When can children be baptized and/or participate in Communion? Is there an age requirement for baptism and/or the Lord’s Supper?

The Bible does not give an age requirement for when children can be baptized and then participate in Communion. Children should participate in these ordinances only when they underst and Jesus and freely choose to follow Him.

what does the bible say?

The Bible provides no specific age requirement for when children can be baptized or participate in Communion. God has always called His people to teach children His ways, which will lead them to personally following Him (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Proverbs 22:6). Baptism is a New Testament ordinance that follows salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:36-38), which comes when a person-child or adult—recognizes their own sin, their need for a Savior, and personally puts their trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. Communion, also a New Testament ordinance, is reserved for baptized believers who underst and Christ’s sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Since infant baptism is not explicitly found in Scripture, children should be baptized only when they comprehend salvation and freely choose to follow Jesus, with guidance from parents and church leaders affirming their faith. Likewise, children should partake in Communion only after understanding its meaning and after baptism, ensuring that participation in both ordinances reflects conscious faith and personal commitment to Christ.

from the old testament

God called His people to follow Him with understanding, not automatically by family association. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes teaching God’s commands to children but with the expectation that they grow to underst and and obey them.
Josiah is an example of a child who had a heart for God and followed Him even at an early age (2 Chronicles 34:3-4).
Sacrifices, offerings, and temple worship required awareness of sin and obedience to God (Leviticus 4:1-35). This implies that participating in God’s covenantal acts requires a conscious understanding of one’s relationship with Him.

from the new testament

The Bible teaches that baptism should take place following a person’s belief in Jesus Christ as Savior (Acts 2:38, 8:36-38; Mark 16:16). This means that even if a person was baptized as an infant or at an earlier time, he or she should be baptized following salvation.
For Communion, the biblical precedent seems to be that a person should only partake in Communion or the Lord’s Supper after baptism. Why? Every known occasion in the New Testament of people taking the Lord’s Supper involved baptized believers. Further, baptism is designed as the one-time public commitment that a person is a follower of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4). Communion then becomes the ongoing, repeated ordinance to remember the death of Christ on one’s behalf (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

implications for today

The practice of infant baptism did not take place in the New Testament but was later developed in the church to “christen” or commit a child to the Lord. While it may not be specifically wrong to baptize an infant, this is an extra-biblical tradition. Those who come to faith in Christ are still encouraged to receive believer’s baptism. The biblical pattern of baptism was one of immersion in water. How young should a child be baptized? Since no child baptisms were clearly shown in the Bible, the only guideline is that it takes place after salvation. Some children may underst and the gospel message enough to express salvation at the age of five or six while others will be teenagers before understanding well enough to decide to follow Jesus. Some churches make guidelines to not baptize children until the age of twelve or thirteen to refrain from baptizing children too young to underst and the decision they are making. Other churches instead require a children’s baptism class to help children underst and their decision to follow Jesus and the importance of baptism. Parents should be involved in their child’s baptism decision as much as possible. Baptism of a child would not typically be conducted without the consent of a parent, since the parent is responsible for the spiritual upbringing of a child. Rather than at a specific age, baptism should take place when a person understands salvation and is choosing baptism to identify as a believer in Jesus. Parents and church leadership should be involved in the decision to ensure the child’s understanding. Similarly, people should only take Communion when they underst and salvation and the significance of Communion. Once again, parental guidance and church leadership can be useful for introducing children to Communion. And as with adults, children who take Communion should examine themselves and take it in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:28).

Recap

understand

Children should be baptized and take Communion only after they underst and and personally choose to follow Jesus.
Baptism is a one-time public commitment, while Communion is an ongoing practice for believers.
Wisdom is required to help children know if they have given their lives to Christ and can be baptized and participate in the Lord’s Supper.

reflect

At what age could you underst and the gospel clearly enough to make a personal commitment to Jesus?
How are you committed to helping children underst and the Gospel without pressuring them to make a commitment to Christ?
How do you examine your own heart and understanding before taking Communion to ensure it reflects genuine faith?

engage

What is the importance of guiding children to a meaningful understanding of Jesus before they are baptized?
How can we help each other prepare for Communion so it remains a conscious, faith-driven practice?
How can we discern when it’s the right time for a child to be baptized?