Top 10 Christening Gift Ideas

Looking for the gift itself? See our personalised christening gifts

Top 10 Christening Gift Ideas

What christening gifts do you buy for a boy? Do you buy traditional or quirky gifts? Are girls christening gifts easier to find? As a result, we’ve spent a long time searching for ideas and come up with our top 10 Christening Gift Ideas. Some are classic gifts such as silver, others a bit more unique such as environmental gifts. Furthermore, most are suitable for both a boy or a girl. We think (well hope) you’ll be impressed with our choices…

A few years ago I started a website which sold other christening gifts, mainly from UK makers alongside my own prints. As such, I spent a lot of time (and I mean a lot) looking for unique christening gift ideas – I went to Trade Fairs and searched the internet. My aim was to stock gifts which were a bit different, or a modern twist on a classic idea. In addition, I wanted baptism gifts suitable for boys and girls. Finally, I also wanted some specific gift ideas which would be ideal as christening gifts from godparents.

Although we no longer stock additional items (in brief, we’ve gone back to what we really enjoy, namely, making our personalised prints and designing a new range), I still think the items we found are fantastic. I spent a long time looking so thought it was worth sharing. I’ve also added other suggestions which I didn’t stock (e.g. savings bond) as these are just generally good ideas!

Christening Gift Ideas - Guide

For the most part, what all suggestions have in common is that they are great keepsake gifts so will hopefully be treasured for years to come. Above all, christening gifts don’t have to be expensive, it’s often the thought and sentiment behind the gift which is important. Therefore, as a rule, whatever you decide to choose, make sure you send a card with a heartfelt message. This is often so much appreciated by the parents and may be kept in a memory box for the future!

Please note disclosure: I have updated this page (March 2024 ) to include links to Amazon where some of my recommendations can be bought. This is an affiliate link so if you click and buy from Amazon, I may get a commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you if you do this.

I have also include links to various other websites but I do not receive any commission or gifts from them – I just really like their stuff and thought they may be good ideas!

1. Savings Account / Bond

Setting up a savings account or bond is a great gift and one which can be added to. Bank accounts can be set up with as little as £1 but you could always start a savings account with £10 as a gift.
Additionally, you could buy a card to put the details of the savings account in, together with handwriting your own message and dedication for the child and wishes for the future.

Up to date advice on the best rates for savings account visit Money Saving Expert.

2. Noah’s Ark Toy Set

There are some fabulous Noah’s Arks around. For example, as a keepsake gift we’d recommend a wooden set – hand crafted and hand painted. This is always a great gift for a christening as it has religious overtones due to the biblical story but they look great in a child’s room with lots of fun play value too.

Buying Guide:

I used to stock a Noah’s Ark from Cicada Education in fact my daughter was bought one for her Christening over 10 years ago. However I’m struggling to find this so I’ve come up with some alternatives:

East of India (I used to stock this too) is a beautiful neutral colour tones stylised wooden play set and looks lovely in a nursery – Noahs Ark & Wooden Two by Two Boxed Set

Le Toy Van – has a huge range of wooden toys but in the Noah’s ark range has a bright and more robust shape sorter, ideal as a toy for younger children – follow this link to have a look – Le Toy Van Noah’s Shape Sorter

3. Bible

A more traditional christening gift is a bible which you can hand write a dedication in the cover. In brief, there are many versions of bibles and for a child you may consider buying an illustrated first bible stories. As a modern twist, we rather like the one with a hallmarked silver cross (combining the ‘traditional’ silver gift with a religious gift). This can make a great keepsake lasting years and perhaps even being handed down in the family.

Buying Guide:

I used to stock a Carrs Silver Bible which had a lovely silver cross on the front – they are beautiful (quite expensive though) but there website is Carrs-Silver

There are also a range of beautifully illustrated bibles and stories available from local book stores so these are great ideas. As an example, this Illustrated Bible Stories from Amazon caters to younger children and is very reasonable in price.

4. Silver

Traditionally silver is the gift for a christening and there is a huge array of silver items on the market. Also, it can be a keepsake which is passed down through generations too. In particular, silver gift items include jewellery, trinket boxes, lucky charms and money boxes to name but a few.
As an example of a religious traditional silver gift, a silver cross necklace is an obvious choice. Alternatively, for something a little different and less expensive, how about a twist on the silver spoon with a silver plated spoon hand stamped with ‘on your Christening’.

Buying Guide:

Buying Guide -one of the most popular silver christening gifts on my previous site was an Angel Wings necklace from a company called Tales from the Earth – this is their website and they have a whole section on Christening gifts Tales From the Earth ‘Guardian Angel Wings necklace’.

We’ve found some Tales from the Earth first curl box on Amazon which is is a silver keepsake too.

