4 week old christening outfit???

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Bubs is going to be four or five weeks old (at the most!) when the baptism rolls around and im struggling to think of what will be suitable as a christening outfit.
I need to start thinking about getting it now because EVERYTHING looks like it costs a fortune, but have no idea really what to look for...

I trawled around on ebay for a bit and found a white silky romper that looks a bit like a tux - it's cheap (well comparably) and can get in a 000. Should i just gamble and get it?? Would i be better of buying material and trying to convince my grandma to sew us a gown?

I never realised it would be so expensive and if it hadnt have been booked in for so long i wouldn't bother yet, but we have an easter baptism booked and it'll be with my sisters as well (who will only be 12 weeks) so i'd like to still do it.

BTW it will be a catholic ceremony if that makes any difference.

[Mollygirl]

An Easter baptism with your sister's child will be lovely!

I personally think a gown is nice, and can be used if you have a girl in the future maybe? (so think of it as an investment). I used a gown for my son and then used the same one for my daughter, just had to make sure we had the baptism before she grew out of it.

Otherwise a simple all white all in one (not a bonds suit) but a going out outfit like you mentioned would be nice also. Have you checked with the Priest/Church, someone commented to me that Catholic baptisms usually have gowns for the boys too so would be a good idea to check what they expect. Are you going to a preparation class that will tell you all that?

000 size is for about 4kg babies - I think, so it is a bit of a gamble buying something before the baby is born. Can you wait a bit longer?

Goodluck with it all. Baptisms are a very special day, all you need is a candle (some baby/christening outfit shops have them which I found cheaper than buying on line) and they needed a week to do it, a white cloth thing like a bib (we bought ours from a religious shop about $12 from memory and can be used again too) and a donation to the Church.

[Arimeh]

Hi Ash - I brought an outfit online for DS on his naming day, however, I got it too early and then by the time it was the day, it was far too small for his fat little legs!!!!! I did try to squeeze him in it, and even tried the shoes, but with no success. So I had to buy another outfit from a baby shop (which cost a fortune!!) and was too big, but still too big was better than too small. I also got a cape, so I can use that for my next children. If you like, I can send down the first outfit for you, and you are welcome to have that? I mean, I have no use for it, and have the cape now to use for future children....

[~Flossie~]

i used the family gown we have and its about a 00.. DS wore it when he was only 8 weeks old, i just rolled up the sleeves and it was ok, it was a little bit big, but it didnt matter as it was the gown i wanted him to wear..

[Erin_25]

I like the gowns also & they look best in them when they are still little I think.
I was fortunate enough to have my great, great grandfathers gown, very old & has been used by my entire family. Charlie was 2wks when he wore it. Pics in the gallery.

[mollycat]

you could try a baby shop for something, or sometimes your local hospital with maternity section will have a baby shop that often sells christening outfits, usually hand made. Local markets are also an option. For my eldest son, I used a gown (was very disappointed, I had my mother make it for me, with a pattern i bought, she also made one for each of my nephews (twins the same age as my son), so the three boys had similar gowns - would have preferred different to the other boys). For my second son, I bought a suit (I wanted each child to have his own outfit he could pass on to his children. I was also given my father's gown after DS1's was made, but decided it was to fragile to use (made in 1927) .

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Mollygirl - it's actually with my sisters - mum and my stepdad just had twin girls (mum and i were actually due two weeks apart but twins were premmy). So i'm very excited that they'll be in the same ceremony i think it'll be a lil bit special - jellybean is going to be so much bigger than them though as they are tiny tiny - Still smaller than 5-0's!!! I think i might be best to wait til he;s born and just put the money aside for it, i just get a bit antsy when things aren't organised well in advance. Oh my gosh the bibs and candles online are about sixty dollars, i couldn't believe it! thanks for the tip I think i'll have a look at the parish shop as well.

Mel - Thank you so much for your lovely offer! It's very kind of you I do want to try and look for a gown, but will certainly keep it in mind, like i said, i'm a bit antsy when things aren't organised and if i leave it until he is born and bubs decides to come late i'll a) be might unimpressed :P and b) have no time to look anywhere!

Annie - thanks for sharing that - im a bit clueless on sizing (my cousin is the last baby i was around and he was a 5-0 bub at full term!) but figured i should be right with a trip, unless he's huge and/or grows quickly. If it's a gown it;s not going to look to disproportionate anyway will it really? And if i were to get a double i' guess i'd probably be more likely to use it next time around as well...

Erin that gown was absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing with me, it was just so beautiful!

Mollycat - im probably cutting it a bit fine to get my grandma to make anything (but refuse to trust dressmakers after my own deb dress debacle...) so ill definitely take a look at the hospy. I hadnt thought of the markets either - but now you mnetion it does sound like a good idea!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Mel - how big would the outfit you have be? Do you happen to have any pics? Sorry to be a pain!!!

[Arimeh]

Ash - the advertised size was 00 - thats why I got it cos we got DS named when he was nearly 6 months and I thought it was going to be a good fit. However, I think (based on his other clothes) it would do as a 000. I will take pics and email them to you if you want? I can do that tonight, I don't know how to upload them into the gallery (hence why I have no pics in there!!!) It comes with a little bonnet as well (which could be a little girlie, but came with the outfit!!) oh, and little shoes...

[The[cookie]Doctor]

that would be really awesome
thank you, my email addy is in my profile

[Arimeh]

Ash - I have emailed them to you :-)

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Mel - thanks for that - i emailed you back too

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

We had a white gown made. It's not that hard to run one up. DS wore a white bodysuit and leggings underneath. And his little hairy monster feet - DH put those on just before we left and insisted on holding DS until the actual Christening so I couldn't take them off!

DS was in 56cm stuff from 2w old and 62cm from 7w old, so if you have a taller baby you may need a larger size. Size 000 is 62cm I think.

HTH.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Thanks Ryn - im a shortie and the short genetics are in all the girls of my family but my glorified sperm donor of a father was almost seven foot and df is over six - so who knows he might end up being a little long baby!

[Mollygirl]

Ashlea,
sorry - a baptism with your twin sisters is even more special, you are really lucky to have them all together I think.
The size of your baby is so unpredictable, I had a growth study done three days before I went into labour and they told me my baby was at least 3kg but she was only 2.6kg when she was born, so could be better to wait and see.
Also, they can put on quite a bit of weight in that first month, my son was born at 3.4kg and by 4 weeks was 5.1kg so a gown might be a good idea so that you have flexibility with the length and it doesn't matter if it is a bit too big around the chest.

Goodluck with it and hope you have a lovely day.