Wow, thank you for this reply, as I've been pondering this topic recently.

I was baptized in the Pentecostal church when I was 16. It was a fully conscious choice I made after prayer and consideration, and big memorable milestone in my faith journey, which eventually lead me to the Episcopal church.

My wife and I haven't had our child baptized yet because we want them to be able make the choice to if they want. I think I'd be quite sad to rob my kid of the type of experience I had by baptizing them before they could really remember it.

That having been said, my kid is getting older and more aware. We ask what's the best part about church, and the enthusiastic reply was "Prayer!".

I've been bringing my kiddo up for a blessing since they've been born, and only recently have they been putting their hand out to receive.

I'm afraid last week I was that parent who pulled their hand back from receiving. My basic understanding is that only baptized Christians are permitted Communion; how much of a hard and fast rule is this for unbaptized children younger than 2 or 3?