Help: Boy's Christening present (on a budget)

dudleyboy

Hi all

I'm really hoping you guys can help me out here. I'm going to be the Godfather at one of my best friend's son's Christening soon (don't worry, i'll spare you the Brando impressions). But here's my dilemma:

1. The last Christening I attended was my own
2. I've no idea what's expected of the GF (on the day, i mean, not my responsibility as a guardian in the event of...)
3. I've no idea what to buy as a gift
4. I'm not exactly flush at the moment

As this place is a gold mine for ideas and experience i was hoping someone could help. Is £40-£50 a respectable amount? What on Earth should I buy??

I'm so lame.

Thanks

DB x

headcovers

I recently had to buy a gift for my boyfriend's new nephew.

I got some guidance from this site (of course) and opted to buy a small apple tree especially designed for small gardens or a big pot.

I paid £29, but I opted for a type that had two different varieties on the same tree (quite cool I thought). They cost anything from about £19 though if you don't want to pay that.

I put a big bow around it and it was the talk of the christening! The idea being that the tree would grow with the child and when grown up the child could pick his own fruit.

Rikki

I have sets of coins for my two. They are coins for the year of their birth.

CHRISTENING COIN COLLECTION £19.95

OTHER CHRISTENING IDEAS From the Royal mint.

As God father your gift needs to be something special to keep.

nadnad

i always think that giving money to be put into their savings account is a nice idea and £50 is plenty. However I know that some people don't like giving money.
Check this website http://www.craftuk.co.uk/childschair.htm - they have beutiful wooden gifts or personalised kids chairs. I have bought chairs for 3 babies now and the parents have all been thrilled - its a lovely present that lasts and is very special. I was bought a chair as a baby and I still have it its teeny tiny and I love it!

violetb_2

I think a bible is nice idea if we are talking a conventional Christian ceremony, with inscription from you. It then serves both as a present and as the spiritual guidance you are promising to undertake. There are some lovely children's ones around or there are also some children's prayer books which are just as fitting.

dudleyboy

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I'm very grateful!!

I'll be exploring these further over the next few days.

Thanks again.

furrychimp

i have 2 god children and for their christenings i bought nice handmade photo albums (you can get baby ones for about £25 in gift shops, or if you look on the net they might be even less!) - then the parents can record their memories of the day, or use them to keep pics of their baby's early life....

i love the apple tree idea, that's really cool!!

Queen.Bess

Hi Dudleyboy,

My OH and I recently became godparents and debated about to what to buy, and we only had a budget of £10 to £15. So we bought her a picture bible and because she was christened on Easter Day, an Easter Story book. We also inscribed some kind words inside the books. We concluded that if the parents were miffed with what we'd bought then they didn't understand what it's like to be on a budget and they should be grateful for the thoughtful present rather than the expense involved!

Of course, it might also teach your godson the value of money!

Good Luck in your search!

climbgirl

I like the apple tree idea! My friend has a bottle of vintage champagne that was given to him for his christening, it's the vintage from the year of his birth so cheap at the time it was purchased and worth an absolute fortune now...

In terms of what's expected, I was godmother to my niece and it was very low-key. We just had to stand up the front with the baby and the parents and say that we agreed to act as guardians of the child in the event of... etc etc. basically the priest (or whoever's in charge!) reads a passage and you respond in the affirmative. Much like a wedding really!

clairey_em

I'm going to be my nephew's godmother in June and facing the same problem, although I had one idea, Premium bonds. I didn't want to get him a silver bracelet or anything predictable, wanted to get something different and useful for him when he's older.

website is nsandi.com, they have some other ideas on their website so that might be worth a look? most people I know have won at some point!

clairey em

Floss

I was just gonna suggest Premium Bonds!

Other idea was to put some money into his Child Trust Fund thingy (didn't have them when my ds's were babies!) which you can add to on his birthday every year - if you have the cash to spare.