Naming Ceremonies: Advice for First Time Godparents

Congratulations! It is a great honour your friends have done you, because being asked to be a godparent (aka as mentor, supporting adult, guideparent or guardian) is a significant responsibility and signals that they really trust you to look out for their child.

Many first-time godparents are hazy about what their role is and what is expected of them during the Naming Ceremony.

Role
Godparents step in when parents are not available, especially if they die or default. In my ceremonies I ask godparents to make promises to the parents as well as to the child, in order to signal their willingness to support the whole family.

Gifts
The main gift a godparent gives is the gift of self. During the ceremony, you can give a symbolic gift, and of course, you can always give the baby a significant gift to mark the occasion (and every significant occasion from then on!). Of course, it is perfectly acceptable for a godparent to give the naming ceremony as a gift. I provide attractive gift certificates for this purpose. Ask the officiant/celebrant you choose to do the same.

Dress
What you (or for that matter) anyone at the ceremony wears relates to the formality of the occasion. As most naming ceremonies are held at home, either indoors or in the garden or in parks, dress tends to be casual/smart casual. Of course, the baby can be dressed formally in a Christening gown or party clothes irrespective of what the guests are wearing.

Cake
Traditionally, the parents provide a celebratory cake which is cut at the party after the ceremony. But this would be a very nice gift for the godparents to bring. The cake and be a fully iced and decorated special occasion cake with a christening type topper, or it can be something simpler with flowers and/or the child's name on it which might be from a bakery, supermarket, or home made.

The most important thing is to be authentic to yourself. There is no right and wrong beyond doing what comes from the heart and is authentic to you, to the child and to the family.

Jennifer Cram is a sought-after celebrant who performs a range of ceremonies including Naming Ceremonies as Beautiful as Your Baby in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Fanatical about performance measurement and monitoring, a field in which she is an acknowledged expert, she uses tear-measurement to assist her to gauge client satisfaction with her ceremonies - she counts damp eyes because she is well aware that participants and guests remember how they felt, rather than what precisely was said at a ceremony. For more information about her naming ceremonies visit her website http://www.jennifercram.com and/or her Baby Naming Blog.

Copyright © 2005 Jennifer Cram. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

---

Baby Shower Themes For Your Special Baby Shower

Do you want to provide a baby shower that is... Read More

Potty Training Resistance - Is Your Child Resisting Your Potty Training Efforts?

Potty Training ResistanceFrom your perspective, your child is resisting all... Read More

Finding the Right Baby Soap for Your Babys Skin

Baby SoapAren't all soap the same, especially baby soap? Do... Read More

Baby Clothes - Daywear, Nightwear, And Special

When choosing and buying baby clothes, parents can be faced... Read More

Child Safety in the Home

In the 15-year period from 1982 to 1996, the leading... Read More

Have Fun Purchasing A Stroller For Your Baby

You are getting ready to welcome your baby into your... Read More

Baby Shower Game Distraction

The best baby games for baby showers to entertain all... Read More

Naming Your Baby - How to Get the Most out of Your Babynaming Ceremony

You've engaged a celebrant and you've picked the day. So... Read More

Creative Potty Training

When I was potty training my two young boys, I... Read More

Baby Shower Games For Your Special Baby Shower

So you're holding a baby shower? Then you will need... Read More

Robeez Shoes ? A Baby Shower Gift That Moms Will Thank You For

Robeez shoes help your baby put their best foot forwardIf... Read More

Make Your Own Baby Food

Those little containers of baby food sure are expensive once... Read More

Movement and Infants

Besides the fact that they were built to do so,... Read More

Baby Jaundice

Around 20% of newborn babies suffer from jaundice. The condition... Read More

Free Baby Shower Invitations

Free baby shower invitations are the best! Everyone knows that... Read More

Using Baby Signing To Communicate With Your Young Child

Baby Signing..Around 20 years ago, two American doctors discovered baby... Read More

Why Convertible Cribs Make Sense

Who doesn't love cool gadgets that morph into dozens of... Read More

Hello World: Babys Third Month Guide

Remember how you wished your baby would learn there is... Read More

Baby Names - Choosing Trendy or Traditional

Lists of baby names are always fun to look at,... Read More

Honor Grandma with a Baby Shower for Grandma

Throwing a baby shower for grandma could be a great... Read More

Potty Training in One Day - Can You Really Potty Train in a Day? What Does It Mean?

Sounds great ? doesn't it?Or does it sound too good... Read More

Baby Development - But What Role do Parents Play?

It is truly amazing the development that a baby experiences... Read More

Baby Name Trends: From Classic to Hip

Goodbye Bertha, Hello Kaitlyn! The top baby names of today... Read More

Are You Spending Too Much Money on Baby Gear?

Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so... Read More

Baby Shower Party Decorations to Liven up Your Baby Shower

An excellent source of information providing the perfect baby shower... Read More

Safely Feeding Babies - 10 Important Tips

Babies usually triple their birth weight the first year. That's... Read More

When To Start Teaching Your Baby (1)

When is it that I should start teaching my baby?... Read More

Is It Colic, Infant Reflux, Or GERD? Learn How To Tell The Difference

It can sometimes be difficult for a parent to understand... Read More

To Invite or not to Invite the Dad to the Shower?

Do you invite dad to the baby shower? As per... Read More

How to Find Those Elusive Baby Gifts That Are Just Right

Baby Gifts from gift certificates to very expensive toys. Something... Read More

Your Baby?s Nursery ? What You Will Need

As an expectant mother, you are full of excitement and... Read More

Backpacking With Children: My Own Adventures

When I had my firstborn I thought I new everything... Read More

Baby Shower Invitation Wording

Your baby shower invitation wording can be either generic or... Read More