Bris Ceremony: What Is It and How to Dress Up Your Baby

What is a Bris?

Bris, also called Brit Milah, is the ceremony during which a Jewish baby boy is circumcised. It’s an important and festive event in Jewish communities, accompanied by festive meals and celebrations, so having the right outfit is a vital part of the day. Here’s what you need to know about dressing your baby for Bris.

What Does the Mohel Do with the Foreskin?

The mohel is a Jewish religious figure who performs the ritual of Brit Milah, or circumcision. The mohel removes the foreskin from the baby's penis and then seals the wound with Sutures.

After the procedure, the mohel will usually dress the baby in a white gown and wrap him in a tallit, or prayer shawl. The baby will then be presented to his father, who will bless him. The bris ceremony usually takes place in the synagogue but can also be held at home or in a hospital.

What to Wear to a Bris Ceremony for Attendees?

Assuming you are not the mother or father of the baby, it is perfectly acceptable to dress relatively conservatively for a bris ceremony. Many people choose to wear clothing that they would wear to church, such as slacks and a button-down shirt for men, or a skirt and blouse for women.

It is also important to remember that this is a religious ceremony, so it is best to avoid anything too revealing or casual.

Bris Outfit for Your Baby

When choosing a Bris outfit for your baby, you’ll first and foremost want to consider its practical purpose: to keep your baby warm and keep out of the mohel’s way when they are performing the circumcision. 

Because of this, it’s best to have something that your baby can keep on during the entire process, but which allows easy access through an opening or snap closure.

Options for Bris

There are three main options you can go for to dress your baby for Bris.

• A clean and decorative onesie with a snap closure at the bottom makes for a practical, comfortable, and reusable outfit. 
• A sleep sack with either a fully open or snap open bottom is perfect for cooler times of year, as it’ll keep your baby nice and warm.
• A Christening gown, as long as it has no cross embroidery, can be repurposed as a Bris gown if you want your baby to be a little more dressed up in something special.

Try Carriage Boutique Bris Options

Carriage Boutique knows that you want your baby’s special day to be marked with something special, so we’ve got a line of simple, traditional outfits for you to choose from. We also have gift sets for other special babies in your life.