Quakers do not Christen children, but like other churches which do not recognise infant baptism, we have our own ways of welcoming new children into our meeting. Sometimes this is very informal; a couple just come to meeting, bringing their baby with them. After a while someone will stand and say a few words on behalf of the meeting. It is unlikely that anyone will have been chosen in advance to do this; Friends prefer to be spontaneous and expect that the right person will, when the time comes, feel that he or she should stand and speak.

Some people prefer to hold a special meeting to name or welcome a child, and they will plan with the Elders just what form this will take. Usually it is quite informal, with the children of the meeting sitting on a rug on the floor, quietly playing with toys, while the adults hold the meeting for worship around them.

Many years ago any child of Quaker parents was automatically a Quaker (a Birthright Quaker) but this is no longer so. It is possible for parents to apply for formal membership on a child's behalf, for the child to confirm if it wishes when old enough, but most feel that their children are already an integral part of the meeting and that no formal procedure is necessary.