Baptism gifts .. best and worst ..

[LastMinuteMolly]

DH has just 'reminded' me we have his friends daughters christening on Sunday. He says he's told me before today, I say he hasn't.

Regardless, I now need a gift for a 5 month old baby girl by Sunday. Any recommendations?

My children aren't baptised so I don't know myself what gifts are yes and no.

Any help please?

I'd just buy a nice outfit or something - it doesn't have to be religious.

When we had our children baptised, we got a couple of baptism themed keepsakes and I ended up getting rid of them after a while as I just didn't know what to do with them.

Massive cliche but I always give a nice money box (and always put a coin in it!). I really shouldn't as my DS got about 6 of the bloody things for his and now has quite the collection gathering dust

I had the same situation a few weeks ago, I went with a couple of classic children’s books.

Please don't buy a money box. Between my two boys I had 27 of them...

We always get a book of classic fairy tales or something like Winnie the Pooh books or something and then write a message on the inside cover.

atomic I came on to say exactly that! The best gifts my boys received to mark their baptism were sets of children's cutlery and small tankards. The tankards are still in use now, in their teens!

Posted too soon, sorry. I still have the small silver cup I wa given as a christening gift, as well as a silver napkin ring.

I also still have the silver charm bracelet that my godmother gave me, adding a charm on my birthday every year until I was 18. I wore it on my wedding day. That's more of an undertaking, though, so unless you're a godparent probably not relevant...

The childrens book 'prayer for a blueberry girl' by Neil Gaimen is lovely.
For DS baptism I asked everyone to bring a copy of their favourite childhood book.

I got a silver expanding bracelet aimed at age 6 up rather than a baby one. Another one a really pretty/tasteful trinket box.

Not had to buy for a boy!! Probably a Thomas the tank engine thing as I haven't come across a boy that has zero interest in Thomas, met plenty of girls not fussed though.

Picture books a lovely idea.

If you aren't a GodParent, then just get a suitable gift for a small child. Books are good or a toy or something (like baby cutlery) that will be 'useful' but also 'theirs'.

The ones I've always thought were a shame people had spent money on, with my dc, were tiny silver bangle type gift. My dc were never going to be wearing jewellery as babies, and by the time they might, they were obviously too small.

Worst- anything peter rabbit or winnie the pooh

Best- roman or greek coin or victorian silver napkin ring.

The playmobil 123 noahs ark or similar if they are religious

Don't buy a money box or expanding bangle bith my dds got loads of these.
The most original my dd1 got was a star named after her, it's different and you'll never get a duplicate.
She also got a silver sixpence for her wedding day, which we've put away somewhere safe.

My dgd had some lovely gifts on her baptism, sets of books were particularly appreciated & well used, also cutlery set/cup were nice as well.

Retelling of New Testament stories by Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen. Attractive and relevant to the occasion.

Best - cutlery / Arthur price used to ( perhaps they still do ) make a lovely children’s set
Emma Bridgewater plate , bowl and baby mug , Carrs silver frame .
Worst - moneybox.

A hard bound book such as the full aa Milne collection or Helen oxenbury's alice in wonderland are good

I always buy either a wooden Noah's ark or a book of some sort (Enid Blyton's "Noah's Ark and Other Bible Stories From the Old Testament" tends to be a go to).

When I was christened, the worst things I got were 6 pink New Testaments and a silver cup with my name spelt incorrectly.

Honestly best present we got was Clark's vouchers for her first pair of shoes.

Not saying everything else wasnt lovely but actually that was really useful

Do you have to take presents for Christenings? I had no idea.

I can’t get past the concept of original sin (or indeed, religion) so wouldn’t go anyway.

Unless you are Godparents or close relatives just get something age appropriate.

Vouchers or Money

My favourite one was from notonthehighstreet. One friend found somewhere there where you send them a photo of the church and they turn it into a painting and add details of name and place and date of the baptism

Nothing baptism themed anyway- no one needs a silver baptism certificate holder or money box anyway. DD got given a christening bangle which was lovely, but will be too small for her by the time I’d be happy with her wearing jewellery so a real waste.

The Clarks voucher is an excellent idea.

Books are always a winner as well, but I wouldn’t over think it- as a pp said anything age appropriate will be fine.

Nothing silver, no money boxes and no plate, bowl and cup sets. We got loads of this type of thing and the majority of it sat in a box until I eventually gave it to charity. The rest the dc have in their rooms and I keep having to encourage/force them to keep because god parents gave it to them when they were baby’s.
Clothes, toys/books for either now or the future or a voucher are often the best things to give. I’m liking the idea of a Clark’s voucher tbh. Shoes cost a fortune, so help towards them is always welcome.

Cash!!!!!