Can babies wear a cross?

Pectoral cross on a baby.

Having the gift of grace to take care of their children, mothers do everything necessary for them, protect them from everything that could cause harm to the baby. But it happens that they protect their children from something that is incapable of causing harm.

Some people are afraid to put a cross on their newborn babies. Of course, a chain hanging from a baby's neck is a potential threat. The sharp edges of a metal cross are also something that can cause alarm.

But if a thick cross with rounded edges hangs on a short cotton rope so that the child cannot put his hand under the rope, nothing bad can happen. We once bought a skein of cotton thread 1 mm thick, intended for some kind of needlework, and we have been cutting pieces of it for about 7 years now, regularly changing the ropes for all the children as they get dirty.

If a child receives Holy Baptism at the age of approximately 40 days and immediately begins to wear a pectoral cross on a short string, then by the age of one year the cross becomes an integral part of his life for the child, and he will never take any action to remove the cross from himself and will not feel no discomfort. And he will receive protection from the actions of fallen spirits! After all, the cross is a weapon against all the power of demons.

There are such lines in the Holy Scripture: “...and the smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever, and they will have no rest, day or night, who worship the beast and his image and who receive the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:11). These lines always fill me with fear, since I perfectly understand that we, people, in the overwhelming majority, submitting, in one way or another, to our passions, spiritually accept this sign of belonging to the beast, which means it is written about us.

The cross on the body is a sign that we are Christ’s! This is a seal that we belong to Him and we rely on Him!

In our family, crosses are removed only to change the string. After all, the Lord said about the great judgment and the end of the world: “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but only My Father alone” (Matthew 24:36) - what if the end of the world is in a minute, and the children are without cross, without the seal of Christ!!! What awaits them is horror!!! Moreover, the cause and culprits of this horror are the parents - those who have removed from their child the pass to eternal bliss.

In our life there are so many obstacles on the way to the Heavenly Fatherland, to heavenly life, so why also erect walls separating us from perfect joy?!

Give us, Lord, understanding!

Should a baby wear a cross?

Yuya, 08.07.06 11:22

Hello mommies! Forgive me if this was asked, I couldn’t find it. Should a baby wear a cross? If not, at what age should I start, and if so, how? Grandmother took the child to give communion today, and I forgot to put on the cross, the priest cursed and gave orders not to take it off. What did you do?

staisi, 08.07.06 11:42

Naomi We haven’t taken off the cross since the day of baptism, and I baptized the girls in the second month, as expected, after 40 days. What Father is telling you is correct. Moreover, the cross is not just that, it is the protection of the child from all sorts of misfortunes.

Svetka-Sweetie, 08.07.06 11:54

And we have a cross hanging at the head of the bed. We decided not to dress it yet. Ilya pulls for everything - it’s scary. the rope will cut you, and the chain may cause irritation. Although I agree that a cross should be worn. But it’s forgivable for kids. We also put it on for communion, and then took it off.

Katarios, 08.07.06 11:59

I haven’t taken off my cross since my baptism...

Truant, 08.07.06 12:26

Naomi , of course, wears it from the moment of baptism and never takes it off. Why take it off? Svetka-Sweetie , well, a baby cannot cut himself with a string - there have been no such cases. If you believe in this, then it’s generally not clear why you should baptize a baby if you don’t believe in the power of the Cross

ksuska, 08.07.06 16:03

We also don’t take off the cross from the moment of baptism, except when we bathe

Seal, 08.07.06 16:54

We removed the cross once - there was irritation from the string. Then they put it on again - and I’m still wearing it. There’s also a special cross hanging near the crib that my son’s godmother bought especially for his christening.

Losa, 08.07.06 17:19

Our son was baptized at 5 months. and since then the cross has not been removed. Only once was it when they changed the string to a silver chain. The child is used to the cross, he doesn’t touch it, the chain doesn’t bother him. Sometimes he takes it in his palm and says “Cross”

Yuya, 08.07.06 19:33

They put it on with a short rope (not enough for my son). We baptized him at 2 months, and the cross hung on the crib. I kept waiting to wear it, but now, perhaps, the moment has come. Apparently it was no coincidence that she forgot to put on a cross, so that the priest would tell her that she should always wear it. Regarding all kinds of prayers, there is also a mother’s prayer (strong protection) and even unbaptized children can, in exceptional cases, be baptized by the mother herself. PS And you know, I was all worried about him, it seemed like they were baptizing him and praying, but somehow, somehow, they put on a cross and I felt better! Silly me, I was still afraid. Thank you girls for the answers!

