Until the 17th century young babies were wrapped in tight swaddling clothes and carried in a large square of lavishly trimmed silk, known as a bearing cloth, to the font for the ceremony, which is the precursor of the christening gown as we know it today.

By the mid 18th century gowns had evolved to a front opening fastened with ribbon ties and showing a petticoat beneath. Worn by both boys and girls these gowns featured a slip dress, with a long flowing skirt that fell gently from a short tucked bodice and included a low neck and short sleeves. This christening gown remains very popular today.

By the mid 19th century baptism gowns were decorated with fine white embroidery known as Ayrshire embroidery, which consists of embroidery worked with extra needlework fillings and cut-work and made for the lavish gowns we know today. Originating in the Scottish lowlands this white on white embroidery is often so minute one can hardly see some of the stitches.

Large families were popular in the Victorian era and a mother, while waiting for the arrival of her first born, often made a beautiful gown for the baptism. Although the sewing machine was available in mid Victorian England, gowns were often handmade because they were small, compact and could be easily moved from room to room in the young mother's needlework bag. After the gown was worn it was easily packed away to await the arrival of the next child, thus began the christening gown heirloom tradition.

By the end of the Victorian era gown skirts were lavishly ornamented with pin tucking, embroidered bodices and lace insertions, and the child always wore a bonnet. The advent of a beautiful ceremonial gown ensured the infant looked "picture perfect"; bringing about the family photograph to record the event.

Most children born into the Roman Catholic Church are baptized as infants. The traditional clothing for a baptism is a christening gown, a very long, white infants' garment made specifically for the ceremony. Before the 19th century, this gown was usually the best piece of clothing a baby owned.

By the late 19th century to early 20th century baptisms and christenings began to occur later in a baby's life. A long gown was not practical because the child was walking and the practice of shortcoating i.e., shortening the gown to a dress length became common. A matching bonnet is traditionally part of the christening outfit, whether a long gown, short gown or outfit is being worn.

Baby Gift Clouds is particularly proud of its collection of silk and European Christening and Baptism gowns, outfits, accessories, and shoes. We hope you will take a few moments to visit our collections