Really really stuck for a christening present..can anybody help?

[hattyyellow]

Need to find a christening present pronto.

Baby is the daughter of one of DH's friends.

He is godfather to one of our DD's and has been very thoughtful, making lots of effort to ask after her and spend time with her.

He is also very generous - buying her and her twin sister beautiful silver boxes for their christening and lots of lovely birthday and christmas presents..

I can't really afford much more than £40 at a stretch as money is tight at the moment.

Want something classic and beautiful but most silver stuff seems to be seriously expensive. Not keen on getting child jewellery that can't be worn once his daughter becomes an adult...

Christening has been and gone and I have been trawling the net without inspiration..please help me!

We had nearly all books for DS's christening and I was delighted with them. Choose something classic like a beautiful edition of Aesop's Fables or stories from Greek myths and the baby will still be able to use it when she's at university.

or the Just So stories
or the Arabian Nights

I second mrsboring. I alway get books. The last one was a beautifully illustrated box set of CS Lewis, from The Book People, so very reasonable.

Books are lovely.

I have bought really old copies of classics, in nice binding, and they have gone down well.

go to letterbox thos elittle personalised chairs are cute
or boooks
or that cute termblini cutlery

www.johnlewis.com/+Baby/Gifting/Gifting/SubCategory.aspx

www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Dining+Room/Tableware/Cutlery/872/230406080/Product.aspx

a children's wall clock

wooden book ends

silver money box or other money box (try john lewis)

a rose bush

children's china. like the doulton range or emma bridgewater equivalent

we do books a lot too, but would go for a lovley children's bible

www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+Garden/Dining+Room/Tableware/Cutlery/872/230406080/Product.aspx

mine loves this stuff

www.amazon.co.uk/Rivadossi-Childrens-Puppet-Cutlery-Assorted/dp/B0007P14DU/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&s=kit chen&qid=1202150970&sr=1-36

if you go into funny little 'antique', junk shop type places, even charity shops (you may need a small town and a few hours to spare for this) you can often find old little silver things for v little... which is much nicere than shiny and new iyas. even if its a quirkily shaped little tteaspoon thing, it shows time and thought went into it...

any of this guff

www.letterbox.co.uk/Personalised_Presents_cat1/Room_Accessories_cat184/

Apple tree - grows with the child. We gave one to dh's god daughter and her parents were delighted with it.

what about something from here

The personalised blankets on Little Lazy always go down well. I've bought three recently for friends - one personalised with the birth details (embroidered blankets), and the other two I bought the ones just with their first names on (appliqued).

They're great for use in pushchairs or on the floor for tummy time play, etc. Ds had one when he was little and still loves it now (he's 4.2).

I"d stick some money in a card or put into trust fund thing. Christening gifts are nice for the parents, but what kid wants a bible ( or 3) or a pretty set of books they can't really enjoy?

www.johnlewis.com/Electrical+Appliances/Lighting/Table+and+Floor+Lamps/Children's+Lighting/503/Produ ctType.aspx

www.keepstakes.co.uk a tree and a little plaque?

I know you said you're not keen on jewellery but my friend bought silver charm braclets for her 2 neices when they were born. Every year she has bought them charms for Birthdays, xmas or from holiday and now they are teenagers they really love them as they have charms on from every year of their life.

I bought my neice one of those plates that everyone writes on and then it gets fired. They can be very expensive online but if you ask a local potter you can get some really good prices.

Unusual handmade silver spoons. Can be used by child/baby.

www.handmadesilverspoons.co.uk/

Wow, thanks so much for such a great response and some brilliant ideas..didn't even think of books but they are perfect. Have ordered a beautiful edition from the Folio Society.

Cheers so much all!

Name a star gift set??