Incognita, 09.07.06 13:38

as they dubbed, I have never taken the cross off my son... it’s been almost a year now... even when I bathe, I don’t take it off - it’s on a string, but his head has grown and the string is too small to take off, so whether you like it or not, it’s always with a cross... Only at Grandma’s ours is just some kind of quirk. He is looking for all the reasons to take off the cross. You see, while bathing, the rope gets wet, he walks around wet in it and can get sick!. normal right? from the rope being wet?.(I wipe it thoroughly with a towel so that it is not completely wet)…. then one day my son was sleeping during the day and a scratch appeared on his face... obviously not a cat, hardly himself. In principle, it looks like he was spinning, the cross got up and scratched his face..... Again the grandmother was almost hysterical - take off the cross..... But every time I firmly say that I will not remove the cross from the child!! nothing bad will happen from a scratch…..broken knees look worse…..I feel calmer when my child wears a cross…..I really don’t know what to do - he sometimes chews it in his mouth…I don’t allow it, but now he’s that age— don’t let something go - hysterical... but he knows that he has it, he’ll take it in his hand - KESTIK says... I’m wearing a chain here (I haven’t worn it for a long time). my son’s MOM flies up with a cross. (they say my mother has a cross)..he pulled out the chain and I don’t have a cross, he’s so disappointed “no” and also betrayed his knowledge - pushing the chain back into my collar - “I need to hide it” .... (the cross is in plain sight they don’t wear it, I always clean it up if it gets out. The child has already learned it)

Panther, 09.07.06 14:55

QUOTE (Naomi @ 8 Jul 2006, 12:22)

What did you do?

We didn’t take them off just as we were dressed during baptism.

Maryana, 09.07.06 15:00

Naomi , we were baptized at three weeks. At first the cross was not removed. Then at night the rope somehow unsuccessfully pinched my neck - no big deal, but it became clear that even a short rope could do something strange. They didn’t flog any gags, they turned to the priest for advice. He ordered me to hang the cross at night and while sleeping at the head of the bed, but it can be worn when under control. From the age of one, we switched to constantly wearing a cross (both day and night, never taking it off). The rope also “shortened” over time, because the neck does not remain at the same level. Recently the rope was replaced with a new one, and now we will have an icon of the Vladimir Mother of God added to the cross. My daughter treats these objects with reverence, we kiss them and forces her parents to kiss them, and then she will certainly hide them in her bosom.

QUOTE

then during bathing, you see, the rope gets wet, he walks around wet in it and can get sick

Well, nothing, these are all lessons in humility. One of our grandmothers was half-fainted because we decided to baptize the child at twenty days. So, nothing, with love, with a smile, with God - everything is conquered

Mermaid, 09.07.06 18:38

I asked this question on the Orthodox forum. This is what they told me. A: We baptized all the children very early and did not remove the testicles from them, although they are on a string. Only for 9 years they gave the eldest a chain, and all of them have a cross on a string, not long and not choking, they gnaw, right), one of them had a piece chewed off, I had to remove this one and hang it on her with another one, the second daughter completely swallowed it, but the little cross came out naturally and is still with her. MODERATOR: To your question about the cross on the child and in the crib, recently in the TV program “Slavia”, the candidate of theology, Archpriest Fr. Alexander Ranne. He said this: That a small child cannot take a pectoral cross seriously, except in rare cases. The baby doesn’t need it around his neck in a crib; hang it somewhere on the crib. On the street, you can wear a cross, but in such a way that you can control its wearing. Because a child can unconsciously rip it off, take it off, or simply throw it away. It’s better when the child grows up, explain the purpose of the pectoral cross and that he has one, and he can wear it without embarrassment, but with joy. B: Did the Lord Jesus Himself wear a cross after His baptism at the age of 30? No! Did the apostles and all believers in Christ wear crosses in the first 200 - 300 years of church history? No! Wearing or not wearing does not give anything, neither to man nor to God. However, if a person believes that the object protects him, then this is already idolatry, an abomination before the Lord. (See the second commandment) The traditions of amulets were brought to the church by pagans. If you want the best for your child, protect him in the name of Jesus Christ: “Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus!...Glory to You!..” Demons, spirits of disease and, in general, everything satanic flee in His name. Only the Name of Jesus protects, not dead objects or traditions. Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ Q: Wearing a cross is mandatory for an Orthodox Christian. I have three children, all of them were baptized in infancy, I never had any problems with crosses, they wore them without taking them off. Try to replace the chain with a soft rope and make it shorter so that the girl does not get tangled in it and chew the Cross; indeed, it would be good to hang it on a ribbon or ribbon that is not long. This is done not only for children, but also worn by adults who value the sacred thing - the cross and do not want to lose it (the chains break so often!). Wearing a cross is mandatory - it is not only a symbol of Christianity, but also a real weapon that protects a Christian from the devil. For a baby who is not yet able to pray and be baptized on his own, this is especially important. The holiness and power of the cross does not depend in any way on the degree to which your baby understands it (otherwise some here tried to push a similar idea). As far as you can see, there is no complete agreement and on this issue We carry if there is no irritation. (Sometimes the heat from the contact causes an allergy under the chain).

