REDEMPTION OF FIRST-BORN SON (Pidyon HaBein)
A Jewish mother’s first-born male child must be “redeemed” by giving money to a cohen if the below criteria apply. Pidyon ha’bein is a mitzva for the father of the boy. Anyone may do the actual redemption (including a woman) as long as the father appoints him or her as his emissary to do so.
Note If the father has not done the pidyon, the boy redeems himself when he reaches 13 years old.