5. Personalised Prints

Need a heartfelt gift? Personalised gifts are a wonderful present idea as they can be made exactly how you would like, often including a personal messages and therefore a lot of thought and sentiment! In particular, personalised gifts can include everything from engravings on photo frames (couple this idea with silver for an engraved silver photo frame), personalised jewellery or framed artwork.
As an example, a framed name can be the child’s name with a message of your choice e.g. ‘Christening wishes to bless you with a life of happiness’ thereby making a very unique and thoughtful present.

Buying guide

Personalised prints and artwork at www.bellandwalsh.co.uk

“Personalised gifts are a wonderful gift as they can be made exactly how you would like, often with personal messages and therefore a lot of thought and sentiment!”

6. Books

Generally, books are a lovely keepsake gift. Especially if you can include your own message in the front of the book (and date it too). For instance, you could do this with a bible if you wanted a religious gift otherwise choose some classic children’s books. One day the child may be reading it to their grandchildren with your dedication still in the front!

For some popular gift sets of books for younger children, we’ve found the following very popular gifts:

Buying Guide:

A great gift is to buy box sets of books – there’s timeless classics such as The World of Peter Rabbit – complete collection from Amazon

The Guess How Much I love You book and gift set has always been a popular choice

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – book and toy set – again both my children loved these books so are a great classic recommendation!

7. Wooden Toys

Many people still want to buy traditional christening gifts, conversely, others are looking for something a bit different. As a more unique christening gift idea consider wooden toys. The child be able to play with them straight away (if they are age appropriate). Likewise, if they are wooden, the hope is they’ll be more durable and perhaps taken a little more care of.

Numerous wooden toys on the market have great educational benefits and encourage lots of imaginative and creative play too. I used to stock some products from Cicada toys which were really different – for boys, there was a fabulous wooden dinosaur playset. Likewise, for either boys or girls the rather unique Goldilocks and the Three Bears playset where they can help retell wonderful fairy tales and make up their own!

Buying Guide:

My children (and myself) really loved the brands Orange Tree Toys and Le Toy Van when they were younger and we’ve found the following lovely wooden toys on Amazon:

Orange Tree Toys Peter Rabbit Wooden Musical Box – whilst we didn’t have the Peter Rabbit one, my daughters both had a music box with spinning characters and really loved it – definitely gets our recommendation!

Le Toy Van Forest Stacker & Bag Activity Toy – lovely wooden forest animals which can be stacked on top of each other – ideal for younger children.

Le Toy Van Wooden Dolls House – a beautiful dolls house play set or there are so many accessories linked to this like wooden cars, figures, etc

8. Photoframes

A classic gift idea, particularly if they are silver or pewter frames. What’s more, they can be used for years to come. Incidentally, many frames can be engraved too thereby making it a more personalised present.

Buying guide: I personally really like the pewter photo frames from a company called Lancaster & Gibbings There are so many lovely designs.
The above link is direct to their company website or Amazon have a few products:

Buying Guide:

Buying guide: I personally really like the pewter photo frames from a company called Lancaster & Gibbings and they have so many lovely designs.

The above link is direct to their company website or Amazon have a few products like this Baby Charms photo frame.

9. Environmental Gifts e.g. Plant a tree

How about something completely different? Try an environmental gift, such as planting trees. Whilst it may sound a little quirky at first, we think it makes a rather clever gift. In this case, you could either buy one to plant in the garden (and enjoy watching it grow too over the years) or buy a conservation gift where they plant trees on your behalf and send a certificate or have a tree dedicated.
For instance, take a look at the woodland trust site to have a further look at tree dedications! In addition to trees, many plants are named so have a look for some roses with the same name. I bought one for my sister’s baby (Sophie’s rose) and 10 years on she’s still got it despite house moves!

Woodland Trust – Tree Dedications.

10. Pewter

Finally, our number 10. Ordinarily, silver is often recommended but when it comes to christening gift ideas, Pewter can be a little different from silver (and in this case it doesn’t tarnish which is a plus!)

There are lots of unusual pewter gifts around. From luck tokens to more traditional money boxes, there are lots of really lovely pewter christening gifts available.

Buying guide

The Wentworth Pewter Teddy Bears Picnic Pewter Money Box is a lovely keepsake gift

We really hope our christening gift ideas has provided some inspiration and help. They are all based on gifts we either used to stock in our old shop or that our daughters had been given as gifts when they were little.

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Bell & Walsh

Welcome to the world of Bell & Walsh. I'm Sarah and Bell & Walsh is my creative venture.
Each blog post is a window into my journey of running a small craft business; whether it's ideas for gift giving, handy tips, a behind the scenes look, answering your questions or creative inspiration. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read - I truly appreciate it and hope you come back and join me on this adventure.

Looking for the gift itself? See our personalised christening gifts