squirrel, 09.07.06 21:57

It’s probably better to resolve such issues with the priest to whom you are confessing. Father told us not to take it off, grandmother insisted that we take it off and hang it on the crib, the baby was without a cross for two days, then they put it on again - it makes me feel better.

Simonetta, 09.07.06 23:16

My Sonechka often takes the cross in her hands, looks at it, pulls the string, when she sees that it is not stretching, she leaves it and gets distracted. We don’t remove the cross, but the rope needs to be changed, it gets dirty.

Vera, 18.08.06 22:59

And we whine like that. Over the shoulder. This is already the fourth child's experience. Without a cross, no, no. And the eldest is already on the chain.

Ilmik, 18.08.06 23:01

We were baptized at 7 months old, and we still walk around with this cross. Haven’t taken it off even once. I wish I could put it on a chain, since three years are still around the corner, the rope has become quite dirty

Valushka, 19.08.06 00:22

My children don’t wear a cross. My sister’s cross got caught in the playpen and she hung directly on the rope. That’s when I got scared. My mother left me at home to watch for her, what if something had happened?! This incident left its mark. Everyone has their own cross and chain. They can wear it if they want.

illen, 19.08.06 09:19

QUOTE

However, if a person believes that an object protects him, then this is already idolatry, an abomination before the Lord. (See the second commandment)

This point of view is closest to me. IMHO I'm afraid to put a baptismal cross on my daughter. She is still small, she will chew it, pull it, catch it on something... it’s scary to even think about.

Truant, 19.08.06 16:27

Valushka , illen , no offense - but that’s what people fear most, that’s why they suffer. I haven’t heard a single story of a child suffering from the cross. illen , the quote you cited from Rusalka’s post is not the answer of an Orthodox priest, it is the answer of a Protestant.

Ariel, 19.08.06 16:43

Girls, I completely understand in my mind that my daughter shouldn’t suffer from the cross, but I’m still afraid to dress her, precisely because I’m afraid of suffocation. And we weren’t baptized with a cross; Catholics don’t wear it at baptism. Honestly, they say that Spaniards and Latin Americans still wear them, I don’t know. But we have a consecrated cross.

illen, 19.08.06 18:05

Truant , Perhaps, I won’t argue. I just don’t believe that a child can be deprived of protection and patronage just because his mother did not put a cross on him in infancy. PS By the way, my grandmother says that in the villages they hung a cross on the cradle

Truant, 19.08.06 18:21

QUOTE (illen)

I just don’t believe that a child can be deprived of protection and patronage just because his mother did not put a cross on him in infancy.

