Baby Naming Ceremonies
Available in Brisbane, Logan, & Redlands
The birth of a baby is a very special and unique experience. Baby Naming ceremonies are an alternative to the religious christening ceremonies for children. They provide parents with an opportunity to formally celebrate the birth of a child with family and friends.
The ceremony recognises that welcoming a child into a family brings rewards and responsibilities which last a lifetime. There is no right or wrong age to have a naming ceremony. Many parents combine the naming ceremony with the child’s first birthday. Others wait until their family is complete and have one naming ceremony for all their children. Many parents write poems or blessings for their children, incorporating all their wishes and hopes for their child in the future. Grandparents and Great-grandparents are also acknowledged along with others who will share a special mentoring role during the life of the child.
A birth certificate should be provided to ensure that the naming of the child is correct. Any changes to birth names must be dealt with through a legal process through Births, Deaths & Marriages in Brisbane.
Personalised Baby Naming Ceremonies
I provide a sample Baby Naming ceremony together with numerous readings and poems that you may wish to choose. As with a wedding ceremony, I work with the parent/s to write the ceremony they want for their child. The child receives a Certificate of Name-giving. Any godparent/s or guardian/s appointed by the parent/s also receives a certificate.
There is no legal responsibility for a godparent/guardian to raise the child in the event of the death of the parent/s. This aspect should be catered for in a legal will.
Changing your Child’s first names within a year of birth
You can change your child’s first names once before their first birthday. You can only apply to change your child’s first names if your child was born or adopted in Queensland. Refer to https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/changing-your-name/change-a-childs-first-names-within-a-year-of-birth/
Changing your Child’s name before they turn 18
In Queensland, you can change your child’s first name once before their first birthday and one between the ages of 1 and 18. You can change your child’s family name once every 12 months. Refer to https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/changing-your-name/changing-your-childs-name-before-they-turn-18/
Electronic Birth Notification
The new online birth notification system became available for private hospitals, birthing centres and midwives throughout Queensland in November 2012. This system allows authorised users to securely, accurately and quickly lodge birth notifications for children born in Queensland. There’s no fee to use this system. Birth notifications are usually submitted by the person in charge of a hospital where the child was either born or brought to (within 24 hours of the birth).
Otherwise the person responsible for submitting the notification is the -
- midwife
- doctor
- other person present at the birth should there be no midwife or doctor.
| Wedding Ceremonies | Renewal of Vows Ceremonies | Baby Naming Ceremonies |
