The parents, especially the mother, can begin the education during the child's embryo stage, by avoiding temperamental behavior or emotions of grief and anger. The mother should try to maintain an even, happy state of mind, with a readiness to help others and be compassionate. In this way, there is a better chance that the baby will be born intelligent and with a good disposition. The child won't be given to violent outbursts or stupidity.

If a couple were Catholic, they would have a child baptized after it was born. The child would receive blessings, a name, and godparents. In Buddhism there is no such ritual. However, the parents should still have blessings given to the child. A monk or nun or master can do this. Also, the parents should accumulate meritorious deeds for the sake of the baby. They can read sutras, or repeat the names of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, doing so with an open, generous, compassionate mind, with the clear and sincere intention of transferring the merit to the baby.

Actions aren't restricted to reciting sutras and the Buddha's name. You can do volunteer work, social work, or donate money, and then transfer the merit to the baby. Or you can do anything that helps in spreading the Dharma, which helps all sentient beings, including your child.

The transference of merit comes from your mental energy through the functioning wisdom of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Or, if you are people with good practice and strong mental power, then you can focus your mental energy directly, with the sincere intention of helping the child.

As the child grows, you can begin to talk about the Dharma, about Buddhas and bodhisattvas. These ideas must be communicated at one point or another, so that the child will have some kind of understanding of Buddhism, and will be better able to make a choice later on.