Insights · Baptism
The best baptism gift is often the one the child will find again in ten years and understand why you gave it.
In this guide you will find baptism gift ideas depending on who is giving: guests, aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents. You will not find amounts. What is right depends on your relationship with the family and on local custom.
Contents (8)
What to give at a baptism: the basics
- Something for the child, not for the party: clothes in the next size, books, things that will be kept.
- Something ten other guests will not bring: ask the parents or coordinate with other guests.
- Something personal: a handwritten wish counts as much as the gift itself.
Gifts that grow with the child
- A book with a dedication, for the child to read in a few years.
- A memory box, where the parents can keep the oil cloth, a candle and your card.
- A tree or a plant to be planted in the year of the baptism.
- A sealed letter to the child, to be opened when they are older.
- A piece of jewellery or a small silver keepsake engraved with the name and date.
- A contribution to the child’s future, if that is the custom in the family.
Gifts for a girl’s or a boy’s baptism
Most good gifts have no gender. If you want something more specific:
- For a girl: a small piece of jewellery with her name, a music box, an illustrated book of fairy tales, clothes for next season.
- For a boy: a wooden toy that lasts for years, a book about animals or the sea, an engraved silver keepsake, clothes for next season.
A gift from the godparent
The godparent already has a role of their own at the baptism. Traditionally they take care of the oil cloths, the candle, the new white clothes and the small cross. Everything is listed in our baptism checklist.
Beyond that, many godparents keep a small personal gift for later: a book for the first Easter, a letter for the tenth birthday, a tradition that carries on every year.
A gift for the parents
Parents of a baby rarely have time for themselves. A gift just for them is one they won’t forget: an evening out while you look after the baby, a frame for the photograph of the day, or a family photo session later in the year, when the child has grown a little.
The card and the wish
The card often outlasts the gift. Write something of your own, even two lines, or take ideas from our christening wishes for a girl, for a boy and from the godmother. Add the date and your name: in twenty years it will matter.
What to avoid
- Very large toys that do not fit in the car on the way home.
- Clothes in the current size: by the time they are worn, the baby will have grown.
- Noisy battery toys, without asking the parents first.
- Sweets and chocolate for a baby.
A gift is forgotten; a story is not. When the child grows up, tell them why you chose what you gave.
Frequently asked questions about baptism gifts
What do you give at a baptism?
Something for the child that will be kept: a book with a dedication, a keepsake with their name, clothes in the next size, with a card carrying your wish.
What does the godparent give?
Traditionally the godparent takes care of the oil cloths, the candle, the change of clothes and the small cross. Many also keep a personal gift for later.
What is a good gift for a girl’s baptism?
A small piece of jewellery with her name, a music box, a book of fairy tales, or clothes for next season.
How much money do you give at a baptism?
There is no rule. It depends on your relationship with the family and on local custom. If unsure, a personal gift with a lovely card is always right.
Do we give a gift if we cannot attend?
It is not required. A card with your wishes, or a small gift later, is a lovely gesture.
Planning a baptism?
The photographs are what your child will see of this day when they grow up. Tell us the date and where it will be, and we will send you a proposal.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team