Baptism Gown

H.,

I have an idea that I haven't done yet but, have it on a list of things to do. I have saved each of my 7 kids Christening outfits. my plan is to perserve them by building shadow boxes for them and include the accessories along with a picture of them on that special day. The use them to decorate part of our home like the hallway to the bedrooms or in our bedroom.

Just a thought.

Congradulations!!

A.

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Oh! I like the idea of embroidering the names on the dress. Not to hitchhike this post... but for anyone who has done this, where do you recommend doing the embroidery? On the inside? At the bottom hem?

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My advice is similar to others. My daughter was baptized in the same gown my brother and I wore, as well as one of my cousins, my mom and aunt. We haven't done anything special to preserve it beyond washing it right after being used and keeping it in a closet or cedar chest. The little jacket my great grandmother made to go with it is slightly yellowed, but it actually has taken on kind of an ivory color that looks natural and still goes well with the gown.

To pull in both sides of the family, we actually used the little cap my husband wore for his baptism as well for my daughter. It's the kind that's actually made out of a hankerchief and was designed to cut the ribbons for him to give to his wife on his wedding day. Well, my mother-in-law didn't find it until 4 years into our marriage, so needless to say, it wasn't used for that purpose. But we ended up finding a special use for it anyway to use for his daughter's baptizm.

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We had the name and date of baptism embroidered on the bottom of the gown in the hem section. There have been two babies christened in it so far, and we plan to pass it along to other family members and other generations. Each time, the name and date will be added.

Always have it cleaned after use so that it will be ready for the next time!

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I've always heard-light blue tissue paper wrapped around it and in a box. This is how I did ours and they look perfect.
L.

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You can also start a tradition by perserving it and then passing it down to her for her children. Those outfits are something that can become special in generations to come.

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Hi. My mom embroidered my name and my sister's name on our gown. Then I have used it for my three kids and embroidered their names on it, too. We plan to continue to use it for my sister's kids, also embroidering their names, and passing it down and adding names . . ..

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Stores like Hobby Lobby have a department that will create a shadow box display for you. They'll discuss what else you may or may not want to include and create a really beautiful display. It's not particularly cheap, but it is definitely worth it. I can't think of the words right now, but professionals make sure your items don't yellow, etc.

P.S. I don't work for Hobby Lobby! :) I just remember seeing a really beautiful display and talking to a sales associate about what the items were, how they did it, etc...

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I would really learn on how to best preserve it and then pass it down. My husbands family has a christening gown that has been used since 1881!! Every family member has been Christened in it. It's very cool to know that this gown has been around so long and that the family has such a tie to it.. With every one that is christened in it they add the name and date and the names of the god parents to a piece of paper that follows the dress. The list is quite long and I cant wait to add my second childs name to it next.

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Dry cleaners that clean and preserve wedding dresses would also be able to do a baptismal gown. They will clean it, pack it in acid-free tissue and a box. They will also tell you how to best store it at your home.

Anything that will expose the dress to air and sunlight will affect the longevity of the dress. It's really your call what's more important--to display it today, or have your descendants wearing it 200 years from now.

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You can take it to a place that will preserve it in a box. The Wedding Shoppe on Grand Avenue in St. Paul had or still has connections. They put my wedding gown in a box along with the garter and headpiece and they suck the air out. You can flip open this flap and see the contents but the air won't get to it and yellow it. I'd spend the money on doing such a thing.

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If you are planning on keeping the dress for future children, you can just have it professionally cleaned until it is needed again. Otherwise a shadow box is a good idea, or cutting it up and making a quiltlike blanket from it would be an idea too. That way the child could use the special blanket and it would get more use than just looking at it in a pretty box. Otherwise, my suggestion would be to donate it to your nearest hospital if you don't have any super sentimental ties to it. I worked in a NICU where we baptized lots of babies. In the NICU, many of the babies who are sick or dying need baptismal or burial gowns. It's a stressful time in many of the parents lives, and the last thing that they want to go out and do is leave their baby to take out time to find a special gown. It was always really appreciated to have a beautiful gown to give the parents and make the time special for them too. Many people donate baptismal gowns or wedding dresses to make into gowns for the infants. Just a thought.

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Ideally you would have it preserved like a wedding dress, however, it will most likely sit in a box in a closet that way. My daughter's gown was made from my confirmation dress and we have it hanging in her room on a satin hanger on the wall next to a photo of her wearing it.
Congrats and enjoy your baby!
J.

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