<p>Sorry for my ignorance, but I don’t really know what is appropriate. My nephew will be christened/baptized next week, and I am not really sure what one does. Do I bring a gift? I am sure I will behave well in church! But I guess my question has to do with gifts. I am not of the same religion as my sister-in-law (long story… my brother, the baby’s father, will be the only person I know with one son from his first marriage who is Bar Mitzvahed, and another son who will have been christened!) which is why I really don’t know. Thanks for your suggestions!</p>
<p>Silver cup, silver rattle, silver baby fork and spoon set…Any of these are appropriate. They should be engraved with baby’s initials.</p>
<p>A gift is appropriate. If there is a Christian religious store near you they would have some suggestions as well. If it’s appropriate in your family a small contribution to a future college fund is also nice. </p>
<p>I recently purchased my nephew (and godson) a small cross that was pinned to his outfit, but I was the godmother.</p>
<p>A plaque or framed little inspirational saying that could be hung on the wall in the baby’s room is nice too. Christian bookstores would have these, but so would Hallmark-type stores. I think that an inspirational book makes a nice Christening gift, too. Like veterinarian James Herriott’s book of inspirational stories for children or Kids’ Random Acts of Kindness [Amazon.com:</a> Kids’ Random Acts of Kindness](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Random-Kindness-Conari-Press/dp/0943233623/ref=sr_1_11_s9_rk?ie=UTF8&s=books&s9r=8a10809b18796943011b3ec34be0585f&itemPosition=11&qid=1230990379&sr=1-11]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Random-Kindness-Conari-Press/dp/0943233623/ref=sr_1_11_s9_rk?ie=UTF8&s=books&s9r=8a10809b18796943011b3ec34be0585f&itemPosition=11&qid=1230990379&sr=1-11). Something about “doing good.” :)</p>
<p>I like Tartan’s suggestion for an engraved silver cup, too. Check “Things Remembered” for ideas of little gifts to have engraved with the baby’s name or initials.</p>
<p>(sunnyflorida and I thought of and added Things Remembered at the same time! Great minds think alike.)</p>
<p>I would agree that a Hallmark Gold Crown store often has lots of baby gifts and/or inspirational gifts that would be appropriate. A baby gift from Things Remembered–often located in malls, is another option.</p>
<p>My friends and family members usually give monetary gifts at Christenings, Communions, Bar Mitzvahs, and weddings. Not that other gifts wouldn’t be appreciated as well, but that’s just how things are done here. Sounds like things might be different in other parts of the country.</p>
<p>We give cash for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs (older kids) but gifts for Christenings and First Communions (babies/younger kids).</p>
<p>Gifts are appropriate, and can include toys or clothes if that is more your style (especially with religious differences). Books are good–stories that can be read to the baby…I have given those suggested earlier.</p>
<p>Just an FYI there is a difference between a Christening and a Baptism, try for more information before you buy the card…or just skip the card and use a gift tag. Some people get worked up over this, some don’t (didn’t matter to me, but one of my cousins—jeeesh).</p>
<p>For my Godson, in lieu of gifts we opted to open him a college savings acct. for him so that his expenses will be taken care of when it’s time to go off to college in 14 years.</p>
<p>His parents were beyond speechless :)</p>
<p>If you do want to do a gift, how about a nice Christmas ornament that commemorates the event? Or a gift basket filled with books and small toys?</p>
<p>In our church, it is called a “Dedication service” so as not to be confused with Baptism.
