This essay explains what is done and said at the baptism of an infant and what the different rituals/acts represent for Christians.

Baptism is the sign that someone belongs to Christ. That is why baptism is sometimes known as christening. Among Christians, there are two different opinions about who should be baptised. Some Christians believe people should only be baptised when they are old enough to understand what they are doing and make the choice to follow Jesus for themselves. Other Christians think that it is right to baptise children of Christian parents. They would say that …

…service ends with the dismissal. This lets the child go so they can go out into the world and spread the word of God and carry out his will. What is said at other churches like Catholic, Methodists etc. is different in some ways from the events in an Anglican infant baptism but they all symbolise the same thing - God cleansing sins and welcoming someone new into the Christian family and into God's home.