Children over the age of seven or so are initiated into the Catholic Church in a way similar to adults. They participate in a catechumenate and are gradually led into the Church’s life of faith, worship, and service. As they progress in faith, they celebrate ritual steps to mark their growth. When they are ready, they receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist in the midst of the Church community at the Easter Vigil.
To guide them along the way of faith, they have a sponsor or godparent who assists and accompanies them. The whole parish prays for them and provides an example of what it means to follow Jesus.
Like adults, older children are baptized according to their personal faith, not the faith of their parents. The catechumenate is all about fostering and developing that faith within the parish community, so that the child can become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, within the Catholic community of believers.
How does a child baptized in another Christian denomination become a Catholic? That depends on the child’s age. For a young child under the age of 7, the parents make a statement to the pastor that they intend to raise the child as a Catholic. This is recorded at the parish, and the child is Catholic. There is no ritual or ceremony needed.
A child over age 7 would celebrate the Rite of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church, like an adult. After a preparation suitable for the child’s age and experience, the child would make a profession of faith, and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.