It is customary for children to come to the house the night before the bris and say the shema near the baby as well as other psukim, such as HaMalach Hagoel. It has become customary in Chabad circles to also say the 12 psukim at that time. [It is also customary to give the children that come for the shema "loot bags" with candies and other goodies].

The father of the child should take a haircut in honor of the bris and go to the Mikveh the morning of the bris, since it is a Yom Tov for him.

If the actual bris will be taking place in a shul, then those people who are davening in THAT shul, even if none of the baby's family is present, do not say Tachnun.At a minyan where the father of the baby, the mohel or the sandek is davening, even if it is at a location different than where the bris is taking place, Tachnun is not said.The Aishel Avrohom presents an innovative ruling, that if all (or a majority) of a minyan are planning to attend the bris, even if the earlier two situations are not applicable, that minyan does not have to say Tachnun.

However, Tachnun is said during Mincha if the Bris has already taken place. According to some opinions tachnun does not need to be said if they are davening at the home of the child and it is before or in midst of the meal. If they already bentched, then Tachnun is recited.
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