Baptism Gift Ideas in Canada, for a Baby, a Teenager or an Adult
A godmother sits in the second pew with a gift bag at her feet, and she's wondering, now that the water has been poured, whether she chose well.
Short answer: a good baptism gift is lasting, quiet and personal, such as a print with the name and a verse, a Bible, or a letter to be opened when the child is older.
Baptism means different things in different churches. In some, a baby is baptised and the parents and the congregation make promises on the child's behalf. In others, a teenager or an adult is baptised after saying out loud that they trust Jesus. The gift can be the same either way, but the card shouldn't be. A card that says "welcome to the family" suits a baby. A card that says "I'm proud of what you said" suits a teenager.
If you aren't sure how the family's church understands the day, ask the parents or the church office. It takes one phone call, and it saves you from the awkward moment in the fellowship hall.
The eight ideas below are in two groups. Three are ours, and I've said where each fits. Five are ideas that cost little. Our prices were checked on 24 Oct, in Canadian dollars.
Three from our shop
Put On Christ Baptism Print, from $25 (our price on 24 Oct). Galatians 3:27, having been baptized into Christ, on a typographic print with the name and date of the baptism. It's meant as a gift from a godparent, a grandparent or a church. You choose from three sizes, the frame isn't included, and you see exactly how it will print before you pay. We print it to order with our production partner and ship it to you or straight to the family. Best for: a baby or a young child, hung where they will see it for years. Not for: a family that prefers not to put a date on the wall.
Heritage of the Lord Nursery Print, from $25 (our price on 24 Oct). Psalm 127:3, children are a heritage of the Lord, with the baby's name and birth date. It carries the birth date, not the baptism date, so it works as a baptism gift and a welcome-home gift in one. Best for: a family with a nursery wall to fill. Not for: an older child or an adult.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Print, from $25 (our price on 24 Oct). Psalm 139:14, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, with the baby's name and birth date. A quieter choice than the heritage print. Best for: a baby whose parents like short, plain verses. Not for: a family that already has this verse in the house.
Five that cost little
A children's Bible they can grow into. For a baby, choose a sturdy picture Bible. For a school-age child, choose one with real text and a few good illustrations. Write the baptism date and a line of your own inside the front cover.
A candle and a box. Many families light a candle on the anniversary of the baptism. A plain candle in a keepsake box, with a card that explains the custom, can become a family habit.
A letter to open at eighteen. If you're a godparent, write to the child about what you hope for them and what you promise to do. Seal it, date it and give it to the parents to keep. It is a gift only a godparent can give, because it's their promise on paper.
For a teenager or adult, a personal note and a meal. Someone who has just been baptised has done something brave in public. A card that names what you saw, and a dinner out, honours it better than an object.
A promise to pray. Write that you'll pray for them on the baptism anniversary each year, and then do it.
For churches ordering for a class or a baptism Sunday
Some churches give every person baptised in a year the same keepsake, or send a print to each family at the anniversary of the baptism. We take church orders from 10 to 200 pieces through the quote form on our church page. Tell us which print you want, and we'll tell you what's possible and what a proof looks like before anyone pays.
What the Scripture says
Paul describes baptism as something more than a ceremony.
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12, KJV)
The gift doesn't need to explain all that. It only needs to be something the person will see on an ordinary Tuesday and remember.
How we chose
Three of these are ours, and I've said that two of them carry a birth date rather than a baptism date. The other five are ideas, not products, because a good baptism gift is often a letter or a promise. We haven't named other shops, and we haven't ranked anything.
Questions people ask
- What is a good gift for a baptism? Something quiet and lasting: a print with the name and a verse, a Bible, a candle, or a letter. Match it to the age of the person and the tradition of the church.
- What do godparents usually give? Often a Bible, a cross, a keepsake or a letter. In some traditions godparents also give a candle. Ask the parents what's customary at their church.
- What is a good gift for an adult baptism? A card that names what you saw, a Bible with a note, or a meal. Adults often value being seen more than being given an object.
- Can the baptism date be added to the print? Yes, on the Put On Christ print, which carries the name and the date of the baptism.
- How much should I spend? Our prints start at $25. Spend what you would on any other family occasion, and write a note.
Browse our baptism gifts.