Chicken boarders

[craftyhunnypie]

Please please help!

My little baby Nephew's Christening is on Valentines day & Hubby & I are to be Godparents.

We really do not know what to buy this baby boy as a gift, as neither of us are in any way religious (neither are his parents) - so a Bible, cross or St.Christopher are out. He's being Christened to avoid any complications in the future.

We also don't want to buy any silver cup / scroll holder etc that will never get used - like ours.

We want to buy something that he will appreciate when he is older & maybe something collectable or that will be of value when he is 18 / 21.

My parents have beaten us to it by buying him a Steiif dog & bear.

 

Please , please help as we don't have long to get something organised.

 

Emma.x

[majorbloodnock]

We got our daughter christened a few months back, and one of the christening gifts she received was a box set of all the Beatrix Potter books. It's certainly beautiful, and they do get a fair bit of use at bed time.

[Lesley]

We always plant trees for any occasions.

[bluekarin]

I was going to suggest books too. We got an old friends daughter a large hard back encyclopaedia which had beautiful pictures in it. Unfortunately the dad didn't appreciate it. But that was what he was like and why we are no longer friends.

 

Or maybe some cuff links with his initials on?

[craftyhunnypie]

We've thought about a nice engraved pen? He could sign his provisional driving license with it at 17 & use it for his GCSE's? It's hard as you never know what they will turn out to be.

A farmer, a doctor, a hairdresser, a bin man?? But everyone uses a pen.

 

Emma.x

[docsquid]

We've thought about a nice engraved pen? He could sign his provisional driving license with it at 17 & use it for his GCSE's? It's hard as you never know what they will turn out to be.

A farmer, a doctor, a hairdresser, a bin man?? But everyone uses a pen.

 

Emma.x

 

Ah..you got there before me, Emma! That was exactly what I was going to suggest. It is always useful, unless in 20 years time, handwriting has completely disappeared!

[craftyhunnypie]

Perhaps we should just buy him an ipad. We are still stuck.

 

Emma.x

[Chucky Mama]

We recently had a Christening for a boy and a girl (brother & sister). We were godparents to both. We got a lovely chess set for the boy (set without a board so that easier for parents to keep stored it came in a leather box that fit in a bookshelf like a big book - very nice) and for the girl we got a coin from the Royal Mint.

[Looney]

This is the wrong time of year, but I like the idea of a special Christmas decoration, either something religious or something personalized but definitely something that will stand the test of time. I wasn't Christened but we were given special decorations by my Gran and I loved being allowed to hang them on the tree each year. Now they remind me of her and I will pass them on to my children.

[Willow]

Personally I can't think of an occasion where books aren't an acceptable present the book people often have nice sets at a sensible price.

 

But I also like the idea of a special Christmas ornament - I think these are cute http://www.bombki.co.uk/home.php?cat=261

 

Chess set and coin from royal mint sound great ideas as well.

[Chickendoodle]

How about a money gift of some sort - premium bond, national savings or something that he can access when he is 18. £20 over 18 years should grow quite well

[PurpleTree]

Oliver's godparents dedicated 3 trees for him from The Woodland Trust http://www.woodlandtrustshop.com/dedicate-a-tree?ac=supportus If the wood you choose is near them, then they can go and visit regularly to see how the trees are growing.

 

It was one of our favourite presents for him, all the others were silver plated things that haven't been out of the box. We've got quite a few children's bibles now too.

 

My parents got both children Children's Bonus Bonds, for their Christenings.

[ChirpyChirpyCheepCheep]

I would suggest the same as chickennoodle.

 

A baby bond or something like that. When the child is eighteen they can cash it in.

 

Chirpy x

[ChirpyChirpyCheepCheep]

Sorry Chickendoodle

 

I meant you but for some reason put chickennoodle (thinking of a lunch perhaps!?)

 

Chirpy x

[craftyhunnypie]

Nice idea, but they live on a farm & it's all woods.

Bonds would not be appreciated by the parents - we would sooner just give him cash when he needs his car etc later in life.

 

Emma.x

[chickenNutter]

I'm with chickennoodleydoodle and chirpychirpy, my son is now 16 and all those sensible, if boring, financial presents given to him at his birth/christening are really coming home to roost now, and he is very grateful as he desperately wants driving lessons soon, and ultimately a car. Now he understands the value of money it also means he understands the commitment/sacrifice of his Godparents setting it all up, and he is quite touched.

 

What about opening a low interest building society account for him with a small amount in it for his christening, and then putting money into it on his birthday or Christmas. I suppose it depends on whether the gesture is aimed at the parents or at the child, which varies hugely from family to family or between friends depending on the nature of the relationship.

 

If you did something financial, you could always think of a small approriate gift to give on the day as well, something like inexpensive classic children's literature as suggested by The Major?

[craftyhunnypie]

If he'd of been a girl, it would have been so much easier. A nice diamond / piece of jewellery of value would have been so lovely.

We have been looking at Vintage bottles of Port - that will increase in value. Just worried incase the parents might drink it.

 

Emma.x

[bluekarin]

Maybe you could give him a toy car (but one of the collector type) and a card which states when he is of the right age, you pay for X number of driving lessons. That way, he gets a small something on the Christening day, which will keep the parents happy, and when he's older he'll have something else to look forward to.

 

I love the plant a tree idea though. Wish I'd heard of it when my three were little as we'd have got them one each.

[chelsea]

What about a rocking horse? I bought my friend's little boy one when he was christened, a family heirloom that can be passed down in years to come.

[craftyhunnypie]

I like the toy car idea.

I think we are going to go for a pull along toy thing for him now & possibly the car idea.

Nice one - thanks.

 

Emma.x