Iraya Original christening gift: what to bring depending on your place on the day
A christening brings together very different people: grandparents who've been waiting months for the date, friends of the parents who aren't sure whether they're meant to bring something, an older sibling who suddenly isn't the centre of attention any more. This guide separates what belongs to the ceremony from what's custom, suggests presents that are still useful once the baby is crawling, and also works if the family prefers a civil welcome.
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Rite, custom and personal touch: three layers that get mixed up
Some things are part of the Catholic ceremony, others are custom and others are up to each family.
| What | Where it comes from | Do you need to bring it? |
|---|---|---|
| White garment | Rite: it symbolises new life | No need to buy one; many families hand down the christening gown |
| Candle | Rite: it's lit from the Paschal candle | It's used in the ceremony and many families keep it |
| Medal | Custom, not rite | Optional; usually given by the godparents or grandparents |
| Keepsake card for guests | Custom | Optional; the parents prepare it |
| A present from each guest | Custom | Optional; depends on how close you are |
If you have questions about the ceremony, ask at the parish: many ask parents and godparents to come to a talk beforehand.
From the parents' friends to the big brother: a present for every guest
What fits depends on your place at the table:
- Friends of the parents. Nobody expects anything big. Practical things go down well (nappies a size up, a fabric baby carrier), or something for them: frozen home cooking, a night's babysitting.
- Grandparents. They often look for something that passes from one generation to the next: an album of photos of the parents as children, a hand-knitted blanket, the medal if the godparents aren't giving it.
- The older sibling. That day everything goes to the baby and they watch from the sidelines: a little something just for them, as soon as they arrive, helps more than any big present.
- Godparents. They have their own traditions, which we cover in the guide for aunts, uncles and godparents.
Clothes last weeks, objects last years
Clothes are what gets repeated most and lasts least: a 0-3 months outfit is outgrown within weeks, and families usually come home from a christening with several. If you'd like to give clothes, buy one or two sizes up and think about which season the baby will be wearing them in.
- With an engraved date: a medal, a bracelet or a box to keep the candle and the keepsake card in.
- For later on: big building blocks, a travel high chair, a little rucksack for nursery.
- For reading: a book they can open for the baby that very evening and that's still on the shelf when the child can read.
Civil welcomes and naming parties, without a font
Not every family has their baby christened. Some town halls hold a civil welcome ceremony, with no legal effect, sometimes with civil godparents; other families organise a meal at home or a naming ceremony: introducing the baby by name to the people closest to them.
For guests, little changes: the same presents work, minus the medal and the white garment. What does change is what you write: use the word the parents have chosen, “welcome” or “naming party”, not “christening”.
A story with their little face: age, photo and when to order
The Day You Arrived tells in verse how everyone was waiting for the baby and draws them with their own face in the scenes: the lullaby, bath time, the star that keeps them company. If the present is for the mother, or she's the one ordering it, The Arms That Rock You draws both of them.
An honest word of warning: under six months, the likeness on the cover is approximate; after six months, it's much better. If the baby is very young you have two options: order it now knowing that, or bring a handwritten card on the day announcing the story and order it with the parents when the baby is six months old.
Count backwards from the ceremony: get a front-on photo in daylight, look at their cover for free and, once you've paid, allow 7 to 9 working days for printing and delivery. With three weeks to spare, you're fine. The dedication you write goes at the start of the book. It costs €39.99 plus delivery.
Our books
The Day You Arrived
The Arms That Rock You
Dinosaur Valley
The Sock PlanetFrequently asked questions
Is the present given at the church or at the celebration?
At the meal or at home. There's no need to take anything to the church.
What if they're christened at two or three?
It's not unusual. They'll have outgrown the baby book; at that age Dinosaur Valley or The Sock Planet are a better fit. They're drawn from a photo in exactly the same way and can be dedicated like any other.
Will it arrive in time if the christening is in two weeks?
It's very tight: it takes 7 to 9 working days from payment, and before you pay you see the exact delivery date. If it arrives afterwards, the book still makes sense: you simply read it to them the following week.