What's the form at Christenings?

[handlemecarefully]

I've never been to one before(only my own). Do you normally take a present for the baby?

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Yes normally a present involved. DS got clothes, toys, personalised things (eg train with his name on each carriage), silver money boxes (not sure he needed 3), photo frame, Bible, money etc.

We're going to one at the end of the month. I'm thinking of writing a cheque with baby's full name on and then adding a token gift. Obviously how much you would spend depends on closeness to child.

Yes, you would normally take a present but not neccessarily a traditional christening present IME - anything seems to go eg some people gave my dd baby toys or baby outfits

We got some non-religious presents as well - complete Winnie the Pooh etc. Or a toy or something like that. A nice wooden toy is good, or one really nice one we got was the ELC rainmaker - only £5 as well!

Yes, I would.
"Religious" presents are often dealt with by the godparents so something lasting and pretty might be nice. Dd got some very pretty engraved toddler sized cutlery from some friends, for example. She's a bit small for it now but it will do her for several years. The givers freely admitted that the set was from Argos and very reasonable! They had it engraved afterwards, of course.

Yes you would usually buy a present, I usually buy a book of some kind - the amount spent depends on how close they are to me - you can get some lovely 'Gift Books'.

Yeah, usually take a gift.
I went to a Christening last Sunday and didn't have much time to perpare as we were told about it on the friday.

I went into Smiths and they have their baby stuff (photo albums, keepsake boxes etc) at half price at the mo. So thats what I took!

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Thanks for these gift suggestions - looks like I'll need to be careful however to avoid duplicating what other folk might buy (i.e. Bozza's scenario of 3 silver money boxes)

I hope I make it to the Christening - its on 25th April (6 days after my due date). Still its local so no travelling involved.

I think things like children's china, or cutlery are also nice and they start at under 10gbp. The china can be added to, or you could choose something collectible such as Flower Fairy plates or Beatrix Potter books.

the Book - rainbow fish is always nice and inexpensive, - a vaguely moral tale.

My DS got some really vile presents for his christening. What does a boy want with a porcelain rocking horse, and other similar hideous objects with no real purpose other than collect dust and get broken? I'm sure they were bought with much love and attention, just not much realistic thought.

The really nice gifts he received included loads of books - complete set of Mr Men books, hardback collections of Thomas, Paddington Bear, Beatrix Potter etc. he also got lots of Peter Rabbit wedgewood stuff, not my choice exactly but at least its useful.

I've usually bought a nice wooden toy or book.

New idea : World Vision Gift Catalogue . For £17 you can immunise a Third World child against the killer diseases - for £14 you can kit out an Ethiopian child for school - for £15 you can give 10 bunny rabbits to a Malawi family - for £40 you can give a wind-up radio to a remote African village. Has to be the way to go, no?

Exactly. This is the £5-£25 page.

Surely it is greedy and grasping that presents are expected at a christening? Those mercenary babies. Sorry, couldn't help myself after reading all the posts on the clever wordsmiths thread

Serious answer for hmc is yes, you do usually take a pressie. Last one I went to I gave them a hand crafted photo album in a presentation box (nice, not naff - was hand painted wooden thing from local hippyish ethnic shop: East of India made it I think). It said "My Christening" on the front so they could put photo's of said event in it.

When I've been to such an event I've always brought a gift for the child, usually from a 'local' shop so that the parents can exchange it if they choose to. TBH I've never spent more than £10 max! In any case I'll have given them gifts when the baby was born as well. But I always always always bring a present for the older brother/sister.