Good Christening Gifts to Give
If you’ve been invited to a christening or naming ceremony you might be wondering if you should take a gift and if so what would be an appropriate christening present to give.
We take a look at traditional gift ideas as well as some more modern alternatives that are a lovely way of marking such a special day.
Presents from godparents
If you’ve been lucky enough to be asked to be a godparent (or the non-religious alternative) you may be wondering what to give as a gift.
Traditionally a godparent would give a gift to the child after the baptism. The most traditional gift is probably a silver spoon, hence the phrase “born with a silver spoon in their mouths”. Silver generally is a traditional gift to give at a christening and items such as silver rattles, egg cups, bowls, a silver christening bracelet or money box are all good examples.
Generally a gift from a godparent would be something that would last a long time. Either something that might be kept as a family heirloom or something that the child can use for many years.
If you don’t fancy giving silver some other great ideas include:
- A pearl necklace. This is another traditional gift and a nice alternative if silver doesn’t take your fancy.
- Lay down some wine or a bottle of whisky for when your godchild turns 18. This seems to be a fairly popular choice and shows you intend to stick around for the long haul.
- Buy a lifetime membership to an organisation such as the national trust. You could buy it for the child specifically or a family membership that can start to be enjoyed right away. It’s a big gift but a really lovely gesture.
- Start a savings account for your godchild. Monetary gifts are pretty popular as presents and this is something that you can add to year on year so it takes the pressure off having to choose all those birthday and Christmas gifts. A junior ISA is another option that the child will only be able to access once they turn 18.
- A handmade gift. If you have any craft or DIY skills a handmade gift makes a wonderful Christening gift. A patchwork quilt or knitted blanket can be kept as a family heirloom or you could make a wooden toy such a rocking horse or a piece of furniture. It’s worth thinking about circumstances if you go for a bigger item as you don’t want to put pressure on parents to keep items they really don’t have room for.
- Plant a tree. If you have somewhere to plant it this is a lovely idea as you and the child can watch it grow together and they will always have a special place in nature to remind them of you.
Gifts from other friends and family
If you aren’t a godparent or equivalent you may still wish to give a gift to mark the occasion. But there’s no need to go for something quite so long-lasting.
Photo frames and money boxes are popular choices as are bibles or prayer books if you and the parents are religious. Other great options are wooden toys (you can choose so really lovely toys that will last for years), blankets, music boxes and mobiles. A wooden Noah’s ark could be a great choice as it is both religious and a toy.
As christening gifts are traditionally silver you might like to look at a silver frame, money box, jewellery or keepsake box.
