Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

What was/is your ideal Christening gift?

40 replies

Hulababy · 17/05/2008 16:53

I am looking for inspiration. Will be godparents to friends baby later this summer.

If you have had your baby Christened what were the best presents you recieved and why?

If you have been a godparent - what did you get and why?

If you were to ahve a Christening - what would you love someone to buy for your baby?

TIA

OP posts:
chegirl · 17/05/2008 16:56

I can tell you what I dont/didnt want but got anyway.
Loads of silver plate trains, teddies, ballons, cars etc etc. They go black in a few weeks and are horrid anyway! Also soft toys horrible dust magnets.

I think a nice bit of jewellery that they can keep. It doesnt have to be expensive and it doesnt have to be for now (I dont do jewelery on kids). A nice compendium of nursery stories and songs is good too.

pootleflump · 17/05/2008 16:57

I wouldn't want all of the silver/pewter stuff as it would just be hidden away and probably eventually thrown out.

I always buy some nice pottery- usually emma bridgewater or susie watson designs as they will at least be used.

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/05/2008 16:57

Oh and it is for a boy, aged about 7-8 months at the time.

OP posts:
pootleflump · 17/05/2008 16:58

Oh yes chegirl, a really nice set of classic hardback books would be nice.

BouncingTurtle · 17/05/2008 17:02

Yes, I'm hoping I don't get loads of silver tat.
OK that does sound a bit ungrateful. Actually, I'm not bothered about what people get. I have asked my mum to buy an illustrated children's Bible, she asked me what I wanted to get.
Just wondering do people buy a Christening gift for their own children? Not sure what I would get for ds tbh!

MrsBadger · 17/05/2008 17:05

books

you can never have too many

nicely-bound classics are the best

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/05/2008 17:07

We did buy DD a present at her Cjristening - a nice white bible.

DD got lot of money boxes and silver bits, some duplicates - so will definitely be avoiding them.

I do do books at times too for Chirstenings.

Just wondered if I should go for something particular as a godparent?

Maybe I should ask parents, but then they are bound to not know what to say!

OP posts:
lilyloo · 17/05/2008 17:08

For my ds i got a collection of minted coins for the year of his birth which was nice.
Also i got a bracelet for dd with her birth stone in which was lovely.
I aslo liked the willow tree figurines, i will give them to dd when she is older.
Ds got a lovely bible which we read now he is in school and knows the storys.
DD also got a lovely snow shaker with glitter in 'from me to you' which she likes.

FacingUpToThis · 17/05/2008 17:13

I loved the silver picture frames we got for our dcs do's. Nice grown up ones which they can keep when they are adults. our dd was given a gorgeous charm bracelet by her godfather, and he says he will give her a charm for it every year. I gave my goddaughters necklaces.

FacingUpToThis · 17/05/2008 17:15

I would say be a bit careful about bibles etc - we got every bible and children's prayer book in print for ds1 - several in duplicate and all inscribed, so we have a little christian book shop upstairs.

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/05/2008 17:19

Will be avoiding anything overly religious I have to say as mum and dad aren't overly religious, just a bit IYSWIM.

Do I have to get something that can be retained/kept? Was wondering about maybe a nice wooden toy perhaps?

OP posts:
SuiGeneris · 17/05/2008 17:19

We got our godson silver cufflinks engraved with his initials and they seemed very welcome. If you are anywhere near London, there is a jeweller at the south end of Hatton Garden that does some nice designs and will have the engraving done in 2 or 3 days.
Grown-up silver picture frames are also an excellent idea.

For girls, charm bracelets (adult size) or pearl earrings/necklace depending on how generous you feel.

FacingUpToThis · 17/05/2008 17:22

It's up to you I guess - I've still got a lot of my christening presents and I do remember my godparents fondly through them. A silver napkin ring is a nice present too.

SuiGeneris · 17/05/2008 17:24

Thank you FacingUpToThis- where do you get silver napkin rings please? That's what I wanted to get for our godson but could not find any...

