Christening Gifts From Godparents

We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. We don't sell prams, sleepsuits or silver spoons, so this is a plain guide with the card at the end.

A godparent's gift is expected to be the keepsake one, which is why it causes more thought than everyone else's.

Traditional, modern and financial options below, with honest UK budgets.

Finish it with a card

The card is the part that goes in the memory box with the certificate.

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Traditional keepsakes

  • A silver or pewter keepsake - a coin, a photo frame, a money box - engraved with the date.
  • A children's Bible or book of prayers, inscribed and dated inside the cover.
  • A piece of jewellery to be given at eighteen rather than worn now.
  • A christening candle or cross, if the family is practising rather than nominally religious.

Gifts that grow with them

  • A letter written now, sealed, to be opened on their eighteenth birthday.
  • A hardback book each year on the anniversary of the christening, building a shelf over time.
  • A print of the church, the date or the name for the bedroom wall.
  • A time capsule box the parents fill and store.

Money and savings

  • A Junior ISA contribution, which parents have to open but anyone can pay into.
  • Premium Bonds, which can be bought for a child by anyone and are easy to give.
  • A named savings account contribution, given with a card explaining what it's for.
  • Cash in a card is perfectly acceptable and increasingly common.

Budgets and the card

  • Godparents in the UK typically spend £30 to £100, other guests £15 to £30.
  • Nobody should overspend to look generous in front of the family.
  • Write the card to the child, not the parents, and date it.
  • Say what you're promising as a godparent. That's the part they keep.

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How to write it so it lands

  • Engrave the date.
  • Write to the child, not the parents.
  • Premium Bonds are the easy money gift.

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Frequently asked questions

How much should a godparent spend on a christening gift?

Typically £30 to £100 in the UK. Other guests usually spend £15 to £30.

What is a traditional christening gift from a godparent?

A silver keepsake, a Bible or a piece of jewellery to be given later. Money into a Junior ISA or Premium Bonds is now just as common.

What do you write in a christening card as a godparent?

Write to the child, date it, and say what you're promising them. It gets read again years later.

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