What is the difference between infant baptism and infant dedication?
Though it is often easy for many folks to assume that the difference between the two is not great, the fact of the matter is—the difference is substantial! Infant dedication is usually understood to be an act of parents by which they make their personal commitment to train this child in the ways of the Lord and ask for the blessing of both the Lord and the Christian community. Infant baptism, on the other hand, is an act of the church through which God extends to the child the sign and seal of his covenant promises to be his/her God. This promise is extended through the water of baptism. After God has spoken through the baptism and has given the child the sign of his promise, the parents respond with the dedication of their child to God and the commitment train the child in the ways of the Lord and the church responds with a promise of support and encouragement. Thus, in infant dedication the parents act, in baptism God acts first and parents respond.
