A baptism or christening asks for music that is gentle, hopeful, and easy to sing with a baby in the room. Below are eight real songs and hymns that families use for the day, from old favorites to one warm popular choice. There is also a quieter idea: an original song written about your own little one, for $39.90, delivered in 24 to 48 hours. We start with that one, because it is the example.
Listen: "Welcome to the World, Little One"
Listen
Welcome to the World, Little One
What makes a good baptism song
The best baptism songs are simple, gentle, and about welcome and belonging rather than big theology. That is why the old children's hymns work so well. They were written to be understood by the very young, so the words are plain and the tunes are easy to hold. "Welcome to the World, Little One" follows the same idea. It names the day a family gathers to bless a new baby, and it stays soft the whole way through. When you are choosing music, look for that quality first: a song a room full of grandparents and godparents can actually sing, over a sleeping child.
There is one more thing a written song can do that a famous one cannot. It can say your baby's name. A hymn speaks about every child at once. A custom song speaks about yours, on the date it was sung, in front of the people who came.
8 baptism and christening songs
Here is a simple way to choose: the hymns below fit the service itself, and the last song fits the party afterward. All eight are real, well known, and gentle enough for a baby's day.
- "Morning Has Broken." Words by Eleanor Farjeon, first published in 1931 and set to the old Scottish Gaelic tune "Bunessan." Cat Stevens made it famous in 1972. It is a hymn of thanks for a fresh new day, which is exactly what a christening feels like. Good for the entrance.
- "All Things Bright and Beautiful" — Cecil Frances Alexander. Written in 1848 for her book Hymns for Little Children. It celebrates the small things, the tiny wings and the little flowers, so it fits a small new person perfectly. The most child-friendly hymn on the list.
- "Be Thou My Vision." An Irish text that may date to the 8th century, paired with the tune "Slane." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose it for Prince George's christening in 2013. A steady, beautiful prayer for a life just beginning.
- "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" — Edwin Hatch. Written in 1878, and the second hymn sung at Prince George's christening in 2013. Short, quiet, and full of childlike simplicity. For families who want something calm and traditional.
- "Jesus Loves Me." Words by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1860, tune by William Bradbury in 1862. It is often the very first hymn a child learns, which makes it a natural for a baptism. Nearly everyone in the room will know it by heart.
- "Amazing Grace" — John Newton. Published in 1779 in the Olney Hymns. It is about being found and made new, which is the heart of baptism itself. For a milestone that the whole extended family will remember.
- "Give Me Oil in My Lamp" (Sing Hosanna). A cheerful, clapping children's hymn with a big "sing hosanna" chorus. It lifts the mood right up, so it is lovely for the end of the service or for a room full of older siblings and cousins.
- "Isn't She Lovely" — Stevie Wonder. From 1976, written to celebrate the birth of his daughter, and it even opens with a real baby's cry. Not a hymn, so save it for the reception. For a joyful, dance-in-the-kitchen welcome to a new little one.
The lyrics
The lyrics
Welcome to the World, Little One
Hush now, the house knows your name already
The floorboards learned to whisper this week
Ten small fingers wrapped around one
You hold on like you've always known us
Three a.m. is yours now, little one
And we come gladly, every time
The kettle's quiet, the lamp burns low
The whole house turns around you slow
Welcome to the world, little one
We've been waiting all our lives, it turns out
Every star above your window
Hung there just to watch you now
Sleep, the night is gentle
Welcome to the world, little one
You smell like milk and morning
You weigh less than a wish
But the room bends toward your breathing
Like flowers do to light
The mobile turns, the felt stars sway
You've only been here seven days
Welcome to the world, little one
We've been waiting all our lives, it turns out
Every star above your window
Hung there just to watch you now
Sleep, the night is gentle
Welcome to the world, little one
Someday you'll be tall and loud and running
And we'll tell you how the whole house held its breath
The night you came home small
Welcome to the world, little one
We've been waiting all our lives for you
Every star above your window
Is yours — we checked, it's true
Sleep, the night is gentle
Welcome to the world, little one
Hush now — you're here, you're real
And the world's been waiting to meet you
Common questions
What songs are played at a baptism or christening?
Gentle hymns are the most common choice, especially "Morning Has Broken," "All Things Bright and Beautiful," and "Jesus Loves Me." "Be Thou My Vision" and "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" were both sung at Prince George's christening in 2013. Many families also add one warm popular song for the reception, such as Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."
Can you play a non-religious song at a christening?
Yes, though it depends on the church, so it is worth asking your vicar or priest first. Hymns are usual during the service itself, but many families pick a gentle secular song for the entrance, the exit, or the party afterward. A custom song written about your own baby works in either place, and you decide exactly what it says.
What makes a good song for a baby's baptism?
The best baptism songs are simple, gentle, and about welcome and belonging rather than grand statements. Old children's hymns do this well because they were written to be understood by the very young. A custom song can go one step further and name your actual baby, the date, and the people who gathered to bless them.
Give your little one a song that is only about them
A hymn blesses every child at once. A song about your own baby says their name, on the day you all stood around the font. If you want that kind of keepsake, have a custom song written for your little one for $39.90, delivered in 24 to 48 hours, with unlimited revisions. Tell us the name, the date, and the people who love them. We will write the rest.
From the same series: Songs for a new baby and First-time grandparent songs.
