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Jesus got baptized at an age old enough to decide for himself.

Today, I always see infants getting baptized. According to Catholicism, when, where and how did early childhood (infant) baptisms got started?

Was there a mandate from the Vatican that imposes infants need to be baptized as soon as possible?

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The earliest recorded instance of child baptism is in the Acts of the Apostles when Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira was baptized along with her household (Acts 16:14). Other instances of child baptism recorded in the New Testament are in Acts 16:33, Acts 18:8, and 1 Corinthians 1:16.

This is all in accordance with the commandment given by Peter that all, including children, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38-39).

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    Good answer, an improvement would be to include if there were ever instances in the history of the Catholic Church where infant baptism was not the norm. And, also a specific Catholic apologetic that references these Bible verses as pertaining to infant baptism. (for instance, the Textual Concordance of Scripture published by TAN refers to your references in Acts and 1 Corinthians a probably inferring infant baptism).
    – Peter Turner ♦
    Feb 13, 2017 at 4:27
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    The New Testament itself is, in fact, a document of the Church. Acts in particular dates to a period long before the See of Rome and the other Sees of the Church separated at the Great Schism.
    – guest37
    Feb 13, 2017 at 23:56

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