After salvation (making Christ the Lord of your life), the next step in your spiritual journey is baptism.  Jesus gave us this example by first being baptized Himself and then commanded that we all be baptized in water.  Baptism symbolizes the burial of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection in you.  This in no way means that we must be baptized to be saved, but people who are saved want to be baptized.    

Baptism is something that He instructed us to do following salvation because it becomes our public profession of faith.  Our old life is behind us.  Our new life is ahead. We, in no way, should ever be ashamed of what Jesus has done in and through our lives!!  Loud and Proud is the ONLY way to be when it comes to living for God. 

 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.   (Romans 6:4 NIV)

With regards to the water baptism of children, the key factor is whether they are able to make their own conscious, mindful and wilful decision to believe in Jesus Christ and take the step of faith to get water baptized. Getting water baptized is a decision that only you can make for yourself and, as such, it is different from baby dedication ceremonies where parents present their children to God for His protection and guidance.