I will assume that you are talking about baptism into a Christian fellowship. If the child is Roman Catholic, almost always the baptism is done probably within the first few weeks or months after birth. If the child is older, I'm sure the Catholic Church would arrange to do it at any convenient time. In most other Christian denominations that follow the practice of baptism, a person would have to reach at least a level of maturity so that a mindful personal decision to accept Christ as savior can be made. In many denominations, churches will wait until a person is a young adult before accepting the testimony of an individual that this decision has been correctly and mindfully made. In any event, talk with the religious leaders of your church and they will guide you according to the teachings of your particular group.
A godparent is a person picked by a child's parents to be the child's "sponsor in the faith." Specifically, they make sure that the child is being raised according to Catholic values. To be a godparent one must be a member of the Catholic church, over 16 years old, be baptized, and not be living in sin against the church.
The duties of parents are in the baptismal rite:
"Parents, you have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring them up as Christ has taught us, by loving both God and our neighbor"
They must promise to raise the child catholic and provide Catholic godparents to assist towards that end.
To raise their children Christian. ---- A Catholic answerFor Catholic parents, to raise their children Catholic.
The conditions which parents must fulfill are that they will see that the child will grow and be taught , the word of god . From an early age.
There are no rules. I have always taught my kids why we get baptized before we do. Of course I let them make that decision too.
An illegitimate child can be baptized.
yes the child is only once baptized.
No, the child needs to be baptized. Catholicism is not passed by generation, rather by the Sacrament of Baptism.
Yes, a Catholic child should be baptized in a Catholic church.
Any child may be baptized if there is a reasonable hope that they will be brought up Catholic or in danger of death.
Yes
Yes, Maximilian Kolbe was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church as a child.
yes if the child accepts Jesus as the savior of his/her life.
Yes, a child can be baptized if his parents are separated, even if they are divorced. Children are not penalized for the mistakes of their parents.
Yes.
Yes people do give gifts to a newly baptized child. Even though he/she is unaware of the situations around, but it serves as a memory when they grow up.
Yes, anyone, even an unbaptized person can baptize in emergencies. But if it is not an emergency then the child should be baptized in the Catholic Church. If the Church denies baptism, then it should not be done.