Jason Lewis our expert of the day, writes:

September 12, 2008

Despite evidence that the UK is turning into an increasingly secular society with 40 per cent of the population admitting that they ‘have no religion’, research shows that the number of Christenings and baby naming ceremonies has stabilised in recent years as parents seek to give family and friends an opportunity to welcome the child into the world.

Of around 600,000 babies born in Britain each year, 168,000 are baptised into the Church of England, another 64,000 into the Roman Catholic Church, whilst almost 10,000 will take part in naming ceremonies.  With most parents choosing to hold ever greater and more expensive ceremonies,  the average cost of the celebratory party alone has risen above £3,000, leaving guests questioning what to buy the child who will seemingly have everything.

The emergence of online store Christening Gifts Galore has proved a lifeline for guests requiring high quality gifts for babies. The shop, which specialises in personalising luxury keepsakes such as money boxes, tankards, soft-toys and pictures, offers a complete service package for the uncertain guest -from engraving to delivering the presents direct to the child’s home with a free gift message written by the sender.

Andrew Taylor our expert of the day, writes:

The gift we give to a new born baby depends a lot on the kind of relationship we share with the family that has a new person added to them. And the gift that we give reflects a lot about ourselves – our thoughts and culture, our love and respect towards the members of the family and our feelings and emotions on this happy occasion. Therefore, some people find it difficult and quite a tedious job to select and shop for new baby gifts.

If you can relate to this situation, then here is a breather for you when you are about to buy new baby gifts or baby christening gifts. Shopping for new baby gifts has now become very easy. It is all there in the Internet and all you have to do is go to a good web store that provides new baby gifts and other personalized baby gifts. Shopping online, as always, would prove to be a hassle-free experience for you. You don’t have to walk down the aisles of gift stores to select the perfect gift in your situation. Simply log in and browse through the various offerings of the site.

Richard Hoare our expert of the day, writes:

Why are silver Christening cups and tankards such popular Christening gifts and how are they connected to our past?

Since the Victorian era, one of the most popular Christening gifts for a baby boy has been a silver cup or silver tankard – a beautiful present that is often passed down from generation to generation. But why should such a seemingly utilitarian object become associated with such an important rite of passage?

Although the Christening cup became increasingly popular in Victorian times, the myths and tradition surrounding cups themselves have roots going back many thousands of years.

Drinking vessels have had a deep and enduring significance in people’s lives since early prehistory. From the cups and jars used in Sumerian and Egyptian funeral rites to the Beaker and Celtic cultures of Western Europe, cups and goblets have been used for millennia to carry the ashes and remains of the dead, drink the blood of vanquished foes and seal binding vows.

Sara Haese our expert of the day, writes:

So, you’re wondering what would be the perfect christening or baptism gift for a baby since you’ve been invited to celebrate this precious spiritual occasion. If you are like me, you are looking for that perfect, unique baptism or christening gift idea that will put a smile on the faces of the parents as they open it. It’s always so rewarding when you see how genuinely delighted the person is with your gift. It’s make you feel good that you chose something they really love.

Since a baby’s christening or baptism is such a special event, you might want to consider giving a gift that will become a treasured memory of this celebration for years to come. A personalized christening or baptism gift is a great choice since it will be engraved with the baby’s name and the date. This is a terrific way for the baby to always remember their baptismal day when he or she officially became a member of God’s family.

Here is a list of just some of the wonderful baptism and christening gift ideas available that will create a lifetime keepsake for the baby.