Boutique guide · Christening
Baby girl christening dress: simple, tulle or lace? How to choose one up to 18 months
Five styles compared, what to look for in a dress she'll spend the day wearing in someone's arms, the accessories you actually need and how your choice changes between summer and winter.
By The Noi da piccoli boutiqueUpdated November 20267-minute read
Baby girl christening dress: simple, tulle or lace – what's the difference?
To find your way around, look at the words in the product names. In our catalogue, the ceremony pieces for girls available up to 18 months are mostly ceremony dresses and little dresses, followed by ceremony rompers and around ten bonnets. Tulle appears in the name of about 35 pieces, lace in around fifteen and a sash in about 25. Brands include Charo, Juliana, Ponto Por Ponto, Isabel and Bufi.
| Style | What it's like | When to choose it | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple dressthe style with the most choice | Clean lines, no volume: it's all about the fabric and the small details. The product names point to cotton for summer, and velvet and warm knit for winter. | If you'd like an understated dress for church. It also works well as a second outfit for the lunch. | Without a full skirt the colour stands out more: white, ivory and cream are different shades, so take your time comparing them in the photos. |
| Tulleabout 35 pieces | Layers of tulle that give the skirt volume. In winter it's sometimes paired with velvet. | If you love a dress that catches the eye even from a distance. As well as white, there are dresses in pink, sky blue and green. | The volume looks lovely in arms and standing up; for a long day, plan a simpler change of outfit. |
| Lacearound fifteen pieces | Lace all over the dress or just on the collar and sleeves, often in ivory and cream, sometimes with velvet, satin or tulle. | If you're after the most classic look, the closest to a traditional christening gown. | Look closely at the photos: when she's being held, it's mainly the collar and sleeves that show, so where the lace sits matters a lot. |
| With a sashabout 25 pieces | A light-coloured dress with a sash at the waist, often in another colour (pink, green, sage, peach, sky blue) or with a flower. | If you'd like a touch of colour without giving up white or ivory. | Before a nap, check there are no dangling ribbons: Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises removing them. |
| Ceremony rompermostly in the first sizes | A one-piece with legs, in shades of ivory, white and cream. | For the youngest babies, or as a second outfit after the dress. | Check the photos and product details to see whether it opens along the legs: according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), this makes nappy changes easier. |
Beyond taste, think about the day itself: the Italian parenting magazine Nostrofiglio suggests choosing a ceremony outfit according to the season, the time of day and the child's role. At a christening, she's the guest of honour, and the dress needs to work for many hours in someone's arms. For a baby boy, see our guide to christening outfits for baby boys.
Simple dresses
In tulle
Can you still find a long christening gown?
Yes, but they're rare: our catalogue has very few traditional long gowns for girls. Almost all the ceremony pieces up to 18 months are short dresses or rompers. The quickest way to find the long styles is to look for the Italian word "lungo" (long) in the product name.
If there's already a long gown in the family waiting to be passed down, you can keep it for the ceremony and choose a short dress or a romper for the lunch.
In lace
With a sash
How will it look in arms, at changing time and in photos?
Under 18 months, she'll spend the ceremony being held, then she'll eat, sleep and need changing. Think about these moments even before you think about the fabric.
- In arms. The skirt falls downwards and what stays on show is the collar, the sleeves and the top of the dress: these are the details to look at most carefully in the product photos.
- Getting her dressed. If the dress goes on over the head, the AAP advises stretching the neckline with your fingers and keeping it away from her face and ears. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby adds: one arm at a time, without pulling on her arms.
- Nappy changes. According to the AAP, clothes with poppers or a zip down the front and fastenings along both legs are easier. Not all ceremony dresses and rompers are made this way, so check the photos and details of each piece. Some dresses come with matching knickers. If you can't tell from the photos, message us on WhatsApp.
- Out and about. If you change her at the restaurant, never leave her on the changing table without an adult right beside her (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
And the photos? For children under three, Nostrofiglio recommends at least two outfits. For a christening, that could mean one dress for church and a simpler one, or a romper, for the lunch. If both pieces are in the same shade, the church photos and the party photos will sit nicely together in the album.