Well, no one says that. I won’t tell you for sure now, and I won’t find any references, but in general, a baptized person is not supposed to remove the cross under any circumstances. But there is no connection with protection and patronage, in my opinion. A baptized person immediately comes under the protection of his Guardian Angel, and whether he wears a cross or not is, of course, sad, but not fatal. The whole point here is that often after Baptism the cross is removed from themselves or from a child by people who are far from the faith. Those who are baptized precisely “for protection and patronage,” and not because they believe in Christ: Villages, unfortunately, in this regard are not a decree for a believer. It was the village semi-pagan beliefs that brought so much to Orthodoxy that, I’m afraid, it will never be sorted out

illen, 19.08.06 18:42

QUOTE

Villages, unfortunately, in this regard are not a decree for a believer. It was the village semi-pagan beliefs that brought so much to Orthodoxy that, I’m afraid, it will never be sorted out

I completely agree - there is such a cool “mix” of Orthodoxy and paganism that it’s really hard to tell. The example I gave was that such a practice of “not wearing” already existed and was not invented by modern “atheists.”

Truant, 19.08.06 18:48

QUOTE

Every Orthodox Christian must wear a pectoral cross, because this is a testimony and preaching of Christianity. Every Christian carries his own cross, placed on him at Baptism, because our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: “... and whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). The pectoral cross is evidence that we are Christians - it is an image of our life cross on the path to God

illen , moreover, and in the cities not everyone wore Look at any pre-revolutionary Russian portraits - right from the emergence of secular painting in Russia. Apparently, the practice of not wearing a cross began with Peter I with the introduction of Western fashion - open dresses. Or maybe he’s here and has nothing to do with it. It’s difficult for me to judge this - I’m not a historian, and I haven’t delved into this question. But one thing seems obvious to me - wearing a cross cannot harm a person.

Lady, 29.09.06 10:51

QUOTE

Wearing or not wearing does not give anything, neither to man nor to God. However, if a person believes that an object protects him, then this is already idolatry, an abomination before the Lord. (See the second commandment)

I completely agree. And the Lord protects us in life, and not some crosses and icons

Tanyushik, 29.09.06 10:57

By the way, the apostles did not wear crosses. But my children will...

decal, 06.12.06 21:57

They baptized on the 40th day, and haven’t removed it since! I believe that the cross cannot be removed!!! This is sacred! By the way, I have never heard of a child strangling himself with a cross. My niece is one year old, so she often takes out her cross and kisses it. And in the corner of the crib we hung an icon of the patroness.

Elvira, 21.12.06 12:04

My kids wear their crosses almost constantly. And I also bathe them with crosses. For us, the most common ones are silver ones, bought in the temple. Because of the silver coins, I had a huge fight with my grandmother. She believes that children should only wear gold ones and only on a gold chain, because... She sees this with her own eyes all the time. I bought crosses and chains for mine in jewelry stores and blessed them. I only put it on my daughter, I didn’t wear it on my baby, it’s like I’m not old enough yet. Well, we quarreled. I barely asked for my daughter’s cross. So what should we do? There is no strength to argue or swear. And so we have been living in a state of war for 20 years.

Anna Khrustaleva, 21.12.06 12:44

QUOTE (Tanushik)

But my children will

When drawing princesses, my girls don’t forget to draw a cross on their necks! Matyusha has been wearing it, of course, since the moment the priest put a cross on his neck. I actually know from myself that chains often break, so I put them on for children on a cord, and sometimes I change the lace when it gets dirty. But the godfather said that there is a baptismal cross and a bearer cross, that is, it’s like the baptismal cross is kept at home so that it doesn’t get lost. Of course, it happens with children that the rope comes undone, or the bow breaks, or they went for an x-ray and they forced Ulyasha to take off her cross. Then he might really get lost. That's why I have spare crosses for girls. And I myself have been wearing the same one since the moment of baptism. Of course, the main thing is faith, not the cross. But this is not a reason to neglect the cross. The cross is a visible evidence of our faith, our shrine. You can always kiss him, he is always with you.

ASTRA's, 22.12.06 20:01

I baptized my daughter at 1.5 months, at first I attached the cross to the top of my clothes, then I put it on a chain, but it quickly tore and my daughter didn’t like it. Now my daughter has grown up (2 years 3 months), she constantly carries it on a string, she’s used to it, it doesn’t bother her, but on the contrary, she likes it. I'm afraid to leave my child without a cross.

Nelumbo nelumbo, 24.12.06 06:24

Our friends had a 2.5 year old boy who bit off and swallowed a cross. They went to the ambulance to get an x-ray. Everything worked out fine, the cross didn’t get stuck anywhere and came out safely “on the other side”... But the very thought that the cross had to be looked for in poop, even if it was the poop of an innocent child... Brrrr!