Unique and Thoughtful Christening, Baptism and Communion Gifts
Your child is a precious gift to you from God. You want good things for them hence the reason you always peep through the window on the slightest wiggle from your son and daughter.
Christening is one of the single most emphatic spiritual strides your baby will make.
It is outright unjustifiable for any parent to deny their little ones of christening.
You have already chosen the church, bought the heirloom gown, and contacted the Godparents. What’s next?
Singing “Christmas like” chorals and calling it a day right? Wrong! Let’s admit it not everyone is gifted with the smooth vocals.
Your next-door neighbor can attest to that sore throat after a brief singing session in the bathroom.
Allowing this precious moment to waste away singing somber songs and asking questions like, “ Will he grow up following the righteous ways?” It is an excellent waste of time.
What Type of Gifts are Appropriate for a Baptism or Christening?
This time around you may not be sure what to get. Do you treat this as similar to a baby shower? Should you get a religious gift? What about giving money - is that considered appropriate?
These are all great questions. If you haven’t been to a baptism before, or haven’t been in a while, you might be wondering what modern etiquette is for gift giving.
Worry no more! Keep on reading to learn about what types of gifts are appropriate for a baptism or christening.
This will help guide you towards the right gift so you will be prepared for any baptisms you are asked to attend in the future.
1. Religious Gifts are Perfect
After all, this is a religious ceremony. A religious gift is perfectly appropriate, and often what is expected, at a baptism.
You might consider getting the child his or her first Bible, for example. You could also consider getting a piece of religious artwork that his or her parents can hang in their bedroom.
This could be a framed Bible verse, a popular prayer, or even a cross.
Are You The Child’s Godparent?
Being asked to be a Godparent is a very big deal. It is both a huge honor and a huge responsibility!
If you were honored with being the child’s Godparent, it is custom to consider giving a larger gift or something that the child can have with them throughout their childhood.
After all, as Godparent, you are serving as a secondary parental figure or ‘mentor’ in the child’s life!
Consider gifting an engraved item with the child’s name, for example, or having a picture of them nicely framed.
You could even consider giving the child a piece of jewelry (as long as she belongs to a family where jewelry is worn) that she will be able to wear once she gets a little bit older.
You are going to be a big part of this child’s life, so consider gifting him or her something that they will be able to have with them for years to come.
3. Money is an Appropriate Gift
If you are wondering if money is acceptable to give as a gift, the answer is yes! Money is commonly given as a gift at baptism.
The closer you are to the child, you might consider giving a slightly larger sum of money (say if you are a grandparent or Godparent).
Another great option to consider is getting the child something like a savings bond that they will hold onto as it will mature as they get older.
They can then cash the bond when they graduate either high school or college.
Not only will this mean your gift will be worth more long term, but it is also a nice gesture that will keep you connected to the child well into his or her future!
As always when it comes to monetary gifts, never feel pressured to give a certain amount of money.
Only give what you feel comfortable with and what you can afford! If you are not able to give a large amount of money, that is perfectly acceptable.
Again, a savings bond is a great option to consider as you are not paying a lot of money, but the bond will appreciate over time, allowing you to give a larger sum with time.
Not to mention, the child will certainly appreciate and remember the gift more if they access it as a recent grad, vs. as a newborn!
4. Consider Going With Tradition
Are you looking to give a traditional gift? While that also includes religious gifts, of course, a traditional baptism gift is actually the gift of silver, as it symbolizes prosperity.
What a wonderful thing to wish for and gift a child with! You may consider getting the child a silver spoon or cup or engraving something like a bracelet that they can wear when they get a little older.
You could also consider getting a silver frame and placing an image from the baptism in it.
This is a wonderful gift that the parents will also love, and that will stay with the child for years to come!
5. Make a Donation to the Church
The religious part of the baptism or christening ceremony is sure to take place at the family’s church.
While it is not necessary, it is a wonderful gesture to consider giving a donation to the church.
As with a monetary gift to the child, this does not have to be a certain amount, and should only be what you can comfortably afford.
This is a thoughtful way to show your thanks and appreciation to the church that will become a major part of the child’s life as he or she gets older.
You can either give the donation directly to the church or if you do not feel comfortable for some reason, you could give the donation to the child’s parents and they could pass it along to the church.
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