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I just got an announcement inviting me to my cousin's son's christening. The baby is only months old. I can't attend but I want to send something. It has to be something special that will last a lifetime. They are Catholic if that helps any. Although I prefer not to send any overtly religious gifts (spiritual is okay though.)

What would you suggest??

You can get a baby bracelet, with baby's name, birthstones on it too.

With a charm that says 'Class of 2026'!

Haha! That's great! Thanks you two.

I like the beatrix potter book sets

First tooth trinket

silver money boxes

those lovely christening snow globes

silver cross and chain / crucifix

egg cup and spoon set

A brooch with its name engraved on it

RED

The ideas given are great

Do you have sometime to where you could make something?

Crochet - whip up a white blanket or cap

or embroider a gift?

I had embroidered a Hankerchief for all females of a wedding party Moms - Grams etc. - everyone loved them. just the date & Initial.

Anyway just a idea..

Patsy

How about a photo frame? maybe one that is designed for Christenings?

I know that might not be good to send in the mail though.

Embroidered gifts are a GREAT idea, as are others. I liked the bracelet idea too!

Wonderwendy

I really like the bracelet idea too - then I started thinking. what do you do with it years later?

Phote album or frame is good

there's that store " Music Box " ? engrave everything they sell.

What ever craft one is in - the should be a unique idea from all avenues

I just like home made items

All the ideas are good

Good Luck Red

Patsy

I agree, everyone's given me great ideas here. :-6

I don't know how to crochet or knit but I do embroider and I'm crafty in other ways so I will think about that. The baby's grandfather suggested a piggy bank which I liked and might do but in case other people do the same, I'd like to have an extra thing for him. I like everybody's ideas, and that makes it really hard to choose! See, one problem i was having was deciding if I should buy something for him as a baby or something for when he's older. I saw this cool thing where you can buy one share in Walt Disney stock and they mat and frame it for you. I liked that idea but my dad didn't think too much if it. I can tell you that my baptismal things are in a closet somewhere so what good does my silver cup and hair brush do me now? I didn't want to give something that might end up in a drawer. But you all have given me such good ideas. I'll let you know what I eventually send. The christening is May 28.

Thanks you guys!! :-6

I also gave my granddaughter a blanket with her name d.o.b. and weight embroided on it. Or you could give a towel with her name on it, thats something she could use for a long time. Good luck

Thanks Kay!

RedGlitter;847950 wrote: I agree, everyone's given me great ideas here. :-6

I don't know how to crochet or knit but I do embroider and I'm crafty in other ways so I will think about that. The baby's grandfather suggested a piggy bank which I liked and might do but in case other people do the same, I'd like to have an extra thing for him. I like everybody's ideas, and that makes it really hard to choose! See, one problem i was having was deciding if I should buy something for him as a baby or something for when he's older. I saw this cool thing where you can buy one share in Walt Disney stock and they mat and frame it for you. I liked that idea but my dad didn't think too much if it. I can tell you that my baptismal things are in a closet somewhere so what good does my silver cup and hair brush do me now? I didn't want to give something that might end up in a drawer. But you all have given me such good ideas. I'll let you know what I eventually send. The christening is May 28.

Thanks you guys!! :-6
That's really not such a bad idea Red. Our daughter bought her niece,

(our Granddaughtrer) one share of Disney stock for her first Birthday, & continued to buy her one share each Bday for the next nine years. Our Granddaughter will be "14" next month, (wow time sure does fly bye) and now has ten shares. She has thoughts when she's 18 of cashing them in towards her college education. Thus, helping to finance her education, and eventually leading to a better lasting lifetime gift!

We're Catholic so I'll list some of the presents my children received for their Christenings - only a few of the gifts were religious.

A Bible

A book of Bible Stories

A silver crucifix on a silver chain

A gold St. Christopher medallion on a chain

An embroidered shawl

A savings account with money put in every Christmas and Birthday for future needs - car/ house/ education, etc.

A silver picture frame

A photo album

An embroidered shawl (an heirloom)

baby clothes

A set of Thomas the Tank Engine books - lovely books (all books were inscribed and dated and nice to hand down to his son one day)

money

silver cutlery with sons name on (now lost sadly)

silver carousel moneybox

a pushchair - actually a double buggy for two tots

a highchair

a newspaper from the day they were born

name a star for them

You can also have a bottle of nice wine laid down each year for when they're older

My personal favourites were the chains and the books as they've all been kept nicely. The clothes have been grown out of, the pushchair and highchair have been passed on, other bits have been put away or lost, etc.

