Dedication & Blessing: Newborn-Age 3

November 07, 2025

What is the Child Dedication Step?

The first step on the Faith Path is Child Dedication (designed specifically for parents of newborns to 2-year-olds). This is a special time where you – the primary spiritual guide of your child – make a public commitment to raise them in a Christ-centered home and to pass on a godly legacy. We see examples of this in Scripture, such as when Hannah dedicated Samuel at the temple (1 Samuel 1:24–2:10) and when Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus (Luke 2:22). We make this commitment in front of our church family as a public pledge to raise this child to love God with all his/her heart, soul, and strength.

Child Dedication is your commitment to model, teach, and reinforce the Christian faith by intentionally raising your child in a Christ-centered home. It should not be confused with your child’s personal choice to follow Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that each person must decide for themselves to trust in Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10). The age a child is ready to make this personal decision will vary depending on the child. 

Put It Into Practice

Below are some ideas for making your dedication a special time:

  • Schedule a public expression of your dedication on an upcoming Child Dedication Sunday.
  • Attend a Legacy Class for first-time parents to learn more about Child Dedication and the details of the dedication service. Classes are offered prior to the dedication, and you can register at the same time you register for a dedication Sunday.
  • Have a dinner or celebration time with family and friends before/after the time of dedication.
  • Invite family members and special family friends to write blessings to your child as a keepsake.
  • Record a video message for your child to view in the future. Speak words of affirmation, sharing how you are praying for their spiritual journey and how you desire to point them to Jesus.

What To Say in a Child Dedication

As a part of your child’s dedication, we ask that you create a prayer of blessing over your child to read as a part of the dedication service. View blessing examples.

Next Steps

  • Register for a Child Dedication Sunday and Legacy class.
  • Send invitations to your relatives, friends, and community group members to join you in the service for the dedication.

Additional Resources

What is the Blessing Step?

Once you have shared a blessing over your child at his/her dedication, it is a great habit to continue praying for and giving a blessing to your child. The word “bless” or “blessing” is used almost seven hundred times in Scripture, and we see many biblical examples of parents blessing their children. Ephesians also reminds us that our God is a God of blessing: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) 

We receive a blessing from our Heavenly Father and have the wonderful opportunity to pass it on to our children, communicating the unconditional love, affirmation, and acceptance all children need from their parents. 

Put It Into Practice

Using the acronym, B.L.E.S.S., here are five basic elements of the blessing that can have tremendous impact: 

  • Be committed: The blessing is not a fleeting moment or mere symbolic event. It includes an active, long-term commitment to the child’s well-being by accepting responsibility to help them become all God intends. 
  • Lovingly touch: The power of a hug or placing your hand on your child while affirming him or her creates an important physical connection and communicates warmth, acceptance, and relational health. 
  • Express value: Just like we add value to someone’s pocket by handing them a coin, we add to a child’s life when we use words that attach high value to them as a person. 
  • See potential: Parents are best positioned to see a child’s natural strengths and foresee possibilities for their future. Giving the blessing includes picturing a special future and cheering them toward achieving their potential. 
  • Say it: An effective blessing must be put into words, whether spoken, written, or both. Simply being present is not enough to communicate the blessing. Words of affirmation are necessary for the child to know he or she is appreciated and accepted. 

Next Steps

You can take advantage of special occasions and scheduled events to give a blessing in an intentional manner or simply capture informal, more spontaneous moments. One opportunity to give a blessing is at our Family Baptism Celebration when your son/daughter chooses to follow Jesus. Or you might want to start a routine of blessing before bedtime or as you drop your child off at school or daycare. 

  • On-the-go Blessings: Speak words of blessing to your child while driving to school, tucking into bed, celebrating an accomplishment or good effort, or writing a note to place in their lunch. You can also use a dry-erase marker on your child’s mirror to complete an affirming phrase such as “You are great because....”. Here are some other examples of affirming phrases you can say to your child:

    “I was so proud of you when I saw you…” 
    “I think God is going to use you in the future to…” 
    “God has gifted you with a unique ability to…” 

  • Bedtime Blessing Prayer: Select a special Scripture to pray over your child each evening, such as “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26) 
  • Consider framing the verse to keep beside your child’s bed. Lay your hand gently on your child’s head, arm, or shoulder while praying to reassure him/her with a loving touch. Some other examples of blessing from Scripture include 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:5, and Hebrews 13:20-21. 

Additional Resources

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