Unique & Unforgettable Modern Christening Gift Ideas (2022 Gift Guide)

Written by Pauline Mitchell in Christening/Baptism

Isn’t the birth of a new baby always a happy, memorable event? And when you’re invited to the baby’s baptism, one of the first things you’ll think about is what to buy for christening gifts. 

Of course, you’ll want to give christening presents that are both memorable and one-of-a-kind. It would be amazing to think that the baby that’s being christened today can look at your gift many years later and cherish its warmth and meaning.

But shopping around for contemporary christening gifts that are also unique can be quite a challenge these days. With a vast array of options available online, there’s a good chance that the baptism gift you’re choosing this very minute may also be what another family member is looking to purchase, too. We don’t want you to give just another photo album or embroidered blanket. 

The key to finding truly heartfelt baptism gift ideas is to spend a little time doing research, looking for christening keepsake gifts that will truly be cherished by parents and baby alike. That’s where we come in!

This article curates some of the best unique christening gifts that are perfect to give to a special little one – gifts that will make the proud parents smile, too! We’ve also covered some tips and baptism etiquette to help you prepare for this very special milestone in a baby’s young life.

HOW MUCH SHOULD A CHRISTENING GIFT COST IN 2022?

Any practical gift-giver, regardless of the occasion, knows that the first thing to consider is the price. However, when it comes to christening presents, there are a few more factors that need to be considered. Price-wise, here are the main questions you need to ask yourself:

  • What’s your budget?
  • How close are you to the baby and the baby’s family?

Your relationship to the baby and his or her family is an important factor to consider. Are you close to the child’s parents? Were you invited to become a godparent? Or are you a distant aunt or uncle? Maybe you’re a good friend from the office? How close you are to the family can be your gauge to how much you should spend for a baptism gift.

If you are close to the family or if you’ve been invited to be a godparent, then it’s common baptism etiquette for you to give a more expensive gift ($100 – $250 or even more, if possible). For distant relatives or workmates, you can simply work with what’s within your budget.

In addition, godparents have the honour and privilege of becoming the child’s “second parents”, meaning you will usually be present as the child grows. So, if you’re a godparent that just happens to be on a budget, remember that the child’s parents will certainly not mind what present you choose – as long as you promise to be there for your godchild.

If you’re on a tight budget, there are many unique, handmade gift options that you can find online which come with an affordable price tag. You can also find payment plan options available, too – while you may not have time to lay by, many online gift stores now offer Afterpay or similar services to help you afford a nice gift before the special day arrives.

However, if money isn’t an issue, then you can opt for more luxury items that are meaningful, as well. But choosing a gift that’s truly unique and meaningful can compensate for a lower price tag, making it especially important to choose the right gift if your budget is small.

Proud parents will appreciate any gift for their little one, no matter what your relation to the baby is. You don’t have to bend over backwards and spend a ton of money on baptism gifts. The key to giving sentimental, unique christening gifts isn’t actually the cost, it’s the meaning behind it.

Have a look at our list in the next section and be inspired by our lovely baptism gift ideas.

BEST PERSONALISED CHRISTENING GIFTS IN AUSTRALIA

Sweet, sentimental, full of promise and hope – all these (and more!) describe a child that’s about to be christened. It only makes sense to find a gift with the same qualities. 

We’ve gathered our personalised picks below. Who knows, you might discover an item worthy of becoming a new family heirloom that can be passed on to the next generation.

1. Christening Keepsake Box

Darling little keepsake boxes are a lovely way for parents to hold on to sentimental items as the child grows: ultrasound photos, congratulations notes or cards from the day they were born, memorable baby photos, first lock of hair, first tooth, a newspaper from the day the baby was born, a coin with the year of the child’s birth – the list of treasures a keepsake box can hold is endless. 

And the true magic of a christening keepsake box? When it’s opened years later and the parent and child share a sweet moment together as they go through each item. However, rather than just picking out a cute box from Amazon, the best memory keepsake box to give as a christening present is one that’s unique and personalised. 

