What should I get for a godparent gift at a Baptism?

Kimberly Flores27 said:Quincy:

I suppose I should probably start typing this out... it’s been sitting on my mind for a while now. Not that I'm an expert or anything—certainly not—but I feel like there's something worth mentioning here. Just a small observation, really. A bit scattered, if I'm being honest with myself. Anyway... Kimberly Flores27 says: So, I’m Krizmanik, and honestly... I’m feeling a little stuck. I haven't quite decided what to get my godfather for him. I was weighing a few options—maybe just some cash? Seems practical, I guess. Or, I was thinking about getting him a pet... I've actually been looking into getting an English Bulldog myself lately. Just kind of spinning my wheels here. 😁So... yeah. That's about it.

Getting a pet is honestly such a great idea... really, it is. But, you know, that's all assuming your parents are actually on board with it first.

Oh, that’s such a wonderful idea! Seriously. Where on earth did you find that rosary?
Kimberly Flores27 said:

I suppose I should probably get around to addressing this... though my thoughts are a bit scattered today. It feels like there's so much noise lately, doesn't it? Just constant chatter. Anyway, I was sitting here thinking about those comments from Kimberly Flores27, and honestly, I can see where they're coming from, even if I don't entirely agree with the conclusion. It’s a lot to process. Sometimes I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels trying to make sense of it all. But, well... let's just see how things unfold. One step at a time, I guess. Kimberly Flores27 says: So, about two weeks ago, there was this get-together for my godson's company... I ended up picking out some clothes for my son-in-law—specifically a dress and shoes for the office, based on her suggestions, really—and I also got him a gold bracelet, just so he’d have something substantial, you know? A tangible gift. And... $333 I really hope she finds her way. The whole point of running a company... it isn't just about throwing money at people or handing out endless piles of gifts. It’s something deeper than that, I think. A lot of mentors and leaders seem to forget that part. They get caught up in the handouts and lose sight of the actual purpose. 😉

That’s just it... I mean, what's actually the point of all these expensive gifts? Even when you sit down and try to do the math on those numbers mentioned in the earlier posts—honestly, once you start adding them up, it’s enough to make your head spin. It's a lot. Just a lot.
I’m sorry, but I honestly feel like $2,000 is just... it's a lot. It feels like quite a heavy lift.$1167 When you're thinking about a gift for a First Communion, it’s such a heavy thought... especially when you realize that the amount people spend on these things often represents an entire month of hard work for most families. It feels a bit much sometimes, doesn't it? Just sitting there wondering if you're being generous or just participating in this cycle of spending money that folks worked so hard to earn.

By the way... mm was my best man about two years ago. He actually gave me a camera as a gift—he really went with the godfather role on that one.
I honestly think it’s better if a kid just picks out one thing they actually need... rather than being flooded with all those little bracelets, charms, or crosses that they'll probably just end up leaving in a drawer and never wearing.

So, I found it in New York City near Cathedral Hill—not at a huge bookstore like Barnes & Noble, but this tiny little shop on the right side when you're walking away from the Square. I think it’s like the third shop in a row once you pass the cathedral. Just a heads up so you don't get sticker shock, it's about $333 and it even comes with a certificate proving it's actually Swarovski. My niece—I was her godmother, by the way—absolutely loved it. It’s such a perfect keepsake, and I even had it blessed at the church where she used to live.
My mother-in-law thought the whole thing was pretty pointless, but my niece's mom was totally obsessed. They have everything, so it really felt like a thoughtful gesture. If I’d just handed her cash, it wouldn't have meant much since they can buy whatever they want—they basically have all those high-tech gadgets and stuff anyway.

They probably wouldn't have even given that much money. Honestly, she already has everything she could ever want, but her brother was also the best man for some guy from their small hometown that day, and he ended up footing the bill for a little suit, a watch for $167, and just as much $333 tucked into an envelope. Since we didn't want to look "cheap" compared to the folks from the city, we decided to match their level of generosity. Oh, and I covered the cake too.

Let's stir things up here for a second..😍

So, a new year has rolled around, and with it comes our latest batch of kids ready to make their big debut at church..

For those of you serving as godparents, what kind of gifts are you actually leaning towards?
Obviously, the kid doesn't care or expect anything, but still..🤷

For instance, I picked up a watch for my little guy along with a Bible featuring a personalized message; I was thinking about tucking some $33 into an envelope too, plus a cake..🤷 (The ceremony is next weekend)
I love the kid and he means the world to me, so I don't mind spending the money—plus, I grew up with his siblings, so we've been close since day one..👍..😍..

