Calling all god botherers! What do you buy for a christening present?

[bohemianbint]

If the parents are actually religious rather than just having a christening for the sake of it? Absolutely stumped, please help!

a bible.
a crucifix.
some bible stories for children - Dorling Kindersley do good ones.

what is a God botherer?

i'm a god botherer and ds got christened on sunday. he was given a bible, a prayer book and anothe rchristianity type book from Wesley Owen shop - good for these sort of things. he also got loads of toys and clothes as the "holy" stuff mainly came from Godparents and parents. you can really give whatever you want, but try Wesley Owen for religious books and gifts. i'd imagine they have a web site?

I'm religious, but have found that the best (most appreciated) present has been something like this - the only time I buy anything different - a 'real' present is if I'm a Godparent, when I buy a Bible or a prayerbook - something like this

The Lion first Bible is a really nice one if you want it to be used.

One of DS's non-religious God-parents opened a bank account on his behalf - he's called it the 'beer and travel fund'! He puts money into it for him for birthday and Christmas!

I don't personally think a present is required unless you're close family/godparents. Obv even then it's not "required" iyswim.

I got my nephew a lovely illustrated book of nursery rhymes. A friend got ds a little pewter quaiche (shallow decorative bowl) which we got engraved with his initials and the date. Any sort of nice little thing to keep would be appropriate regardless of religion imo.

books definitely. I've also bought a rather nice fabric Noah's Ark for my god daughter which I got online and last week, at his christening, DS3 got some bible alphabet building blocks which my sister bought in a Wesley bookshop (I think)

ejt, i love the first idea - that is great!

One of my dd's nicest presents was a framed copy of 'footprints' which she still has above her bed.

I know you can get 'n children's Bible with a story on the left hand side and a puzzle of it on the right. Very cute.
Sorry, can't tell you were to get it. Will have a look on internet for you.

As a non-godbotherer I buy non-godbothery presents on the grounds that the child will be deluged with bibles, crucifixes etc by religious relatives and the last thing they need is me getting it wrong.

Well-bound editions of classic books (Just So stories, Alice, Pooh, Arabian Nights, HC Anderson etc) go down well.

That'll be quaich, not to be confused with quiche

Cheers very much, some good ideas there...

TBH though a child only needs a limited number of children's bibles..... And a limited number of silver plated money boxes. But nobody told that to the people we invited to DS and DD's christenings. The tree idea is lovely. The bank a/c idea is also good. Or a nice toy that they will hopefully keep.

Agree a good hardback probably traditional book also a nice idea.

look on biblion.co.uk about 3pounds

I did wonder what a 'quaich' was - I've learned something new today!

As far as paying to plant a tree goes, I've also used Good Gifts for presents for older people who are getting married - I bought one of my mum's friends a meadow of spring flowers as a wedding present - she was really pleased with it!

If we're invited to a christening now I tend to give money - like Mrs Badger said there's a limit as to how many religious story books and bibles a child needs. I ask if the child has a bank account and write a cheque

Have to say, I don't get the presents thing when children are Christened, yes if you're the godparent or family but just seems weird if you're just 'invited'
(although I follow convention and pass over the cheque!)

I have just ordered this cgi.ebay.co.uk/Unusual-Personalised-Christening-Gift-Wishing-Stone_W0QQitemZ230139474684QQihZ013QQcategoryZ100979QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem as a Christening present