Editing Infant baptism (section)

=== Middle ages ===
The practice of infant baptism expanded significantly during the [[early Middle Ages]], particularly from the sixth century onward, largely due to concerns about high infant mortality rates. This led to the frequent administration of [[Emergency baptism|emergency baptisms]] (baptism in extremis), often performed in [[Medical respite care|respite]] [[Sanctuary#Sanctuary as a sacred place|sanctuaries]]. The sacrament became firmly established as a normative practice through the [[Carolingian Renaissance|Carolingian reforms of the ninth century]], and was further consolidated during the [[Gregorian Reform|Gregorian reforms of the eleventh and twelfth centuries]].<ref>{{cite journal |date=2001 |title=La protection spirituelle au Moyen Âge |journal=Cahiers de Recherches Médiévales |issue=8 |doi=10.4000/crm.376}}</ref>