Christening Etiquette

[astormgivenflesh]

Hi!

Have been invited to a christening - baby son of a good friend. I'm not sure if the gift buying etiquette of a christening as I've only been to one before when I was a lot younger - do you buy a gift and if so, what?! Any suggestions would be brilliant, thank you!

[Pumpkintopf]

I would definitely think a gift was in order and bumps has made some lovely suggestions.

[astormgivenflesh]

Thank you so much! This is so helpful so thank you for taking the time xxx

[Bumpsadaisie]

Hm. I think if you are a godparent you would buy a gift, or very close friend.

If its a big christening with lots of people and you are not a godparent, I would probably give a card and a token gift. Some good ideas are:

• a nice but not expensive hardback classic book for when he is older - eg one of the winnie the pooh volumes. Not flashy but a lovely thing to have.
  
• a nice hardback collection of fairy tales.
  
• a baby plate/mug/cup. Eg Beatrix potter. Useful for when baby gets going on feeding himself.
  

Godparents might buy something more substantial. Eg a "Treasury Of " type children's book. Tasteful money boxes are an idea (Beatrix Potter OK, garish stuff like Disney not!) So are silver things (my dd was given a beautiful antique silver mini hand mirror). My DS was given a beautiful candle holder with a beeswax candle, to represent the light of Christ. Other things might be a handthrown plate with the child's name and the christening date, or a blanket made of squares with the child's name and christening date embroidered.

Depends a bit on how religious the family is but you can get some nicely illustrated children's bibles or prayer books. My children like to read theirs from time to time.