You don't really get it until you're in the godparent seat yourself. We always joke about how materialistic and pointless this whole thing is, yet here we are..
Truth be told, I’m not exactly rolling in cash, but you save up a bit here and there, and suddenly you've got something..

Anyway, my sister had her ceremony today as well..😍..
Naturally, she didn't ask for a single thing, but she ended up getting a gift card, a cake, a white gold necklace, and a bunch of other "little extras" from everyone else + $233..

My son got a card with $300 in cash from his godfather for his Bar Mitzvah, which honestly caught me off guard—felt like a bit much.
We played it smart, though; we used it to get him a sharp outfit for the big day, a new iPhone, and he still had a little left over for pocket money.
I’m with you, though—buying motorcycles or fancy bedroom sets as gifts is just pure overkill.

Check this out, there's some killer stuff here for gifts
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

So, I’m heading to this baptism today for a kid I barely even know, and—surprise, surprise—I haven't even picked out a gift yet. Honestly, I was pretty blindsided by the invite in the first place; I actually tried to back out, but then his mom started tearing up because I wanted to cancel. Now I'm stuck. Even though I'm not the godmother or anything, there's still that unspoken rule that you have to show up with something. ☕ My plan is to hit up Microsoft and grab some cologne and maybe a book if I can find one that doesn't suck. The perfume should cost me about $83. I’m just reaching my limit here—I’ve got six weddings lined up in June for people I actually care about, and I really can't afford to drop $250 on every single one of them. Not that I mind paying for those, since they're my maid of honor and my first cousin, but still. Does this sound okay for a baptism? Since I don't really know the kid, I'm banking on the fact that it'll be his first nice cologne and he'll actually like it.

A golden rule for parents, I guess... you just have to give back exactly what your child gives to you.

I was wondering, does the best man usually bring the cake?
I’ve heard conflicting things—some people say he can, but it’s not a requirement, while others insist the godparents handle the cake and the best man just focuses on the gifts..😁

Aaron Diaz84 said:A golden rule for parents, I guess... you just have to give back exactly what your child gives to you.

That's just plain wrong...
It would be awesome if we could all step up (and look, I know people feel like they have to—I definitely feel that pressure myself), but what happens when you just... can't?
I mean, if you're "ordering a gift"—that’s a whole different ballgame...
Look, I got a massive pile of high-value gifts when my kids were born. I know we’re talking about the crisis here, but hey, giving is giving—the occasion doesn't really matter, regardless of what you said. But honestly? I won't be able to pay it forward like that. Especially not for the ones in the family who are expecting soon; I've got a few of them coming, but things are just way too tight with money right now.
So... what am I even supposed to do about it?

Maybe one day I'll get my revenge on the rest of you—depends entirely on when everyone decides to start having kids. 😁

fadedcrane36 said:I was wondering, does the best man usually bring the cake?
I’ve heard conflicting things—some people say he can, but it’s not a requirement, while others insist the godparents handle the cake and the best man just focuses on the gifts..😁

It doesn't even matter—we'll be there regardless, even if he's the godfather and not me. 😁 But hey, it’s totally optional.

Kate Allen said:So, I’m heading to this baptism today for a kid I barely even know, and—surprise, surprise—I haven't even picked out a gift yet. Honestly, I was pretty blindsided by the invite in the first place; I actually tried to back out, but then his mom started tearing up because I wanted to cancel. Now I'm stuck. Even though I'm not the godmother or anything, there's still that unspoken rule that you have to show up with something. ☕ My plan is to hit up Microsoft and grab some cologne and maybe a book if I can find one that doesn't suck. The perfume should cost me about $83. I’m just reaching my limit here—I’ve got six weddings lined up in June for people I actually care about, and I really can't afford to drop $250 on every single one of them. Not that I mind paying for those, since they're my maid of honor and my first cousin, but still. Does this sound okay for a baptism? Since I don't really know the kid, I'm banking on the fact that it'll be his first nice cologne and he'll actually like it.

He might already own some cologne, 🙂
but yeah, it's a fine gift. 🙂
If you use one of those 25% off coupons, you can snag something decent without breaking the bank. 🙂

Maybe just get him a gift card instead? That's what we usually do in most cases...

shadowcrane91 said:That's just plain wrong...
It would be awesome if we could all step up (and look, I know people feel like they have to—I definitely feel that pressure myself), but what happens when you just... can't?
I mean, if you're "ordering a gift"—that’s a whole different ballgame...
Look, I got a massive pile of high-value gifts when my kids were born. I know we’re talking about the crisis here, but hey, giving is giving—the occasion doesn't really matter, regardless of what you said. But honestly? I won't be able to pay it forward like that. Especially not for the ones in the family who are expecting soon; I've got a few of them coming, but things are just way too tight with money right now.
So... what am I even supposed to do about it?

