Catholic Prayer for a Newborn Baby: Blessings and Prayers

A new baby is a gift from God, and Catholic families have always welcomed each child with prayer: thanksgiving for a safe birth, blessing for the little one, and preparation for Baptism. Below are prayers for a newborn baby that parents, grandparents and godparents can pray, a simple blessing parents can give their child, prayers for a newborn who is sick or premature, and what Scripture says about the children God gives us.

A short prayer for a newborn, written for this page:

Loving Father, thank you for this little child, fearfully and wonderfully made.
Bless (name) with health, protect him (her) from every harm,
and let him (her) grow to know and love you. Amen.

Prayers for a newborn baby

Written for this page.

Thanksgiving after the birth

Lord God, giver of all life, we thank you for the safe birth of our child
and for bringing mother and baby through the labor.
Thank you for the doctors, nurses and midwives who cared for them.
We place this child in your hands with joy and gratitude.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A parent’s prayer for a new baby

Jesus, you were once a newborn in Mary’s arms and Joseph’s care.
Help us to love this child as they loved you:
to feed and protect, to comfort and teach,
and above all to lead our child to you.
Give us patience in sleepless nights and wisdom in every choice. Amen.

For a sick or premature newborn

Lord Jesus, our baby is so small and needs so much help.
Hold our child in your hands, guide the doctors and nurses,
strengthen every breath and heartbeat, and give us courage and hope.
Mary, Mother of God, stay with us at this bedside. Amen.

See also the prayer for a baby in the NICU.

For grandparents and godparents

Lord, thank you for the gift of this grandchild (godchild).
Let me be a source of love, faith and wisdom in his (her) life,
and give me grace to pray for this child every day. Amen.

A parent’s blessing for a baby

Parents can bless their child at any time, and many Catholic families make it a nightly habit. Trace a small cross on the baby’s forehead with your thumb and say:

May God bless you and keep you, (name).
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This echoes the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24–26. See Catholic blessings.

What Scripture says about children

Every child is known by God even before birth:

Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and made thee a prophet unto the nations.

The psalmist marvels at God’s care from the womb (Psalm 138:13–14, Douay-Rheims; Psalm 139 in modern Bibles):

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother’s womb.
I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well.

And Jesus welcomed the little children (Mark 10:14–16):

Whom when Jesus saw, he was much displeased, and saith to them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it.
And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.

Preparing for Baptism

The greatest gift parents can give their newborn is Baptism, which makes the child a child of God and a member of the Church. The Church asks parents to have their children baptized “in the first few weeks” after birth (Code of Canon Law, can. 867). Contact your parish soon after the birth, or even before, to arrange a baptism preparation class and choose godparents. See the Catholic baptism guide and the baptism invitation ideas in Spanish.

If a newborn is in danger of death, anyone can baptize: pour water on the baby’s head while saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Frequently asked questions

Who is the patron saint of newborn babies?

Catholics often entrust newborns to St. Gerard Majella, patron of mothers and babies, to the Holy Innocents, and to St. Nicholas, protector of children. See the St. Gerard prayer.

When should a newborn be baptized?

Within the first few weeks after birth, according to the Church’s law, and immediately if the child is in danger of death.

Can a newborn receive a blessing before Baptism?

Yes. Parents, grandparents and priests may bless a newborn at any time. The Church also has a blessing for mothers after childbirth.

More prayers for families

Texts and sources

Jeremias 1:5, Psalm 138:13–14, Mark 10:14–16 and Numbers 6:24–26 (Douay-Rheims).
Code of Canon Law (1983), canon 867.