Money won't keep but is useful. Setting up an account for their future is extremely useful and will solve present ideas forevermore!

Also, give a lovely card. I kept all the special cards and scrapbooked them.

Best wishes, Rapunzel. xx

Cars, that's pretty cool about your Granddaughter's shares. It's making me lean toward doing that for Adrian. I really liked that idea because it was different.

Sunny Bunny, thank you. I was wondering though about the jewelry- are you supposed to buy it in child size or adult size for later use? You've given me many good ideas.

For my two nephews I opened bank savings accounts for them as a Christening gift and make regular payments into them, small amounts that aren't really noticed but will mount up over the years.



I also gave them a small gift for the ceremony. One idea is a childrens bible.

http://www.starregistry.com/?engine=adw ... atch_type= Just an idea :-3

My children have gotten U.S. Savings Bonds, silver cups with their initials on them, clothes (but in size months older), money, frames. All my kids were baptized at a year old and walked to their baptisms. So much for being a good Catholic:D

Too bad it's a boy or my idea would be great. My friend had a little girl and every birthday I gave her something for her hope chest. A garter for her wedding day, a wedding cake cutter, a mood ring (something to remember the old days with) and so on.

Little boys are a little tougher. Do you have a family heirloom, perhaps from your grandparents or parents that you can pass down? Maybe a small family Bible or a personal belonging.

Rapunzel had a good idea. Take lots of pictures at the ceremony and borrow some from when he was born from the parents (make copies-don't use the originals) and make a small scapbook. From birth to christening.:-6

Oh gosh, you all are coming up with such good stuff that now I'm having a problem choosing! :wah:

I really like the Star Registry idea, that's right up my alley and I do actually have the small wooden chair one of my uncles made that all us cousins use to sit in at our grandmother's house...I can't really ship that but it gives me an idea to pass it on a bit later if I can part with it ....

Money is always a good idea! Someone mentioned savings bonds, is that a good idea today or does it end up not being worth much down the road? I don't know much about that stuff. But I thank you all for the help you're giving me; it is very much appreciated! :-6

How about a gift certicate? In the amount of your choice. These are always good, but make sure the certicate doesn't have an expiration date.

Savings bonds are actually a great idea. You double your money and it takes about seven years to mature, so the parents can't spend it! LOL! There are different kinds with different maturity periods, check with the bank, they'll explain it all to you.

Maybe a municipal bond, own a piece of your city.

Or check with your museums or any city construction going on and see if they sell bricks with your name inscribed on them, that always goes over real big in my town. There can be a lot of things like that in your town you may not be aware of. Check with your Chamber of Commerce or the one in his town and see if they have any lasting landmarks you can get.

You can also check with the E911 planning commission and see if you can get a new street named after him. I have a street named after me in my grandparents town. My grandfather used to name the streets and he named a street after all his grandchildren.

I thought the standard Christening present was to lay down a crate of Port to be opened on his twenty first birthday :wah:

Bryn Mawr, are your serious? Umm, my 21st passed some time ago and I don't recall a nice casket. Although I do recall something else altogether:sneaky:

qsducks;848702 wrote: Bryn Mawr, are your serious? Umm, my 21st passed some time ago and I don't recall a nice casket. Although I do recall something else altogether:sneaky:


Supposedly the tradition amongst upper class British families upon the birth of their first son.

I never got mine either :wah:

Ducks, Bryn, 911, FB, thank you - the good ideas just keep coming! How am I to decide? :wah:

Seriously, when I posted this I never expected so much help and I appreciate all of it!

Gift certs, bonds, wine (i had just read about that Bryn, cool idea!) saints books....jewelry...shawls....wow. I'll let you guys know what I finally end up getting for him.



Thank You!! :-6

fuzzy butt;848763 wrote: RED I take back what I wrote . I was thinking of my own Catholic upbringing .

A christaining is an event of love and protection for the enfant.

Give a gift of love in your own way, forget about tradition, tradition is in the end worthless . Love is not.


FB, that was very well said. :-6 Although I personally liked your suggestion of the books. Thank you for your help.