Christening gown

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Mother and child in long robe, then probably not seen as a christening gown, late 19th or early 20th century, Wales
Mother and child in long robe, then probably not seen as a christening gown, late 19th or early 20th century, Wales

A Christening gown or christening robe is a very long, white infants' garment now made especially for the ceremony of christening and usually only worn then. They are in fact the normal, or at least "best", outer clothing of Western babies until about the 19th century. The moment of progression to shorter dresses (for both boys and girls) was known as "shortcoating", which presumably coincided with the beginning of walking, which was impossible in a long robe.

Christening gowns are usually made of fine white linen or cotton fabric, and may be trimmed with tucks, lace, whitework embroidery, and other handwork.

Christening gowns often have matching bonnets, and may become family heirlooms, used generation after generation.

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