The church gives the baby a New Testament Bible. My kids are boys so we just received cards from relatives. I have heard of baby girls getting tiny baby jewelry like a bracelet or a cross necklace.</p>
<p>There are lots of nieces and nephews in my family—mostly grown now—but my routine at baptisms was to give a savings bond and a children’s book related to their religion (e.g., an illustrated Children’s Bible, a Noah’s Ark “board” book, a simple story about a saint, etc.)</p>
<p>In my church it is also called a Child Dedication, and has nothing to do with baptism. (ie, taking away “original sin.” We don’t baptize at any age.) </p>
<p>Personally, I would avoid religious presents, especially if you do not share the religion of the parents and if there are mixed religious backgrounds in the family. (Thinking about it, I’ve actually never known anyone to give or receive religious-themed presents.) The classic gifts are momentos such as those that Tartan describes, although things like engraved mugs are usually given by godparents, not random relatives and friends. Savings bonds are common, especially among people who come from traditions/ethnicities where giving money at weddings and the like is the norm. </p>
<p>I’ve given people things like Royal Doulton Bunnykins china plates, bowls, and/or mugs. A nice children’s book is a good idea. But I’d go with a secular one. :)</p>
<p>Mom2M - I feel really foolish right now. I was raised a Protestant, am now a Catholic, and I have always used the two terms to mean the same thing. Please enlighten and educate me. Thanks!!</p>
<p>We always give money for whatever it is we go to (Christening or Baptism/First Communion/Confirmation/Bar or Bat Mitzvah/Wedding). It is just what our family and friends do.</p>
<p>Gee…we are really out of it. For family members…especially the close cousins…we gave gifts when they were BORN (things like those engraved spoons and cups). For the christening, we came to the event…no separate gift…but we did bring a nice card (not religious).</p>
<p>thumper, as it happens I’ve never been invited to a family christening/baptism/dedication. For family, I’ve always given presents when the kids were born, too. (I don’t have any first cousins, which may explain it.)</p>
<p>thumper1, that’s why I said my boys got no gifts when they were dedicated and none when they were baptized (10 and 11) years later, not even from grandparents. They each sent a card with a heartfelt personal note inside. Gift giving for that sort of thing is just not really done in our church that I know of. I had just heard of girls getting jewelry from friends in different churches. We did get gifts when the kids were born.</p>
<p>I’ve always used the two terms interchangeably, but I am thinking that perhaps in some Christian traditions baptism doesn’t occur for babies (hence the term “child dedication”), but rather for older children/young adults and is perhaps more akin to Confirmation in the Esiscopal and Catholic traditions?</p>
<p>Can someone clarify?</p>
<p>NOT an expert, here–but I’ll give it a try.</p>
<p>Some denominations of the Christian faith believe that children must be old enough to understand the meaning of baptism, to acknowledge their own personal sin and to ask for the cleansing power of the baptismal water. These denominations do not believe in infant baptism. Some of these churches have a dedicaiton service shortly after the birth of a new baby, but no water is used. I believe this is the tradition of Southern Baptists and other fundamentalist churches. </p>
<p>The Catholic Church, I believe, believes very strongly in the saving power of the baptismal water. As a result, a priest is on call at most hospitals will baptize premature infants only a few minutes after birth, just in case they do not live. New babies born into the catholic church are baptized at a few weeks of age.</p>
<p>A christening is similar to a ‘dedication’ whereby parents promise to provide a proper Christian education through regular church attendance, Bible reading, etc. The infant is ‘sprinkled’ with water and is considered a member of God’s family from that day forward. I believe this is the tradition in the Episcopalian, Lutheran and United Methodist Church, but the services are called baptisms.</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that I’ve gotten this right and that nobody is offended by possible error.</p>
<p>I, too, would avoid religious gifts if you are not of the same religion. And the parents will receive more than enough religious tchotckes – my sister had her daughter baptized and now she’s got, what, twenty-five various Hallmark porcelain crosses and plaques to hang on baby’s wall? One or two would have been fine, but it gets cheesy after that. Only so much of that stuff can you hang up in one baby’s room. </p>
<p>I would say either a nice commemorative piece that has true lasting value (other posters mentioned silver – I would add that a silver picture frame with baby’s name or initials is also nice; Tiffany has some classic porcelain piggy banks; Lladro most certainly has baptism-related figurines if the family likes nicer collectibles) or a savings bond / contribution to a college fund.<br>
Congrats to your family!</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone! It’s very nice to know that there are so many different traditions within a similar rite of passage. I will take all of your suggestions and personal histories into my thoughts this week as I ponder what I will do. It might be interesting for some to know that my mother, who is a holocaust survivor, is being extremely understanding about the whole thing, and was wondering about the correct thing to do, as well. This is such an interesting part of our world. I am grateful that it seems, anyway, that we are all becoming more and more tolerant of differences. Happy New Year!</p>