When Can a Child Be Baptized?

Baptism is one of the most joyful steps in a person's faith journey; it's the outward declaration of an inward decision to follow Jesus. However, when it comes to children, the decision can feel complicated. One of the most common and important questions I get from Christian parents is this: "When is my child ready to be baptized?" It's a great question I've wrestled with personally as a pastor, theologian, and now as a dad. 

My own daughter was baptized this past Easter Sunday (2025) at age 6, after nearly a year of consistently expressing her faith in Jesus and her desire to be baptized. I didn't rush her. I didn't pressure her. But when the time came, I chose to guide and prepare her as best I could.

We all come from various church backgrounds: Reformed, Baptist, Pentecostal, or other traditions, and carry different perspectives, and I hope to share some of my heart and give you a bit of clarity on some of the questions you may have. 

What Does the Bible Say?

I grew up in a Reformed church where infant baptism (also called covenantal baptism) was practiced. I went to seminary in that tradition. But during my master's degree, I studied baptism from a purely biblical exegetical perspective.

The consistent pattern in the New Testament is simple:

• "Repent and be baptized… Those who accepted his message were baptized…" (Acts 2:38; 41)

• "But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news... they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12)

• "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" (Acts 8:36)

The New Testament is clear: baptism follows belief. That's the pattern again and again. Believer's baptism is very different from infant baptism. With believer's baptism, it follows faith; with covenantal baptism (or Christening), it precedes faith. At Grace Church, we believe the Bible clearly states that a person should be baptized after they have surrendered their life to Jesus.

The question then becomes: at what age can a child be baptized? Some churches set a minimum age, like 12 or 15. But we must ask: is that age requirement biblical or cultural? 

Nowhere in the New Testament do we see a set age for baptism. So, if the Bible says nothing about age, we have to conclude that those are human-made guardrails, often motivated by fear: What if the child doesn't fully get it? What if they change their mind later? But the truth is, we don't apply those same fears to adults. Adults are often baptized with imperfect understanding, and sometimes for emotional or traditional reasons. Yet we still celebrate their obedience. None of us comes to Jesus with perfect understanding. Faith is real, even when it's simple. Jesus himself taught us to have faith like a child (Matt.18:3)

The most important question we must answer is this: Can a 6-year-old (or any young child) follow Jesus? If you believe they are too young to follow Jesus, then you should conclude that they cannot be baptized. But if you say "Yes, that child can follow Jesus," you must conclude that they should be baptized. So, instead of asking, "How old is this child?" we should ask: "Have they decided to follow Jesus"?

I do not feel my 3-year-old can understand this yet. Therefore, I can conclude that she has not made a clear decision to follow Jesus. She has also not asked about baptism, although she saw her sister being baptized. Still, I trust the time will come, but I don't know at what age that will be.

So, if a child comes to faith and keeps bringing up baptism, don't dismiss it; rather, disciple them.

What is a Parent's Role?

As a parent, your job isn't to rush your child into a decision or to hold them back unnecessarily. Your role shifts over time, and here are three simple steps to keep in mind:

1. Guide Them Toward Faith in Jesus

Don't pressure your child into following Jesus or getting baptized. But do guide them. Teach them about Jesus, answer their questions, read Scripture with them, and model what it looks like to love and trust God. Constantly create space for spiritual conversations in daily life. Faith is something we lead our children toward, not something we manufacture or coerce.

2. Help Them Understand Baptism

Your role shifts once your child clearly articulates that they have surrendered their life to Jesus and begins asking about baptism naturally and consistently. Now it's time to help them understand what baptism means. We provide materials at Grace for you to walk through with your child to ensure they grasp the basics, not just the meaning, but the why behind it.

3. Remind Them of Their Decision

After baptism, your role doesn't stop; it becomes even more important. Your job now is to help your child walk through the ups and downs of faith. Remind them that their baptism wasn't a finish line but a starting line. When they face doubts, temptations, or hard seasons, you can point them back to that moment: "You decided to follow Jesus. He has not let go of you, and He never will." Their hard seasons in their journey with Christ don't invalidate their decision. It's like marriage: the wedding is the start of the commitment, not the end. Every marriage has highs and lows, but the vows remain. The same is true of faith. Remind your children of Philippians 1:6 "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." 

Final Thoughts

I know this is deeply personal. I've walked this road with many families - and with my own. When my daughter prayed to follow Jesus, I didn't rush. I encouraged her to keep growing. But when she kept asking, months later, I knew it was time to take the next step. If your child expresses genuine faith and asks about baptism, it may be time. Let's not let fear or tradition hold back what God might be doing in their hearts.

Let's raise a generation who know Jesus and follow Him boldly, whether they're 6 or 60.