So you know what it’s like. You’ve been invited to a christening or naming ceremony and have run out of inspiration for gifts. Bibles and prayer books just aren’t appropriate for whatever reason. Silver spoons or other silverware which was thought to represent ongoing financial security for the child, now seem a bit twee. Unless of course it’s a gorgeous silver charm bracelet for a little girl – no-one can resist those!

However for many people these items are simply put in a drawer and forgotten which seems to be a real shame.  Here’s a few alternative christening / naming ceremony gifts for you to consider.

Height Chart

My eldest boy received a height chart shaped like an aeroplane for his christening.  It was brightly coloured and has been on the back of his bedroom door ever since. But they’re not just for boys, there are many variations available in all colours and themes including the ever popular giraffe chart.

Hand-made stool

My youngest children received two beautiful hand-made stools for their joint naming ceremony.  They’re just a perfect size for little ones to clamber up onto, with sturdy legs meaning that they don’t tip over easily. Ours are used every day, but they now use them to climb up and get things that they shouldn’t do from the worktop, so maybe that’s not such a good idea!

Set of books

Another brilliant option for a naming ceremony gift is a set of (hardbacked) books. My children have the ‘Thomas the tank engine’ collection, plus all the Roald Dahl books and Audio CD’s. Snuggling up with a book before bed-time is something loved by both parents and children alike, so you can’t really go wrong with it?

Instant Photo Guest Book

Our last alternative is an Instant Photo Guest Books. Just ask everyone attending the christening or naming ceremony to complete the book, taking their picture and writing a message underneath for the child. It could be a piece of wisdom you wish to pass on, something frivolous or whatever you like really, but it will be a marvellous keepsake for the child to look back on in later years.

Instant Photo Guest Books come in a range of formats, including digital and fuji instax and are priced from £50 for the guest books alone, to £125 for kits including camera, guest book and film.