I found a story or two that involved infant(s) dying after immersion baptism and the Priest involved is facing a manslaughter investigation.
Article regarding the allegation:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...d-baptism-article-1.200641#axzz2ePX9vPpJThat starts me wondering, if this has happened - even one time - does that mean that parents should want an alternative form? Are there Eastern alternative forms that involve less than full immersion? Do any of you who have been trained to baptize or who have witnessed a ton of these know what exactly is the standard protocol, and if steps are regularly taken to protect the baby such as covering its mouth and or nose?
In the story, the Priest is accused of failing to do so. But on an Orthodox forum I read the comment: "I've been to several baptisms and have never seen the priest cover the infant's nose and mouth. I've gone on to Youtube to see the Orthodox baptisms posted there and could only find one video where a priest covers the infant's nose and mouth."
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=29080.0 this is a similar accident that happened, at a Church that had broken from the Catholic Church but practiced immersion
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-09-15/news/mn-44277_1_critical-condition