Christening tomorrow and no gift!!!

[Worriedaandconfused]

We we’re invited to a christening, which was a late invite anyway and only a couple weeks notice. However, I’ve been so busy with life and work plus have has a sickness bug this week and am now realising I have not organised an outfit or grift! What do people normally give at christenings, if anything?! I didn’t/will not christen my own children so don’t really have any first hand experience.

DH says £20 in a card will be fine. Any thoughts appreciated!!

Boy or girl?

If it's a girl you have more jewellery options. Locket, cross, bangle. Available from Argos or H Samuel.

Boys - one chap ended up with four silver plated money boxes. So maybe the £20 isn't such a bad idea!

A lovely book is perfectly acceptable.

I gift a children's bible or similar book (fables or something!). Most bookshops if you can stop by one will have one, perhaps even if you've got a giant supermarket they might do too.

A classic collectible book, such as The Wind in the Willows or Treasure Island. Can you get to a book shop beforehand?

I should have said, parents aren’t actually religious. They’re having a christening for the party/celebration aspect 🙄 so religious themed grifts probably wouldn't be appreciated.

Baby is a girl around 6 months-ish.

Could you do something online like plant a tree/name a star/sponsor an animal kind of thing?

I think money in a card is fine. I don’t think you need “an outfit”. Christenings are part of a normal church service, aren’t they? Just something generally smart will be fine.

Buy a premium bond ?

What time is the service?

If you have a bookshop you can get to in time, then a good edition of a classic children's book.

Proper wine shop nearby? Bottle of really good port or whisky to lay down

If no shopping options, then either cash in a card. Or note in card saying you apologise for sadly unavoidable delay, and present will be delivered to their home in the next few days. And get something on its way pronto!

Don't you need a birth certificate to buy premium bonds for a child? I'm assuming OP doesn't have that.

You don't need to dress up for Christenings. It's "Sunday Best" so no joggers or other athleisure, nothing ripped or see through, no slogans that could possibly be taken the wrong way. Most dresses would be fine, or good trousers and the cliche "nice top". You'd get away with dark, unfaded jeans if you're a churchgoing regular and therefore have the confidence. If you're a visitor, I wouldn't

I wouldn't do cash for a christening.

My go to gift is dedicating trees via the Woodland Trust link here but you will only be able to just say in the card that you've done it so it might not be ideal.

I'd go with the suggestion above of a nice children's book of songs or poems if you have time to get to a bookshop.

Money is absolutely fine.

Got a nearby John Lewis?
www.johnlewis.com/robert-welch-radford-childrens-cutlery-set-3-piece/p3559253?s_share=jlappdroid

Just follow up with a present if you can’t get to a bookshop, cash is really crap for a christening

A classic book like Winnie the Pooh, HCA fairytales, a set of dr seus or whatever. Write it in and send it on afterwards.

If you want to do more then silver stuff - money box or mug with name / initials engraved, or a silver christening bracelet for girls

£20 in a card is fine

cash in a card is absolutely fine, whether they’re religious or not.

www.nsandi.com/get-to-know-us/nsandyou/gift

Anyone can buy Premium Bonds for a child nowadays (I think it used to be just parents and grandparents). But a parent needs to be involved (identity verification, and to look after them until the DC is of age). So they'll know when you started the admin!

I think I'd appreciate money rather than a token that I wouldn't use. I wouldn't be ungrateful for anything, but I would put money towards some nice clothing that I wouldn't usually buy. I wouldn't see it as lazy.

Money in a card is absolutely fine, otherwise if there any bookshops nearby a nice classic type book/story treasury for when they are older.

£20 in a card

24 hour big Tesco. Buy a card, bottle of champagne and an outfit for the baby

We’ve always gone for coins from the Royal Mint as a Christening keepsake, from the year of the baby’s birth. Something a little different, but well received. Crossing a baby’s palm with silver is an old tradition.

There are some beautiful designs based on classic children’s books (Winnie the Pooh & Alice in Wonderland, off the top of my head). Thoughtful and some are only about £11 or so.

Or what about one based on the late Queens jubilee or reign? Very significant events that happened when the little girl can't long have been born?

Good luck OP!

Premium bonds can be bought online now. I just bought some last week for a christening gift. Minimum spend is £25, and once you’ve filled in the form they send the paperwork straight to the parents. Fill it in, print out the gift certificate and pop it in a card or gift wallet/box - all done in 10mins and no dashing off to any shops.

Just going against the grain here- but usually the only gifts come from the godparents. It is a baptism- not a 21st

Money in a card is fine and completely normal. DS got around £300 for his savings account from his christening so plenty of people thought the same as your DH!