Beliefnet is gathering stories from readers on different ways they welcomed babies into this world (from anointing the baby with holy oil to hosting a Jewish bris or baby-naming to Muslim head-shaving ceremonies).

The editors also hope to learn how people commemorate a baby’s arrival in non-religious ways. Parents could show their baby a first sunrise, for instance, or call together friends to more informally celebrate the baby’s arrival. Blended-faith families please tell us your experiences as well. I think some Jewish-Christian households are naming the child formally but skipping the boys’ ritual circumcision.

Send your stories or ideas to the address on this page. Or tell us here how you’d do it over again, if you weren’t happy with the way you did it.