How much to give for a Baptism?

[mom2taylorandemily]

I have lived in Virginia and Long Island. My experience is that the gift giving thing for religious rituals tends to be a northern thing. In the south, we tend to go out to lunch and maybe have cake afterwards. The church as a whole can have a cake and punch reception if they are having many baptisms and invite the entire congregation. I know in the north (or at least the ones I went to) had catered lunches and a full blown party afterwards with toasts to the child and parents and Godparents. The south generally just doesn't do that. But if we do give gifts in the south, a cross necklace, or Bible is acceptable, or even a small devotional book. Maybe a religious wall hanging would be appropriate.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

We usually have a big party. My daughter received money,earrings,and a necklace with a cross on it from her godparents. Money ranges from 50.00 to 100.00. That is what we have always done. If I go to a hall for the party I give at least 50.00.

 

[BeckyEsq]

I usually give a savings bond, but I have given gift cards to Picture People as well (to have the baby's portrait taken). For a godchild I try to add something sentimental, like a special photo album or frame with the baby's name on it, or a Precious Moments figurine.

It is true that this is a religious occasion but in many ways it is also the baby's debut party -- it is usually (in my family, and I am Catholic) the first time the baby is taken out in public and gets to meet the extended family. So people like to mark the occasion with a gift to welcome the baby.

 

[ducklite]

I prefer to give a gift religious in nature--my favorite is a blanket pin. These are small gold or silver pins with either the Miraculous Medal or a cross on them meant to be pinned to the child's blanket. Precious Moments has some nice frames with religious themes which are suitable. Also some religious gift shops carry frames that say "Baby's Baptism" or similar on them.

I have given money a couple times, mostly when the baptism is more like a party and IMHO the parents aren't particularly religious and just doing it for "the show." We actually try to avoid going to this type of baptism and just send a card.

Anne

 

[KirstenB]

At our baby's christening, we received a beautiful ceramic cross for her bedroom, a picture frame, a baby's cloth storybook bible, and a regular children's bible, a small photo album. We loved all of these gifts. If giving money is the custom in your area, perhaps a small gift to go with it. I know we'll always cherish these mementos of Zoe's special day.

 

[MareQ]

I know in the north (or at least the ones I went to) had catered lunches and a full blown party afterwards with toasts to the child and parents and Godparents. The south generally just doesn't do that. But if we do give gifts in the south, a cross necklace, or Bible is acceptable, or even a small devotional book. Maybe a religious wall hanging would be appropriate.

'

YUP - Here in NJ Christenings/Baptism are a cause for celebration. It's typically the first time many family members get to see the baby so it's usually a huge deal. For us - we do private Christenings/Baptisms just like with a wedding - it's not during the regular mass(that's not a "North" thing but a church to church thing) - We have had no less than 100 people in the church to witness the event. Afterwards to have a party - 2 times we pitched a huge tent in the yard, rented tables and chairs and had a full catered BBQ - last time we had a catered buffet/brunch at a reception hall.

Naturally where there's a celebration - gifts follow.

Nobody is being "greedy" or forgetting about the purpose for the day - it's just the way it is here.

 

[kdibattista]

Wow... never knew I was going to get so many responses

In our families, we have always marked the baptism with a party... not because we are doing it "for show" but because it is the first time many people are seeing the baby. This happens a month or so after birth. I did not want to give any religious type gift because there were going to be 50 or so people and I think there are only so many ceramic crosses, wallhanging, baptismal medals that they can have. After talking to the mom I knew that the godparents were giving the cross and bible. I knew they had an account set up for him so I chose cash. I asked for the amount because normally we are very generous with our gifts for occassions such as this, however, we are saving for an adoption and are trying to "cut back". I was hoping to hear some $25 gifts in the responses and I did so I felt better

Now, I am making my goddaughter her baptismal blanket when she is baptized in the next month or so. That is sentimental to me and I hope will be cherished by her.

Thanks for the replies

 

[Keli]

Wow, I just didn't realize how this works and this is a timely post. I'm not catholic and I haven't been invited to a babtism for a baby before but I am expecting that a dear friend of my dd's will probably invite dd and I to her baby's babtism (assuming that non-catholics will be invited? dd was in this friend's wedding party and they've been close friends for years). I wouldn't have thought to bring a gift for the baby, it's amazing the stuff you learn on the DIS, lol!

 

[puffkin]

I think $25 was a good amount.

