Modern Baby Namings, Baby Blessings, and Child Honourings

Whether our children arrive through birth or adoption, they represent the gift of life, new beginnings, and fresh starts. For centuries, people of every culture and faith have gathered to rejoice in the coming of their children. Ritual and ceremony affirmed the role of parents and helped them inhabit the lessons and truths of parenthood. These ceremonies also supported healthy family relationships in the larger community.

A Fresh Alternative to Baptism or Christening

Religious services like baptism or christening were the traditional ways we named and presented our children. But, for many people, these no longer feel relevant. When ceremonies and rituals get stale, they lose their meaning and we stop using them.

Most parents today, unable to find a ceremony that fits, end up doing nothing. It is a loss not only for parents but for us all. When we fail to rejoice at the new life in our midst, we fail as a society to nurture our humanity. I think that is why new parents get so excited when they find me and realize there is a fresh, modern alternative to baptism or christening. Depending on the family, we call these a Child Honouring, Baby Naming, Baby Blessing, or Adoption Ceremony. I love the term Child Honouring. For really that is what these ceremonies do. Honour the child and her/his inherent gifts. We learn so much from our children!

Family Ceremonies for Birth or Adoption

I would love to work with you to create a Child Honouring, Baby Naming, Baby Blessing, or Adoption Ceremony to celebrate your child and your family.

Because so much of what we feel deeply can be hard to express, my collaborative process is designed to help you to access what is in your heart, to bring out what you want to make known. Based on our interviews and reflections, I will craft a ceremony especially for your family that mirrors your values and shares your parent-child story with those you love. I suggest poems and readings, parental vows, and culturally sensitive rituals that suit YOU. I include the Covenant for Honouring Children created by the Centre for Child Honouring. Many parents find this deeply inspiring.

I also suggest ways to involve grandparents as well as guide (or god) parents. This helps you lay a foundation for new family traditions and connections. There will be laughter, expressions of love, a few tears, and an exuberant closing. You will also receive a beautiful keepsake copy to put away for your child.

My fee for a custom written Child Honouring, Baby Naming, Baby Blessing, or Adoption Ceremony is $800. Shorter ceremonies are possible too! So let’s talk about your vision for your family’s special day. I welcome your call at 604-992-4217.

Michele Davidson,
Professional Celebrant & BC Wedding Officiant
Vancouver & Whistler BC

"We were delighted to have Michele serve as the Celebrant for our daughter's Honouring and Naming ceremony. She was wonderful to work with leading up to the event and worked closely with us to ensure that the ceremony was what we envisioned. She did a lot of research on various cultural traditions and created a truly beautiful and touching day for our family. It will be something our family and our daughter will always treasure."
- Laura & Shawn Housden

“The ‘high’ I had after our son’s Baby Naming Ceremony reminded me of the sweet buzz of our wedding day, and indeed the day Tobias was born.”
- Lynne

"Michele truly has an exceptional gift to share with families."
- Cynthia

“… a fantastic mixture of tradition with individuality. It let us feel like we were marking our son's birth - and naming him - in the wonderful tradition of a public ceremony… so refreshing to have an alternative to a religious service.”
- Richard