Our Pick: Best Christening Keepsake Box in Australia

We recommend the Memory Box from Name It Custom Decor a curated gift box service company based in South Australia that specialises in creating bespoke, wooden keepsake boxes.

Made from wood of the finest quality, the Memory Box exudes a simple, rustic design with its natural grain and knots which are common features of wooden products.

Upon ordering, you can choose lovely design options such as a wreath or script writing to inscribe on the lid. To add an even more personalised touch, your chosen designs will also include inscriptions of the child’s name, birth date, weight or even a special little poem.

The Memory Boxes retail between $38 and $68. Please make sure you allow adequate time for your order to be made, so order early.

2. Personalised Story Books

Books are always a great gift idea, no matter the occasion. Even when the child is too young to read, books can be easily kept in the nursery or in the living room bookshelf.

One of the best unique christening gifts you can give is a personalised storybook. You can create your own story with the soon-to-be-baptised child as the hero or the heroine. You can choose stories that spark a child’s imagination – from chasing dragons to discovering Australia’s natural beauty, this is a cool, fun christening present that the parents will love, too.

Our Picks: Personalised Story Books

The Magic of My Name is a customised story based on the name of your child, where each letter stands for special positive values such as friendship, generosity or tolerance. This makes each book unique, depending on the child’s name. To see an example you can place the child name into their book generator and preview it before purchasing to make sure you absolutely happy with the gift.

For this gift idea, there are also two awesome Australian companies that offer creative, fun and personalised storybooks for babies. These make fantastic modern and non-religious christening gifts that families will treasure reading together. 

Story Books For Me – their fun, whimsical custom storybooks feature characters that can be personalised to the child’s name, skin tone, hair, you name it – one lucky little boy or girl will be the star of his or her own story. Their books are also large and easy for small hands and fingers to read and hold.

You can watch this video here to learn more about how it all works.

Tiny Me – what we love about Tiny Me is how unique their illustrations are. Still big, bright and colourful (just like how children like their books), Tiny Me’s creative style is more contemporary with a hint of vintage. Definitely a picture book you’d like to show off in your child’s playroom. Their stories are wonderfully imaginative, too!

Speaking of books, another great gift idea is a charming keepsake book. You can personalise it further by writing a letter or a note addressed to the child. We would suggest for you to either write it on a separate note card or on the last page of the keepsake book to make room for the parents to use the front pages.

3. Personalised Christening Art

You can’t go wrong with art as a baptism present, and you can personalise it, too! Whether it’s a christening print, wall art or baubles for the nursery, here are some unique, contemporary christening art that will go well in the nursery, bedroom or proudly displayed in the living room. 

Our Picks: Personalised Christening Art in Australia

Did you find anything that you like? Whatever christening gift you choose, baptisms are celebrated not only for the baby but for the baby’s loving family, too. A good tip would be to pick a gift that will be cherished by everyone.

If you’re looking for something more specific, the upcoming sections will include a curated list of lovely, contemporary christening gifts specifically for boys and girls.

BEST MODERN CHRISTENING GIFTS FOR GIRLS IN AUSTRALIA

Little girls that are about to be christened deserve charming, whimsical yet contemporary baptism gifts. Here are some gift ideas to inspire you:

BEST MODERN CHRISTENING GIFTS FOR BOYS IN AUSTRALIA

You might find it a challenge to find custom christening presents for playful little boys. But just like girls, parents and loved ones would love for them to receive charming, heartfelt gifts, too. Here are some  gift ideas to inspire you:

Aren’t our baptism gift ideas simply gorgeous?

However, if you’ve been chosen as a godparent, then you might want to do more than just a simple Google search for gift ideas. You will hold a very special place in the child’s life and you’ll want to give something that will stand out. 

Continue on to the next section to find a specific list of christening presents curated especially for godparents to give to their godsons or goddaughters.

BEST CHRISTENING GIFTS FROM GODPARENTS IN AUSTRALIA

It’s an honour to be chosen as a child’s godparent. Given this special role in a child’s life, parents surely put a lot of careful thought into who their child’s godparents would be. To celebrate this new role and the child’s christening, it’s best to give a baptism gift that’s both unique and memorable. 

