# What do I get as a Baptism gift? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311 "2003-01-08T15:47:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/1 "2003-01-08T15:47:23Z")
My best friend’s baby girl is being christened. What kind of gifts are appropriate for such an occasion? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/2 "2003-01-08T15:54:22Z")
Towels? Monogrammed clothes with her initials on it, now that it’s her name, officially? ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/3 "2003-01-08T15:55:24Z")
I usually give a U.S. Savings Bond. The price I guess is what ever you can budget. I recently gave $100 Saving Bond (costs $50) at two different Christenings and I have another in two weeks that I will give the same. Damn! My friends are pumping out babies like mad. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/4 "2003-01-08T16:00:40Z")
Savings Bonds are a good idea…perhaps even cash for her savings account for college? I my family everyone gives either a gift of money or US Savings Bonds. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/5 "2003-01-08T16:23:44Z")
I think it’s universally accpeted that a life jacket is an especially tactless gift. Don’t give one of those unless you have a point to make. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/6 "2003-01-08T16:32:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SC\_Wolf \* > \*\*I think it’s universally accpeted that a life jacket is an especially tactless gift. Don’t give one of those unless you have a point to make. \*\* How about a noseclip or earplugs? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/7 "2003-01-08T16:46:25Z")
Actually, in all seriousness, a Bible is a nice gift. You can buy leather bound white ones, I think, which are intended for just such occaisions. It’s particularly nice if you add a note on the inside saying that you’re giving it to her on her baptism so she can appreciate it after she learns to read. Other things you might want to consider are silver or pewter baby cups, engraved with her name. I think my mother still has a set of spoons I was given at my baptism, although I could be wrong there. The ones I’m thinking of have pastel colored shells for bowls and look nice, but not all that functional. Finally, you could give a nice baby outfit or top or booties, etc. If it were me, I’d knit or crochet up a nice pair of baby booties, but somehow I don’t think that’s one of your skills. Hope this helps, CJ ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/8 "2003-01-08T17:42:46Z")
Either a bible, or some engraved, silver, arguably useless item is appropriate. I’ve heard Catholic kids get rosaries (but not being Catholic, I’m not entirely sure) ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/9 "2003-01-08T18:13:34Z")
amarinth, you may be thinking of a Communion gift not Christening (Baptism). ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/10 "2003-01-08T18:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cjhoworth \* > \*\*Actually, in all seriousness, a Bible is a nice gift. You can buy leather bound white ones, I think, which are intended for just such occaisions. It’s particularly nice if you add a note on the inside saying that you’re giving it to her on her baptism so she can appreciate it after she learns to read. > CJ \*\* A Bible can be a nice gift for a baptism, but the one thing to take into consideration if you choose this is the translation - look for a Catholic Bible if it’s a Catholic baptism, or a non-Catholic one if it’s not. The difference usually lies in the inclusion of some of the Apocryphal books. Normally a Catholic translation will specify that it is, while many of the “gift bibles” at Christian stores will not be. Personally, I’d go with the Savings Bond. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/11 "2003-01-08T18:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NYR407 \* > \*\*amarinth, you may be thinking of a Communion gift not Christening (Baptism). \*\* Just for the record, I was referring to the rosary gift idea. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-get-as-a-baptism-gift/147311/12 "2003-01-09T04:06:31Z")
Abbey Press makes a beautiful (I think) framed print that says “God Danced the Day You Were Born” that can be personalized with the child’s name and birthday. I have given this for two baptisms [www.abbeypress.com](http://www.abbeypress.com) Just type “God Danced” in their search box