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!!

I like those china sets as they're useful. I still have the bunnykins cup my uncle gave us.

Not a big fan of silver stuff but my son was given a pair of Tiffany cufflinks which I thought was a nice gift (although from a godparent so different price bracket).

Premium bonds aren't a bad idea but you have to register them online now so you'd probably have to print off a copy. Or give a £20 Amazon voucher and ask them to choose some books from you.

Anything would go at our local church in terms of dress. Dark jeans would be fine.

Cash is fine

Christenings vary a lot IME - the Catholic ones I've been to have taken it a bit more seriously than the others. Sometimes it's part of the main service and sometimes not. Personally I wouldn't go without a gift but I think £20 in a card is absolutely fine. Usually I do what PPs have suggested and buy a book, e.g. Chronicles of Narnia, Complete Book of Farmyard Tales this Poppy & Sam type one if you want something a bit more immediate. Or a book voucher?

Generally I wouldn't give the silver bangle/pewter tankard/photo frame type gift as I prefer something I know will get used, but some people do like a keepsake.

Some people take christenings as seriously as weddings in terms of outfits, catering, gift, venue etc - IME this tends to be the less Christan families, weirdly.

Absolutely nothing wrong with money in a card for christening, totally normal. Been to many many christenings and had my own child christened

No, by anyone. You just need to put the parent’s address in so that they can be contacted as they have to be the ones to manage the bonds. I bought them for a friends child and had no difficulty buying the investment myself but nominating the parents to manage it.

Oops! That was supposed to be in responses the poster who said only a child’s parents can buy premium bonds online!

Who would ever do that? Where are people going to keep a bottle of champagne for 18 years? Just utter clutter. They’ll forget about it, lose it in house moves, forget what it was for, just drink it the next day, etc?

Money for their savings a/c is surely fine.

I would give cash with a note in the card saying this is towards child’s university fund as you know how expensive it can be.
Presents are often just useless tat lying around that you can’t actually do anything with but feel ungrateful throwing away.

I would not say it’s for a university fund. That’s very restrictive. The child might not go. Money for a savings account is fine.

Champagne will be disgusting in 18 years time 🤪🤪

Does anyone want a cheap locket or old book? I doubt it.

An illustrated Chronicles of Narnia is my go to - beautiful, suitable for the non-religious but with a Christian theme.

Only ever been to one. Bought a fantastic, dinosaur pop up encyclopaedia for when the little one was older. It was very well received.

Ugh can't stand that.

£20 in a card is fine, in that case.

Although if you're being generous this is a great option.

No; it’s Irish catholics! Me and my siblings had baptisms that probably had more guests & effort than a lot of weddings! We had 180 guests at my DDs.