I have to go to a Baptism/Christening (are they the same thing?) tomorrow. I know and very much like the parents. The baby is their second child, first boy, and is about 5 or 6 months old. I’ve seen the baby once (they came to visit us for a few hours 2 weeks ago). He’s really really cute.
What the hell am I supposed to give as a gift? I’ve been to 1 baptism since my own and I don’t even know what gift we gave. I think my boyfriend bought that one since it was for his brother’s kid. He also doesn’t remember what he bought.
I refuse to buy a religious gift.
I can easily buy a toy or stuffed animal but I don’t know if that’s what I should be doing.
If it was your kid, what would you want someone to give as a baptism gift?
Oh, and if Hell freezes over tomorrow, I’m sorry and I take full responsibility.
If you refuse to buy a religious gift and feel uncomfortable with a (too) secular gift, how about a cash gift or donation to his college fund? I agree that any toy you might get for a 6-month-old isn’t going to mean much to him in a year.
He’s already received the gift of eternal salvation. You’ll never top that.:rolleyes:
Seriously, why does everything require a gift? If you really feel you need to bring something, just ask the parents what an appropriate gift would be. They’ll know better than anyone.
My standard gift for naming occasions is a silver-plated bank. It’s practical, they come in dozens of styles so you can find something that suits the family, and it’s not something the child will generally get a lot of. Plus, silver for a christening gift is an old tradition.
A silver-plated photo frame is another good idea, or children’s books, particularly ones you remember enjoying as a child. I tend to think of a baptism as a little too formal and serious for a teddy bear but your local traditions may vary.
It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with a religious gift. I got my mother something religious for her baptism. The difference is that she was 55 and could actually use what I got her.
My problem is that they’re pointless and they take up space and they collect dust. I’m sure that his religious family members will buy him loads of creamy white, cross laden dust magnets but I don’t see the point. I feel the same way about buying gifts for a graduation simply because they have a cap, tassel, and diploma on them.
Money is acceptable to me but my boyfriend tends to get annoyed at the idea of giving money and gift cards. I’ll definitely include it in the list of suggestions though.
Hmmm, a good way to give money other than just putting it in a card. I could get a bank AND give money as the first contribution to the bank. I’m all for teaching kids to save.
Last time I checked, they’re Catholic. Doesn’t that mean he’s damned no matter what he does?
I have no problem giving a gift. After all, I didn’t go to the baby shower. I wish I had. I’m good at baby shower gifts.
And this is where we run into issues. My boyfriend hates giving money and gift cards. I hate asking the parents what to give. It’s better to get ideas from complete strangers and then customize them.
I think I’d be inclined to give something with the child’s name on it. After all, one purpose of a baptism/christening (they’re the same thing to Catholics, but I don’t know about other traditions) is to officially and ceremonially name the child.
I like flodnak’s suggestion of a picture frame. Frames are something that the parents of an adorable baby will never find themselves having enough of, so it’s not going to just sit in a closet somewhere, but they’re also formal enough that they’re an appropriate gift for a solemn occasion, and it’s also something that’s clearly for the baby, even if he’s not going to be playing with it and drooling on it himself.
Thanks for the suggestions. I got a silver plated Noah’s Ark shaped bank with his full name and baptism date engraved on it. I wasn’t going to go with anything remotely religious but the Ark was actually the most appealing thing I could find.
Last time I checked, they’re Catholic. Doesn’t that mean he’s damned no matter what he does?