Bonnet, headband, tights and shoes: what do you really need?
The ceremony bonnet
Our catalogue has around ten ceremony bonnets, in ivory, cream and milk white. Some share their name with a dress from the same brand: that's the easiest way to find a matching pair. The NHS advises taking off hats and extra layers as soon as you go indoors, so your baby doesn't get too hot. So the bonnet is for arriving and for a few photos outdoors, then it comes off. If it ties with a ribbon, the AAP asks you to avoid ribbons and strings that could get knotted or wrap around the neck: check this in the photos.
The headband
Take it off before a nap, along with the bonnet. The Italian Society of Neonatology (Società Italiana di Neonatologia) recommends that newborns sleep with their head uncovered and with no soft objects nearby, and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises removing dangling ribbons and decorations.
Tights, socks and shoes
When it's cold, the AAP recommends socks and a hat. Whether it's tights, socks or little shoes, check there are no loops or loose threads inside that could wrap around her toes (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).
When it comes to shoes, it depends on whether she's walking yet. Until she's walking on her own she doesn't need them (Health for Under 5s): for the cold, socks or booties with non-slip soles are enough (KidsHealth). If she's taking her first steps, look for light, flexible shoes with non-slip soles that fit well, with at least 1 cm between the tips of her toes and the end of the shoe, and a hook-and-loop or buckle fastening that holds the heel in place. According to the AAP, no shoes at all is better than tight shoes. If you're unsure about the size of a dress or shoes, message us on WhatsApp with her age, height and weight.
Rompers and bonnets
How do you choose a christening dress for summer and for winter?
More than half of the ceremony pieces for girls up to 18 months are from the spring–summer collection. Here too, the product names help: for summer you'll find cotton, silk organdie, tulle and lace; for winter, velvet, warm knit, satin and even a few capes.
In summer
The NHS points out that on summer days one layer is enough, ideally light cotton: for a June or July ceremony, a cotton dress is the simplest choice. If she's resting in the pushchair, the NHS asks you not to cover it with muslins or blankets.
In winter
The thin-layers rule applies: for example, a bodysuit under the dress and, on top, a cardigan or a cape to take off as soon as you're inside the church. According to the AAP, babies and young children should wear one more layer than an adult would in the same conditions.
In the car, coats and pramsuits shouldn't go under the car seat harness: the AAP asks you to strap her in wearing thin layers, do the pinch test on the harness strap and put a blanket or coat over the straps. For the blanket, see our guide on how to choose a winter blanket for your newborn; for the rest of the day, the one on how to dress her for a winter christening.
The health and safety guidance comes from the sources listed below and is no substitute for your paediatrician's advice: if you have any concerns about your little girl, ask them.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Tips for Dressing Your Baby’, 2016
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (a service funded by the Australian Government), ‘Dressing a newborn’, reviewed October 2025
- NHS, ‘Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)’, reviewed November 2025
- NHS Start for Life, ‘How to dress a newborn’
- Italian Society of Neonatology (Società Italiana di Neonatologia), newborn sleep advice, reported by LaPresse, 13 March 2026
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Winter Car Seat Safety Tips’
- American Academy of Pediatrics, ‘Winter Safety Tips: Puffy Coats Should Not Be Worn in Car Seats’
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Winter Safety’
- KidsHealth (Nemours), ‘Is My Baby Ready for Shoes?’, medically reviewed 2019
- Health for Under 5s, ‘Your toddler's first shoes’, reviewed August 2026
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Shoes for Active Toddlers’, 2015
- Nostrofiglio (Italian parenting magazine), ‘Come vestire i bambini per una cerimonia’ (How to dress children for a ceremony), April 2022
One dress for church, one for the party
Ceremony dresses, rompers and bonnets up to 18 months, with free shipping in Italy from €99 and returns within 14 days of delivery. If you're unsure about sizing, message us on WhatsApp, Monday to Saturday, 9am–1pm and 4pm–8pm, with your little girl's age, height and weight.
