We spend most of our time talking about  wedding ceremonies here on the American Weddings blog. This makes sense… Wedding ceremonies (and wedding officiants) are awesome! And they’re our primary focus and passion. 
 
But AMM Ministers don’t just marry people. When they choose to, their roles can extend much further, supporting their communities in important ways, and celebrating different milestones in life. This deserves to be highlighted! 
 
Ordination through American Marriage Ministries gives our ministers all of the same rights and protections held by ministers ordained through traditional brick-and-mortar churches.

 

As an AMM Minister (or Reverend, Pastor, or Officiant, whatever title you choose), your right to conduct religious ceremonies of all forms is protected by the religious non-establishment clause of the first amendment. 
 
While many of our ministers only conduct wedding ceremonies, others also conduct baptisms, funerals, baby blessings, and other meaningful rites. 
 
Learn more about what it means to be an AMM Minister by visiting our FAQ page. 

 

 

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You might also like: 

 

• What to Wear (and Not Wear) to a Baptism

 

• Wiccaning Ceremony - A Guide to Welcoming a New Witch

 

• Spiritual Bathing - Performing Ritual Baths for Yourself & Others

 

• Flower Meanings and Symbolism : What Does Your Wedding Bouquet Say?

 

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