A christening is one of those occasions where the gift really matters. Another toy won’t cut it. It’s a milestone, a ceremony, and for many families, a deeply meaningful day. The right gift becomes part of the memory. The wrong one ends up in a cupboard. No pressure.
We’ve put together ten gift ideas across every price range. Classic silver keepsakes, personalised books, practical options for families who already have everything. Godparent, grandparent, friend who just got the invitation. There’s something here that’ll fit. We sell personalised storybooks, so naturally we think they make a brilliant christening gift. But we’ve included nine other options because there are lots of great choices.
Short on time?A personalised storybook (from $69) or a sterling silver keepsake (from $50) are the safest bets for a christening gift that’ll be kept for years. Both can be personalised with the child’s name, and both age beautifully.
Our 10 picks for christening gifts
We’ve ordered these by a combination of thoughtfulness, keepability, and how likely they are to end up displayed rather than donated. Every gift on this list is something we’d genuinely be happy to give or receive.
Personalised Storybook
A hardcover book where the child is the hero, with their name woven into every page. At Paper Lake, every word is written from scratch (not a template) and every illustration is generated uniquely. Choose from art styles like Pixar, watercolour, or classic Disney. Arrives in 5–6 business days Australia-wide.
Best for: Gift-givers who want something truly one-of-a-kind
Sterling Silver Baby Cup or Spoon
The classic christening gift, and for good reason. Sterling silver can be engraved with the child's name and christening date. It'll tarnish beautifully over the decades. The kind of thing that ends up in a display cabinet for fifty years, then gets passed down. Australian jewellers like Hardy Brothers and Najo do lovely ones.
Best for: Traditional families, godparents
Personalised Keepsake Box
A wooden or ceramic box designed to store christening mementos: the candle, the outfit, the card, the order of service. Many can be engraved or printed with the child's name and date. It gives all those little things a home instead of a shoebox.
Best for: Parents who love to keep memories organised
Children's Bible or Prayer Book
A beautifully illustrated children's Bible or prayer book. Some publishers offer personalised editions with the child's name embossed on the cover. Read to them at first, then something they read themselves. The illustrated editions from Koorong are particularly well-made.
Best for: Religious families
Gold or Silver Jewellery
A small cross pendant, a charm bracelet, or a christening bangle. Many Australian jewellers offer baby-safe options in sizes that can be worn as they grow, or kept until they're old enough. A piece of jewellery tied to a specific day carries real sentimental weight.
Best for: Godmothers, close family
Personalised Growth Chart
A wall-mounted growth chart that tracks the child from baby to big kid. Usually made from canvas, timber, or printed linen, personalised with their name and a design that suits the nursery. It's the rare gift that's both decorative and genuinely used for years.
Best for: Practical gift-givers
Experience Gift or Savings Bond
A contribution to a savings account, a zoo membership, or a museum family pass. Not as pretty to unwrap, but arguably the most useful gift on this list. A $200 zoo membership gives a family a full year of weekend outings. Hard to beat.
Best for: The 'they have everything' child
Personalised Blanket
A soft knit or cotton blanket embroidered with the child's name and christening date. Practical now (babies always need blankets), sentimental later (it becomes 'their' blanket). Merino wool options are particularly lovely for winter christenings.
Best for: Newborns, winter christenings
Photo Frame (Engraved)
A silver or wooden frame engraved with 'Christened' and the date, ready for a photo from the day. Simple, thoughtful, and always appreciated. Looks modest at the time but stays on display for years because it holds a real memory.
Best for: Budget-friendly option that still feels personal
Handmade Ceramic Plate
A decorative plate hand-painted with the child's name, christening date, and sometimes a small illustration. Australian potters on Etsy, Madeit, and local markets make beautiful ones. It's a wall display piece for the nursery that becomes a genuine keepsake.
Best for: People who value handmade
How to choose the right christening gift
Ten options is a lot. You can narrow it down by budget and the family you’re buying for.
By budget
- Under $50:Engraved photo frame, personalised blanket, growth chart, or a children’s Bible. All thoughtful, all keepable, none of them feel “cheap.”
- $50–100: Sterling silver cup or spoon, keepsake box, or a personalised storybook. The sweet spot for most christening gifts. Substantial without being over the top.
- Over $100: Premium jewellery, a hardcover storybook with extras, or a generous experience gift. Typically godparent or grandparent territory.
By relationship
How close you are to the family changes what feels appropriate. Godparents are traditionally expected to give something meaningful and lasting: silver, jewellery, or a personalised keepsake. Friends and extended family have more freedom. A colleague or acquaintance can absolutely go with a beautiful frame or blanket and it’ll be appreciated.
By family style
Consider what the family actually values. A religious family will treasure a children’s Bible. A minimalist family might prefer an experience gift over another physical object. A sentimental family will love anything personalised. If in doubt, silver or a personalised book work across almost every family type. They’re classic for a reason.
Christening gift etiquette
Gift-giving for christenings is less formal than you might think. There are no strict rules, but there are a few conventions worth knowing.
How much to spend
There’s genuinely no set amount. $30–100 covers most situations comfortably. Godparents often spend more ($50–200) because the role carries a traditional expectation of a meaningful gift. But the most important thing is choosing something thoughtful. A $35 engraved frame given with care means more than a $200 gift card grabbed at the last minute.
When to give it
Either bring it to the celebration or send it within a week. Most people bring gifts to the reception or lunch after the ceremony rather than to the church itself. If you’ve ordered something personalised that takes a few days to arrive, a quick message letting the parents know it’s on the way is perfectly fine.
Religious vs secular gifts
If the family is religious, gifts with a spiritual element (a children’s Bible, a cross pendant, a prayer book) are welcome and appropriate. If you’re not sure about the family’s level of faith, a non-religious keepsake like silver, a personalised book, or a blanket is always safe. The christening itself is the religious element. The gift doesn’t have to be.
What to write in the card
Keep it simple and warm. Something like “Wishing [child’s name] all the love and happiness on their special day” works for any family. For religious families, you might add a blessing or a short verse. The card is often kept with the gift, so it’s worth writing something you’d be happy for the child to read in twenty years.
A note on personalised gifts
There’s a reason personalised gifts appear so many times on this list. A christening is a named event. It’s literally about declaring a child’s name before a community. A gift with that name on it ties directly to the occasion in a way that a generic present can’t.
The child’s name and the date turn an object into a time capsule. A plain silver cup is nice. A silver cup engraved with “Charlotte, 15 March 2026” is a keepsake. The same logic applies to books, blankets, boxes, and frames.
At Paper Lake, we make personalised hardcover storybooks where the child is the main character. Their name, their face (generated from a single photo), and a story written entirely for them. It takes about a minute to create and arrives in 5–6 business days. But we’re not the only option for personalised christening gifts. Engraved silver from a good jeweller, an embroidered blanket from a local maker, or a hand-painted ceramic plate are all brilliant ways to mark the day.
The best christening gift is one that makes the parents think “we’re keeping this forever.”If it has the child’s name on it, chances are they will.