My son was baptized 2 weeks ago in the Lutheran Church. We had a big picnic afterward. It was pretty much all family that attended. Usually around here, the Godparents give a big gift like a bible and cross necklace for girls or something religious for the boys. We did not have god parents for our son though. My Aunt bought him a bible and another relative gave him a religious wall hanging (it has a bible verse on one side and space for a picture on the other). Other than that he got money....all in the $20-$50 range. We took all the cash and deposited it into his mutual fund for when he gets older.

Unless the family has severe financial hardship or really needs some baby items, I would either give cash/check if they have an account and a savings bond if they didn't.

 

[Minnesota!]

Yup - northern Catholic here. It's always a party, LOL.

DS was baptized at 4 months old. It was after mass, probably 30 - 50 people? Then we rented a hall and had a party - food, etc. He got mainly cash, a couple crosses, bibles, and clothes, too. It all went into his savings. It's the way we celebrate welcoming the baby to the world, and into the religion.

I have a baptism to go to next week, AAMoF and I am planning on giving $25 and going to the religious store by my house and getting a little something with his saint name on it.

It's so fascinates me the way this country differs even from state to state!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Yup - northern Catholic here. It's always a party, LOL.

DS was baptized at 4 months old. It was after mass, probably 30 - 50 people? Then we rented a hall and had a party - food, etc. He got mainly cash, a couple crosses, bibles, and clothes, too. It all went into his savings. It's the way we celebrate welcoming the baby to the world, and into the religion.

Yep, sounds about the same here in Ohio.

 

[Anne34]

I have lived in Wisconsin and Illinois and we have the big party here too. We have a separate ceremony after mass and then about 30-50 people back at the house with catered food. In Illinois the gifts are a lot more expensive then in Wisconsin. For my nephew I gave 2 outfits and $50.00 for his college fund. In Illinois I would give $100 or more depending on how close the relationship to the family is.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

It is true that this is a religious occasion but in many ways it is also the baby's debut party -- it is usually (in my family, and I am Catholic) the first time the baby is taken out in public and gets to meet the extended family. So people like to mark the occasion with a gift to welcome the baby.

Here lies the difference in beliefs. In the Baptist faith, baptism is a public demonstration of your accepting Christ as your Savior, therefore a baby would not be baptized. It isn't coming of age thing, such a sweet 16, it is a personal decision of faith- of one's spiritual life.

 

[Talking Hands]

Here lies the difference in beliefs. In the Baptist faith, baptism is a public demonstration of your accepting Christ as your Savior, therefore a baby would not be baptized. It isn't coming of age thing, such a sweet 16, it is a personal decision of faith- of one's spiritual life.

Baptism of babies to me is like baby dedication in the Baptist faith. Baby dedication is where the parents and church covenent to train the child up in the faith, nature and protect the child and support the parents in this endeavor. True baptism cannot happen until the individual has accepted Christ as his Savior. It is following what Jesus did when he was baptized by John the Baptist.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Baptism of babies to me is like baby dedication in the Baptist faith. Baby dedication is where the parents and church covenent to train the child up in the faith, nature and protect the child and support the parents in this endeavor. True baptism cannot happen until the individual has accepted Christ as his Savior. It is following what Jesus did when he was baptized by John the Baptist.

We do baby dedications in the Baptist faith, I am well aware of that.

 

[deelam]

I'm Catholic, and we always give money. Around $50. It's been common in my family to give/get money for a baptism. For my youngest son, I had a party at a nice restaurant and it cost me $$$. People did give a little more to my son then. And I think if I went to a nice expensive place, I would give a little more.

 

[BeckyEsq]

Here lies the difference in beliefs. In the Baptist faith, baptism is a public demonstration of your accepting Christ as your Savior, therefore a baby would not be baptized. It isn't coming of age thing, such a sweet 16, it is a personal decision of faith- of one's spiritual life.

I think you're missing my point. I am not saying that a Catholic baptism doesn't have a spiritual purpose, of course it does. I am just saying that it ALSO has a social aspect to it. Similar to a wedding -- holy matrimony is a sacrament, but it's generally followed by a big party. I do understand that there is a difference in faith as to whether being baptized requires an adult decision, I was just commenting on why it tends to be followed by a party and gifts.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I think you're missing my point. I am not saying that a Catholic baptism doesn't have a spiritual purpose, of course it does. I am just saying that it ALSO has a social aspect to it. Similar to a wedding -- holy matrimony is a sacrament, but it's generally followed by a big party. I do understand that there is a difference in faith as to whether being baptized requires an adult decision, I was just commenting on why it tends to be followed by a party and gifts.

And I was simply posting why it's not a gift-giving occasion to Baptists, at least not money and whatnot, maybe a Bible or something is usually given by the church.