Godparent/Baptism question

Shoegal36

Hi ladies, need your help. My brother and SIL have asked myself and H to be the Godparents of my nephew. I'm not a religious person and wasn't christened myself, but they know this and are ok with it as my H is Catholic. It might seem strange for me to be a Godmother since I really don't know much about their religion (or any), but they said they just want someone that will have a close relationship with him and so I accepted. 

Anyways, my question is...what should I give my nephew as a gift? Is there some traditional thing that Godparents give? Like for example, a gold chain with a cross for him to have when he's older? I was thinking a children's book of prayers would be cute too... I really have no idea what's appropriate though. I think my niece got a nice pair of earrings and a bracelet from her Godparents. 

Thanks

coffeeandbooks

a cross might be traditional, but I think you can go with whatever means something to you in your own heart.

hbrockman01

My DD God Mother gave her a book and a necklace, but my mother in law gave her an pink bible with her full name engraved in the cover. Similiar to the link below minus the precious moment...

https://gifts.personalcreations.com/gifts/Precious-Moments-Bibles-30020082?&viewpos=3&trackingpgroup=PBABCHR

TexWisJen

We are Catholic and had lo baptized in September. Both her Godparents had trouble thinking of a gift to give...that's what they told me at least :-)

They gave her some children's bible books, cross earrings, money for savings account and some outfits.

I don't think there is a traditional gift or go to gift...I would check out Things Remembered, etsy, or your local Christian store for ideas too. Etsy has a lot of personalized religious art and you could get in colors that match his nursery with the date of his baptism.

Another idea is if the mother hasn't already purchased his outfit for the day...you could offer to do that.

emmy236

As a Catholic it's more traditional to give money actually. R's god parents set up a college fund for him (they didn't put a ton in, but something that they can put money in for birthdays, graduations etc) and as a gift gift they got him a really nice bank with his name monogrammed on it and a Crucifix that was blessed by Cardinal Dolan at St Patrick's. Now we're all old country Catholics and very traditional. Usually crosses/necklaces are something you give at a First Communion. If your BIL and SIL are not as traditional, another nice thing could be a rosary to put under his mattress or a guardian angel figure. Like I said we're old school Catholics so we have a cross over R's door, a guardian angel figure above his crib and a rosary under his mattress. Our guardian angel is a Hummel figurine that was mine and has been passed down. That could be a nice gift as well.

rebaann

I think the children's prayer book would be cute.  A lot of people give savings bonds or a contribution to a 529 if they have one set up, if you didn't want to give something religious.

blush64

You can do whatever you want. I have never given or receoved a cross for a baptism. I have given a gold ID bracelet. I know a gold chain and St. Christopher medal was considered a traditional gift by my mother when we were speaking about baptism gifts. I like to give a children's bible or bible stories to go with the present.

Some people give clothes, chain or bracelet, bible, toys, money, keepsakes. I am Catholic and I have been to many baptisms and there is usually a large variety of types of gifts.

Shoegal36

Thanks everyone! Those are all GREAT ideas. 

@hbrockman01 I love the idea of giving an engraved bible...and @beaubecca I love the framed prayer idea. I'm thinking I could find a prayer I like and make a print and frame it myself. 

Maybe I'll do that, with a children's book of prayers or bible, and something engraved. 

lizziebooper

We are Catholic as well and for all of our children we were given a cross, I have theirs hanging over their beds. We also got nice frames that say baptism or christening with a spot to engrave the date. We have also seen very nice scroll shaped holders for the birth certificate that can be engraved. 

D&S724

Where I am from, the godfather traditionally buys the cross and the godmother buys the christening outfit. Since I was using the same outfit my other boys wore, B's godmother bought him an engraved picture frame, rosary beads, and a cross for his room. His godfather got him a gold cross to wear.

Karicomo

We started a savings acct for our god children and put in $10 per month til they hit 5(thats when we started having kids). DS2 got a cut nightime prayer book and a childrens daily prayer biok