Which is better when God blesses me with a child: sacrificing an aqiqah or donating its value in charity?

Slaughtering the aqiqah is better than donating its value in charity, and giving money in charity does not suffice for it. This is because the intention is to draw closer to Allah through slaughtering and shedding blood, which is an act of worship linked to prayer. Therefore, slaughtering in its proper place is better than giving its value in charity, even if the latter amount is greater, and nothing else can take the place of the slaughtering itself.