The Best Christening Gifts - Ideas for Boys, Girls & Godparents
A christening gift is one of the few presents a child keeps for life. It gets put away, brought back out years later, and passed on. That is why the best christening gifts are personalised - a name, a date, a short blessing - so it is clearly theirs and clearly from that day. Here is our guide to christening gift ideas for boys and girls, what godparents usually give, and how to pick something that lasts.
What to buy for a christening
Most people get stuck because the baby is too young to care about the gift. So buy for the parents and for the child later on. A good christening present is soft or sturdy enough to keep, personal enough that it can't be mistaken for anything else, and fits the day itself - a cross, a wreath, a church or simply the date of the service. Toys get outgrown. Keepsakes don't.
Personalised christening teddies
A personalised teddy is the classic christening gift and the easiest to get right. Our big cross christening teddy keeps it simple - a cross on the front with the baby's name. The wreath designs come in pink, blue and green, and each can be personalised with a name, date or short blessing.
If you want a picture from the day on it, the personalised photo teddy prints your photo onto the bear - a nice one to give after the service, once the photos are in.
Christening gifts for boys
Blue is still the go-to for a boy's christening, but it doesn't have to be loud. The little cross teddy in blue is soft and understated, and the blue christening heart plaque has a church illustration with his details - something for the nursery shelf rather than the toy box. The green wreath teddy is a good neutral pick if blue isn't your thing.
Christening gifts for girls
For a girl, the little cross teddy in pink and the pink wreath teddy are the two to look at. For a keepsake that stays on display, the pink christening heart plaque is the matching piece to the boys' version, with a pink church design.
Not sure on colour? Go neutral. The green wreath teddy and the woodland cloud plaque work for any baby, and the cloud plaque lets you choose the wording - Christened, Baptised or Naming Ceremony.
Christening gifts from godparents
Godparents usually want their gift to feel a bit more meaningful than a guest's, because it marks the start of a long relationship with the child. A personalised keepsake with the baby's name and the date of the christening does that well. Pair a teddy with a plaque, or add a handwritten card explaining why you said yes to being a godparent - it is the kind of thing a child reads properly when they are older.
Buying for a godson or goddaughter you won't see often? Pick something that stays on display, like a plaque, so they grow up with it in the room.
Traditional vs personalised
Traditional christening gifts lean towards silver, a children's bible or a keepsake box - things meant to last decades. Personalised gifts do the same job with the child's name on them, so they never get mixed up with anything else. If the family is quite traditional, a cross or wreath teddy fits the day without feeling like a novelty. If they are more relaxed about it, a photo teddy or cloud plaque works just as well.
Christening gift FAQs
What do you get for a christening gift?
Something the child can keep. A personalised teddy, a keepsake plaque or a traditional piece like silver or a children's bible are all safe choices. Adding the baby's name and christening date makes it a keepsake rather than just a present.
What do godparents usually give?
Godparents tend to give something more lasting than other guests - a personalised keepsake, a traditional gift or both, often with a card the child can read when they are older.
Is a christening gift the same as a baptism gift?
Yes, for gifting purposes. Christening is the name many families use for an infant baptism. Our christening gifts work for christenings, baptisms and dedications, and the cloud plaque also offers a Naming Ceremony option.
Can I get a personalised christening gift in time?
Order before 2pm Monday to Friday and your gift is dispatched the same day with free next-day delivery. It is still worth ordering a few days ahead so you can check the personalisation.
Shopping for a new baby rather than a christening? See our guide to personalised baby gifts.
Every piece is made to order and hand-finished in the UK. Order before 2pm Monday to Friday for free next-day delivery.