What does one buy for a christening present these days?

[ClareVoiant]

Thats it really. Boy 10 months, being christened on sunday. Your suggestions are welcome, please. Thanks.

Anyone?

It's a difficult one..... I guess it all depend on your budget,really.
My son got some antique gold coins from an Uncle (it's a sort of tradition in my family),my Auntie gave him some money and bought him toy. My dad paid for the buffet and the champagne after the ceremony;my mum didn't know what to buy him so she bought me a white gold bracelet with the word mum in small diamonds.We don't have them in Italy but have you thought of maybe buying him some premium bonds?

I've given children's china & a baby's book (china for later, book for now was the idea). At DD's christening she was given a silver bracelet, gold coin, first edition of children's book (wins on the unusual stakes, I thought it was great), nicely bound classic story book, pewter Pooh bookends, keepsake box and album, china mug & baby cutlery set, money box, and cold hard cash...!! I am a bit embarrassed writing that haul down, she is very lucky. Hope this helps with some ideas?

I have given my 3 Godbabies a framed felt picture embroided with their names that I have sewn for them.

I think it depends on how well you know the child/family, and what expectations are in your social circle. In mine, most friends invited were Christians from our church, and the whole thing was a big celebration of DD and DS, not really about the tradition/pretty frocks/gifts...so the Godparents gave special books and jewlery, but other guests gave a little toy, nice board book, or nothing.

Thanks very much for replying :-) i like the idea of a gold coin, budget would be about £20 max really, don't think it would cover it though. Will look into first edition books too.

try www.mybabycelebration.co.uk for some ideas

If they are religious then you could give him a bible. If you go into a jewellers and ask for Christening presents they should have a selection of picture frames, money boxes, keepsake boxes etc.
Alternatively you could go down the less-traditional-but-probably-more-useful route ... a book, clothes, money etc.

It depends on your budget, the 'religiousness'of the family involved, your taste etc.

We gave my 2 godsons a picture frame and money box each.

I saw a gorgeous hard cover edition of "When we were very young" by AA Milne at Waterstnes yesterday. Something like that would be lovely I think, maybe with a board book as well, that he can read now (It was £10)

Well, its not family, but a closeish friend who we see every week. Would like to get something memorable and not necessarily for now.

ds2 (8mo) was baptised recently. We had some lovely things, including two beautiful illustrated children's story/fairytale books; a picture for his room; a baptism candle.

do you have mutual friends that you can club together with?

A lot of people give silver things (silver egg cup, silver photo frame) for some reason. I remember giving a silver money box more than once (you can get them from high st jewellers for £5-£10) but it depends a bit on what kind of things the parents care about (the baby will not actually notice at this stage ) If it's a christening (ie a Christian celebration in a church) and both you and the parents are actual Christians, something like a kids' book of bible stories might be appreciated, otherwise a nice book is a good idea: you can get some lovely anthologies of poetry or hardbacked editions of classics like WInd IN THe Willows or WInne The Pooh.

Money box with cash inside?

Thanks again :-) will check out the website when i get home. Else a trip out to waterstones this afternoon.

Cufflinks - a great gift for boys if your budget can stretch to it.

I'd be wary of buying a bible, even if you are religious - at my god daughter's christening she was given a bible by the vicar as a 'welcome to the church' gift, and if you are there as a friend rather than an actual god parent, you may well find that the god parents will want to buy a bible if they are not given out by the church.

If you are in the UK, a present that was given to ds1 that I thought was nice was a set of coins from the Royal Mint that are for the year that ds1 was born, all brand new and in a nice commemorative pack.

And on a slightly different note - somebody got him a silver christening certificate holder that she had had engraved with the christening details. It didn't help that the details weren't all correct and I am sure that the person probably spent a fair bit of money on it, but it is a completely impractical way of storing a certificate, as well as being a really ugly big thing that you would not want to have on display. So it is currently sitting at the bottom of a drawer while the certificate is safely filed with all the other important bits of paper. so don't go for one of those!

i dont really like all that stuff i asked peple for vouvhers or some clothes for dd christening and got loads of things, for my ds partner i never said n i got all the silver stuff which is nice not practical he has 3first curl ornament and has no curls . get a next voucher or mother care or clothes in stead much more apprriciated x

My friend's baby was given a bottle of wine to be drunk on his 18th birthday!