Shop from our curated godparent-appropriate christening gift ideas below:

1. Personalised Christening Memory Box

If you’re a godparent looking for a personal christening gift in Australia, a keepsake box from Name It Custom Decor is a perfect idea. These boxes come in a range of different styles and can be personalised with the recipient’s name and a unique design. The design options include a wreath, laurel, rocket, script writing, lion, or flowers. 


These boxes are perfect for storing any mementoes from your godchild’s christening!

2. Engraved Godmother Silver Photo Frame

More classic than contemporary, this lovely engraved silver photo frame from Personalised Favours will do great as a memory. Your name as godmother is engraved on the silver frame, so you will always be remembered.

3. Premium Personalised Cot Blankets & Bassinet Blankets

Namely Co. specialises in personalised cot and bassinet knit blankets. Soft and made from premium materials, you can choose from their lovely range of personalised, pastel-coloured blankets with the child’s first name. The result is a beautiful minimalist blanket that will be cherished for years to come.

4. Baptism Candles

Our pick is from Queensland-based Sorrento Boutique. They specialise in beautiful, bespoke christening wear and accessories. Their personalised christening candles are an ideal gift from godparents who would like to give something symbolic and memorable.

5. Wedgwood Personalised Baby Gifts

Contemporary yet classic, Wedgwood’s options for personalised christening gifts are luxe options for proud godparents. From Wedgwood, you can shop Vera Wang photo frames, coin banks and baby tooth boxes.

6. Personalised Wooden Christening Keepsake Poem from Godparent

Engraved on this wooden keepsake is a poem dedicated to your precious godchild. Choose from blue, pink or white embellishments. 

7. Personalised Godparent Gift Photo Frame

Do you have photos together with your soon-to-be godchild? A great way to capture lovely moments would be to frame them in this personalised godparent photo frame. 

8. Kids Personalised Cutlery Set 

A beautiful keepsake engraved with the name of the child, this personalised kids cutlery is a lovely gift for your godchild. These can definitely be used as decorative cutlery in a special spot in the kitchen or nursery.

LAST MINUTE BAPTISM GIFT IDEAS IN AUSTRALIA

You don’t always have a lot of time to organise a gift for a christening. If you are strapped for time and need a last minute baptism gift, there are still plenty of options! You can’t go wrong with cash or a gift hamper. 

The easiest option for a last minute christening gift is a cash based present. This can simply be a card with a thoughtful message and some cash inside. This gives the child or parents the opportunity to buy something special themselves. Alternatively, you can opt to give a gift voucher to one of their favourite stores instead. 

If you don’t like to give money as gifts, you can always go for a pre-made hamper. There are plenty of stores across Australia where you can purchase a beautiful gift hamper that has already been curated with great gifts. 

CAN I GIVE MONEY AS A CHRISTENING GIFT?

You can absolutely give money as a christening gift. Money can be a meaningful and appreciated gift for many families. However, if you are unsure if cash is an appropriate gift, don’t be afraid to talk to the family and ask for their opinion.

While some people argue that cash gifts are “shortcuts” compared to more heartfelt, carefully chosen gifts, that’s not always the case. Money as a christening present can be meaningful, too, especially in cases where the family of the child is currently experiencing financial difficulty. In these cases, cash gifts will be considered an enormous blessing and help the parent prioritise what they’d most like to get for their child.

If you’ve been chosen to be a godparent, money as a christening present can be regarded as a sincere gesture for the child, especially if the given amount is substantial. For example, the parents can utilise the money you give to put towards a savings account or school tuition fund. Or, if the child was born premature, with special needs or serious birth complications, money can be put towards medical bills or special care.

When giving money, you also need to consider if the family prefers it or not. You can have a discreet chat with the parents or family members to find out if money is appreciated or they’d prefer something more personalised and unique.

How much money should you give as a christening present?

As mentioned in the first section of this article, the cost of your baptism gift can largely depend on two main things: your budget and how close you are to the child’s family. The same considerations can be made if you do decide to give money as a gift.

