Your baby is going to have a special day, and you are excited ! Some churches celebrate infant baptism, others call it a Christening. Either way, it is an outstanding event in your child's life, one you will want to remember.

You have purchased a beautiful gown that you hope may be handed down from generation to generation. How well it survives will depend at least partly on how it is stored.

1. As soon as possible after the event, carefully inspect the gown for any spots - these need to be hand washed immediately to keep them from staining the gown permanently.
2. Hand wash the entire gown using a mild soap. (Some gowns may be machine washed, but hand washing is always preferred.) Rinse well, roll in a towel to get rid of some of the moisture, then either hang or lay flat to dry. If the gown is cotton or linen, it is safe to hang it in sunlight; otherwise it is best to dry it in the shade.
3. Carefully wrap the gown (un-ironed) in acid-free tissue and store in a dry place such as a storage box, drawer or chest.
4. Another method of preserving your child's christening gown is to frame it in a large, glass-fronted shadow box that can be hung on the wall. If you choose this method of preserving the gown, you will of course want it pressed. Dampen the gown and press with a medium hot iron; be sure it is completely dry before hanging it in the shadow box.