Baby naming ceremonies: The hippest way to welcome your new baby

There's a new vogue for parents from non-religious backgrounds to hold a baby naming ceremony to welcome their new baby to the world. You might want to go for a pagan-style woodland gathering with your baby showered in rose petals. Or maybe you'll plump for a lakeside picnic with poetry recitations from family and friends. To help things go smoothly, it's a good idea to think about your baby's routine  – choose the time of day when your baby is most likely to be awake. Keep things short, flexible and relaxed. If lots of children are coming, make sure there's space to run around and keep the reading short. Choose something like planting seeds or releasing balloons makes it fun for them too. Think about your family's expectations too – if your family is religious perhaps ask someone to say a prayer. Talk to them about the approach you're taking so they will understand what will happen.

For more ideas, try The Complete Guide To Baby Naming Ceremonies by Becky Alexander (How To Books, £8.99).