Sweet Peas Creations

Christening gifts are a lot more straightforward than they might seem at first. There are a lot of traditional ideas to fall back on, and some neat new takes on the range of presents for name-giving that can make the gesture seem more personal. Don't get flustered by the occasion. It's just like buying something for a birthday, except this time there are more definite guidelines to help you along the way. Of course it helps to know what the standard ideas are, so here are the basics to help with your thinking.

Books are always a good present or children. It shows a commitment to encouraging their thoughtful and creative side. The classics of children's stories from your era might be a good place to start. The Hungry Caterpillar or Where the Wild Things Are offer up stories that are as likely to catch a child's imagination as ever. Maybe check with parents first to make sure they haven't already got it though. Also, bibles are perhaps the most obvious book for a Christian celebration. It doesn't have to be an actual bible either - you could get one in crystal to act as more of a symbol of Christian ideals.

You're always fairly safe in getting cuddly toys for children. Unless the parents have explicitly said they're sick of the accumulated cuddy ball that's forming around their house, it's likely they won't begrudge you adding another bear to the pile. You could even go a bit bolder and get a large toy for the child to lie on or wrap up in, such as the giant panda cuddy toys that are popular at the moment.

Silver is a traditional template for gifts when it comes to Christenings. The most traditional of all are hairbrushes or figurine rocking horses. You could also get them a silver plated money box in a range of creative designs to act as a practical and ornamental gift. Other retro gifts that have come back in are jack in the boxes and wooden Noah's Ark sets.

You can also go retro with toys and buy something like a Noah's Ark or jack-in-the-box too, as these somehow feel more right for the occasion than modern toys. Hopefully these options will help you to get thinking about it anyway.