Christening Etiquette Help please

[OverWyreGrower]

In about 3 weeks, my SIL is having her children christened.

They are 3 and 4, and are being christened so they can get into the school of SIL's choice. Whilst she is allegedly a christian, she does not go to church, and the church does not expect her to go before the christening (I'm assuming they do it for the money).

We aren't godparents/guardians to neice and nephew.

SIL seems to be more concerned about the party after the actual christening, and the outfits for her and the children.

I'm sure the whole affair will be a cross between Shameless and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding...

However, it has been intimated that we are expected (!) to get christening gifts for the children.

I've had a look online and have no idea what to get! A lot of the gifts are for babies, and the kids are 3 and 4; or are fairly religious themed, which wouldn't suit.

I remember these kind of gifts when I was little being things like silver cups and bracelets (which my mum still has); but I'm not sure that kind of thing is suitable either...

Does anyone have any ideas for cheap-ish christening gifts for older children that aren't on the religious side?? Help!!

[Two_Sheds]

anyone have any ideas for cheap-ish christening gifts

Lottery tickets, Premium Bonds, savings account?

[FionaH]

In about 3 weeks, my SIL is having her children christened.

They are 3 and 4, and are being christened so they can get into the school of SIL's choice. Whilst she is allegedly a christian, she does not go to church, and the church does not expect her to go before the christening (I'm assuming they do it for the money).

Many churches offer baptism to non churchgoers as a sacrement that is freely available to any who want it. They don't make shedloads from it.

As for gifts, bit tricky getting a non religious christening gift

If you had spare cash then I would suggest some money in an account they can have when they are older.
How about planting a tree in some far flung country and putting their name on it, or buying a cow, charity thing. Not put that very well but you get my drift?

[binley100]

Money Boxes ?

[bigt1888]

or buying a cow, charity thing. Not put that very well but you get my drift?[/QUOTE]

how would you get it to sit in the church

[Hazel at the Hill]

Silver photo frames? It's something that they can keep into adulthood and the photo can be changed as often as they like.

[Caro]

You can buy silver certificate holders and have them engraved with the details of the day (name of church, name of child, date etc). The idea is that their christening certificate will be stored in it and it will be a keepsake for the child. Not a lot of fun for the child now, of course - but you could also give them a cheap toy too on the day.

[Alison]

I bought my neice a charm bracelet when she got christened and added charms at subsequent birthdays. Find boys far more difficult to buy for although have bought a nice story book or the like in the past.

[zeezeezed]

Does anyone have any ideas for cheap-ish christening gifts for older children that aren't on the religious side?? Help!!

How about naming a star after them? Im not sure how much they would cost nowadays but in the past I got one for about £40 and it came with a certificate and a map of where the star is

You could always tactfully name one star using both their names to save a bit of cash?

[janeyo]

I got my neice something similar to one of these -

Children's personalised birthstone jewellery

[bigt1888]

what about a professional potrait sitting

they could dress up again in their fancy toggs and go a few days later

we did this for a friends silver wedding and it went down really well, i think it was around £30 and it gave them a 8 x 10 framed photo

[jackie j]

I buy a silver charm bracelet when girls are born and add a charm each birthday, boys are harder but what about coin collecting, you could start off with this years set and add each birthday if you wanted to.

[Glutton4...]

Silver photo frames? It's something that they can keep into adulthood and the photo can be changed as often as they like.

I really like that idea - you can put their own Baby pics in, or the same picture of both of them together, or with Parents... As Hazel says, they can change the pictures later, if they choose to - but I bet they don't!

[Jeanied]

How about something they would like now- a toy or a book - as an immediate pressie, and start off a scrapbook of piccies / momentos of family events for each of them as they grow up, when they get old enough to appreciate them.

[zazen999]

Book tokens. Start them off reading early.