Common baptism etiquette tells us that godparents and close family members are usually expected to give a more substantial amount, upwards of $100 or more, if possible. Distant relatives and acquaintances can give smaller amounts of less than $100.

Whatever your preference is, it’s definitely agreed that a baby’s christening is a once-in-a-lifetime event that’s worthy of a happy celebration. What better way to commemorate this major milestone than with unique christening gifts.

Now that we’ve covered lots of lovely inspiration and ideas for christening presents, it’s time to learn the best ways to wrap them. The next section will talk about some basic tips for wrapping baptism gifts.

HOW TO WRAP A CHRISTENING GIFT

Avid gift-givers know that shopping for the gift is only half the fun. The other half? Wrapping it! From gorgeous wrapping paper to tying it off nicely with a personalised gift tag, wrapping a christening gift is just as important as the gift itself.

Here are some quick, easy tips for christening gift wrapping like a pro:

1. Have everything you need ready on a flat, spacious table:

  • Tape
  • Ribbon
  • Wrapping paper
  • Gift box

2. When choosing your ribbon/wrapping paper, check first if the christening has a specific theme. It’s best to wrap the gift with wrapping paper that’s on-theme.

3. A secret weapon for pro gift wrappers is double-sided tape. It’s easy to cut and neat to look at.

4. Research and practice.

If you’re a beginner at gift wrapping, you’ll want to practice. A quick search online should give you some basic tips for gift wrapping. We’ll start you off with a couple of links:

If you’re feeling crafty, check out our christening gift-wrapping ideas below:

Weaving in pieces of soft, pastel-coloured paper on a white wrapping paper gives the gift a colourful yet minimalist appearance. It will look lovely on the gift table.

One great thing about gifting a keepsake box is that it also doubles as a gift box! Fill it with little goodies for the baby and you’re all set. For some extra tips and tricks, see our guide on making a gift hamper. 

Monochromatic combinations like black/white or grey/white make lovely wrapping paper prints that have a contemporary look. Tie it off nicely with a thin, brightly-coloured ribbon for a pop of colour, your gift will look extra-special.

  • DIY wrapping paper & paper bags

Using lace, ribbon, pom-poms and cut-outs, these lovely ideas from Pinterest make great ideas for unique, personalised, DIY christening gift wrapping:

You’re almost ready for a very special little boy or girl’s christening! Check out a couple more FAQs below that will help you prepare for the special day.

RELATED QUESTIONS

What should I wear to a christening?

Most baptisms occur during spring or summer seasons. Ladies can generally opt for smart yet casual, light-coloured outfits while the gentlemen will look cool and crisp in light suits. It’s also good to remember that these are usually traditional occasions so make sure your outfit is modest and just a bit more formal than usual (eg. you might want to skip jeans and trainers).

Is a ‘baptism’ different from a ‘christening’?

It’s acceptable to use these terms interchangeably as they do refer to the same ceremony. However, there are slight differences in the meanings of these two terms. Baptism is a Catholic term for one of the Seven Holy Sacraments while “christen” is actually the part of the baptism ceremony where the baby is named e.g. “I christen this child (child’s name), in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” These two terms can be used in varying ways across different denominations, so the parents may refer to their child’s ceremony with one or the other. 

Can You Give a Christening Card for a Baptism?

To avoid any confusion or offence, you should choose a card that is specific to the occasion. If you are attending a christening, choose a christening card. If you are attending a baptism, choose a baptism card. 

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a small difference between a christening and a baptism. Therefore, to avoid any confusion, be sure to choose the appropriate one. 

Are Gifts Expected at a Baby Baptism or Christening?

While gifts are never obligatory, it is usually customary to bring a gift to a baby baptism or christening. Whether a physical gift or financial contribution, a gift will always be appreciated by the family. 

However, if you’re unsure about the etiquette surrounding the particular baptism or christening you are attending, don’t be afraid to chat with the family about it.

Pauline Mitchell

My signature keepsake boxes encapsulate a memorable story from the carefully selected products sourced from and within Australia, the exquisitely handcrafted artwork, the sustainable materials used, and the luxurious beauty in every keepsake box itself—all for an intimate and personal gift token that will let you speak from your heart.

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