Christening Gift Guide: Keepsakes for a New-born

Christenings are joyous occasions that mark a significant milestone in a child’s life. Celebrated by various cultures and religions, this sacred ceremony deserves a gift that will be treasured for years to come. To mark the occasion and celebrate the new-born in your life, why not gift them a special present that can be cherished.

Our guide offers advice and inspiration to help you find personalised christening gifts to help commemorate this special occasion.

Why do we give gifts at christenings?

The tradition of giving gifts at christenings dates back centuries, originating from religious customs and beliefs. In Christian traditions, christening gifts were initially presented to symbolise blessings, protection, and guidance bestowed upon the child throughout their life’s journey.

Baptism and christening gifts also often carry profound symbolic meanings. They are intended to serve as cherished mementos and reminders of the religious commitment made during the ceremony. Common symbols found in christening gifts include crosses, angels, doves, and biblical references, all representing faith, purity, and protection. Many of these symbols are found within tradition christenings gifts, serving as a reminder of the ceremony and occasion.

What is the traditional gift for a christening?

Silverware and jewellery: Silverware like silver spoons, or jewellery, like silver bracelets, are often given as traditional gifts at christenings. Throughout history, silver was a sign of wealth, and so given as gifts to wish the new-born happiness and prosperity.

Religious items and books: Religious-themed gifts are popular choices for presents and often include engraved crossed, rosaries or delicate religious ornaments. Signifying the child’s religious journey and serving as a reminder of their faith, these gifts are common traditional christening gifts. 

Investments: In some cultures, it’s customary to give monetary gifts or contribute to a child’s savings account to help them financially for the future. A somewhat practical gift, giving money is an age-old tradition that is still popular today.

Family heirlooms: Passing down cherished family heirlooms is a traditional way to mark a special occasion like a christening. Typically, items like jewellery or accessories like watches are given as they hold sentimental value that can be carried forward into future generations.

Ideas for christening presents

Whether you’re looking for a gift in keeping with tradition or want to find something a little bit different, giving a personalised keepsake that holds significant meaning is a wonderful way to celebrate such a special occasion.

Here, we’ve put together a list of ideas for christening presents to give some extra inspiration. From jewellery and accessories to unique and vintage coins, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect personalised gift:

  • Jewellery personalised with their year of birth: Our collection of coin jewellery can be tailored to the new-born you are celebrating. All our jewellery is created from coins issued in the exact year the recipient was born, serving as lifelong tokens of your relationship to them. They act as a thoughtful reminder as the child grows, helping them reflect on the special occasion that was celebrated by all their friends and family.
  • Keepsake jewellery: Whether buying for your nephew, your son or your grandson, there’s no better way to celebrate a christening and the new-born in your life than with a keepsake they can appreciate as they grow. Our Me&You jewellery and accessories are the perfect gift to showcase your loving bond, especially as they are minted in the year you were born as well as the child’s.

Keepsakes and personalised christening presents like this are a wonderful way to give a gift that’s completely unique and symbolic of your relationship.

  • Unique and sentimental coins: In keeping with the keepsake theme, gifting and sentimental keepsake coin makes for a thoughtful and unique present. Our guide to keepsake coins explores what they are and why they make such special mementos. Why not gift a silver sixpence to wish the new-born luck in their future, or an Old British Coin representing their history. Whichever keepsake coin you choose, it will serve as a lasting keepsake for years to come.

How much should you spend on a christening gift?

As with any gift, it’s not so much the amount it cost but the amount of sentimental value and meaning it holds. There are no rules or recommendations on how much to spend when it comes to gifting but if you have a budget in mind, it’s worth considering different options to make sure you get the best gift possible.

An elaborate and lavish gift is a generous way to show how much the christening means to you, however when it comes to personalised and keepsake gifting, there are often more ways to gift generously without it costing a fortune.

However much you choose to spend, we’re sure that if you’ve put time and effort into finding the perfect present, it will be well received by the family.

Do you buy your own child a christening present?

While not tradition, there’s no reason why you can’t buy your own child a christening present. Purchasing a gift that let’s your child know how much you love them is a thoughtful way to mark the occasion and remember the day in years to come.

Often, we like to keep special mementos of occasions and keepsakes that remind us of past events as we grow, so gifting your child a christening present is something they can carry with them through their lifetime. What better way to commemorate the special day your child was christened than with a unique gift that they can look back on fondly as they embark on their journey through life.

The tradition of christening gifts is a beautiful way to honour the religious journey of a child and celebrate the joyous occasion of their baptism.

Whether through religious items and books, personalised accessories, or keepsake jewellery, these gifts hold deep meaning and are treasured by families for years to come. If you’re feeling inspired to find the perfect christening gift for the special new-born in your life, take a look at our collection of new-born jewellery or read our guide on personalised gifting for more gift ideas.