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/05/2008 17:28

Dd has a silver napkin ring which she likes; from her godparents. But would a boy appreciate it in the same way?

Cufflinks is an idea - wonder if they are still likely to be the fashion when he is older?

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 17/05/2008 17:29

We were rather shocked that no-one bought dd a bible or any Christian books for her Christening. We are not overly religious either Hula, just a bit, but would have liked this, and traditionally it is the godparents that should buy the bible.

We had 6 money boxes, so I would never recommend anyone buy one of those!

Classy jewellery nice for a girl, but as you need this for a boy, not so good, unless you maybe went for something like an amber teething necklace. Knew a toddler who wore one of these and it always really suited him.

Some classic books are always a good idea. We have both bought and received (2 copies of!) the Winnie The Pooh hardback one.

I would have loved that boxed set of Beatrix Potter books that are really expensive, but always on offer for £9.99 if you join some book club or other!

A nice set of silver cutlery, perhaps engraved would be good too, but suspect he may receive more than one.

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/05/2008 17:31

We are in Sheffield so we could consider Sheffield stainless steeel cutlery prehpas - infact I think DD has some; wonder where they are?

OP posts:
oregonianabroad · 17/05/2008 17:36

ds2's godparents got him an Ofam train a teacher gift and a little siler box to keep his first tooth in -- both really special.

trouble18524 · 18/05/2008 17:52

I bought the chrtistening outfit for my GD
Other idea is beautiful silver rattle/teether(one piece), can be pricy, but, unusual, have seen antique ones and wouldn't mind getting one.

Nbg · 18/05/2008 18:01

My mum used to wear a dove of peace on a pendant and she gave that to my dd for her christening.

I think that was my favourite present.

However if I were to be a godparent or to have another christening, I think the gift of the childs birthstone is a lovely idea.
It can be kept for years and then when they reach the age of 18 for example, the people that bought it or the child themselves could have it made into a piece of jewellery.

I did it for my mums 50th birthday.
I bought her a Ruby as I knew she really wanted a ruby ring but was unsure of what design.
My nan bought her 2 little diamonds to go next to it and my dad paid for the ring to be made.

I thought it was a lovely idea.

BreeVanderCampLGJ · 18/05/2008 18:17

My brother was GF and he bought DS silver cufflinks.

That was my favourite gift along with my Dsis's she was GM, she gave us a photo shoot with a reputable business.

So a gift at the begining of his life, and a gift for his entry into adulthood.

Worked for me.

geezabreak · 18/05/2008 18:25

Ds got a watch on a chain which he will be able to wear when he's grown up. He loves it and regularly takes it out to look at and talk about. It will look great with a kilt!

I also liked a photo session that we were given, so we have a lovely memento of us as a family at that moment. We also chose a photo of ds on his own.

Wheelybug · 18/05/2008 18:29

Boys probably trickier than girls but I think something that lasts them into adulthood is a good thing - cufflinks is a good idea as suggested ?

DD's godmother gave her a napkin ring and then vowed to pay into an account for her at birthdays and christmases to set up a travelling fund for when she is 18 (or 35 I like to think)...

We bought a picture for one christening gift - it was from a company that take original books (which are otherwise ruined) from early 20th C and turn them into framed prints. This was a winnie the pooh print. Something which is suitable for now but also might be a lasting gift as it is a sort of collectable.

ja9 · 18/05/2008 19:41

some really lovely ideas here.

i really love wooden things. a wooden noah's ark toy was a big hit with ds, also lovely traditional wooden bookends / height chart. for dd, we loved a rose bush to plant in the garden.

Original poster
Hulababy · 18/05/2008 20:02

Outfit already being sorted out so not an option.

DD has a silver rattle but TBH it never comes out of the box, so not sure I see the pint in thinsg like that personally.

Jewellry harder I think as for a boy. Although cuff links an idea.

Want to avoid financial gift - we will be sorting that aspect out via our wills in time.

parents are not really photographpeople - well not posed for ypes and def not Venture style either - so not really an option.

Good ideas here and got me thinking; thanks for everything so far.

It is a hard one...

OP posts: