Baptism

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While going through some old family papers, I chanced upon a baptismal record of a long-gone relative.  As you can see in the photograph, Gerard Niggemyer was baptized in the Catholic Church in Ft Madison, Iowa in 1861.  He was two days old at the time of baptism.

Jesus was Baptized By John the Baptist Around the Age of 30

This got me to thinking.  The word "baptism" comes to us from the Greek "baptismo", which means "immersing" or "ritual washing" and is a sacrament and ordinance of Jesus Christ.  Jesus himself was baptized, apparently around the age of 30 years, by John the Baptist.

Questions:

---If baptism is the act of a true believer, how is it possible that a very young child who does not comprehend can receive true baptism?

Christening of a Baby

---If a baby is baptized (christened), is it desirable or even necessary to be re-baptized later in life when the individual has come to understand the true and full meaning of the act?

Full Immersion

---Is it important to be fully immersed when baptized, or can one be sprinkled and receive the full cleansing?

I would love to have your thoughts on this topic.