Maybe one day I'll get my revenge on the rest of you—depends entirely on when everyone decides to start having kids. 😁

It doesn't even matter—we'll be there regardless, even if he's the godfather and not me. 😁 But hey, it’s totally optional.

That's the plan; everything remains exactly as it was, except we're cutting the cake out of the equation..

Kate Allen said:So, I’m heading to this baptism today for a kid I barely even know, and—surprise, surprise—I haven't even picked out a gift yet. Honestly, I was pretty blindsided by the invite in the first place; I actually tried to back out, but then his mom started tearing up because I wanted to cancel. Now I'm stuck. Even though I'm not the godmother or anything, there's still that unspoken rule that you have to show up with something. ☕ My plan is to hit up Microsoft and grab some cologne and maybe a book if I can find one that doesn't suck. The perfume should cost me about $83. I’m just reaching my limit here—I’ve got six weddings lined up in June for people I actually care about, and I really can't afford to drop $250 on every single one of them. Not that I mind paying for those, since they're my maid of honor and my first cousin, but still. Does this sound okay for a baptism? Since I don't really know the kid, I'm banking on the fact that it'll be his first nice cologne and he'll actually like it.

That sounds fine... or maybe just get a gift card—but who knows, it might not be his first cologne (my brothers have been spraying themselves with scents since they were like 12 or 13... thinking they're such big shots... haha)

Picked up some Versace and honestly, I’m kind of obsessed with the scent. Total win—and yeah, it’s actually his first ever cologne, ha! Grabbed it for $63 at Disney. He ended up snagging another one too, but he's definitely going to douse himself in this one since he liked it better. He was like, "I'm wearing this tonight when we go out!"

Well, that’s "all settled" then..😍 We wrapped everything up yesterday, and honestly, it was just wonderful—great company and a perfect atmosphere..😍 The service at the church was organized perfectly, everything went smoothly, and we were out in about an hour and forty-five minutes.. After that, we all hung out for a bit and grabbed lunch, which is how these things usually go nowadays.. My little guy was actually quite surprised by his gift; he kept mentioning how much he loves his new watch..😍 On top of that, he got a little keepsake and a card..😉 We ended up bringing the cake ourselves in the end, so it turned out to be 👍.. All in all, it was a beautiful celebration and a lovely day..😍 Now I'm off to get some much-needed rest..😁 I might post a photo of me and my handsome godson later on if I'm feeling up to it..😍

My godson was asking for some kind of jewelry, but he’s just not into accessories, and he definitely doesn't want a watch. I really didn't want to just get him another phone, especially since he just got a new one anyway. It honestly feels so underwhelming. I really wanted to give him something meaningful, a real keepsake... but I guess at least we ended up getting him something he actually wants... 🤷

Laura Davis44 said:My godson was asking for some kind of jewelry, but he’s just not into accessories, and he definitely doesn't want a watch. I really didn't want to just get him another phone, especially since he just got a new one anyway. It honestly feels so underwhelming. I really wanted to give him something meaningful, a real keepsake... but I guess at least we ended up getting him something he actually wants... 🤷

None of my kids wanted anything either, which isn't surprising...😬 They aren't big on jewelry, and they already have their computers, so everything else is pretty much a non-starter. 🤷I ended up getting him a watch, along with a little keepsake just in case he decides to sell the watch later down the road. 😬
At least he'll have something to hold onto—a small leather prayer book with a handwritten note inside. 😉

Good grief, people... are you actually being serious right now??? A phone, jewelry, AND cash???? I work for $1000 for an entire month just to pay off my student loans!!! If this is actually how things are going, I guess I don't have much choice but to try and take out another loan myself. Where did those old days go? You know, back when you’d get a little keepsake to remember a wedding by, instead of... all this. I mean, seriously—grab some tech gadgets, maybe some white gold if possible, and then tuck the monthly paycheck right into an envelope.... Oh, and throw in some premium deli meats and snacks so the godparents can just cover the main bill on their credit cards?? I was thinking about asking my future goddaughter what she might want, but after seeing this, there is absolutely no way. Honestly, I'm almost scared to think about what she might ask for

Caja, let's be real—not every kid is wired the same way, and it certainly doesn't have to be the absolute worst-case scenario you're imagining right now.
For instance, I found myself spiraling with the exact same thoughts as you last year, mostly because I was hearing things firsthand. My brother served as the best man for our first cousin, and they were picking out a watch together, $667. Honestly, I nearly had a panic attack. But my brother insists that there was no other way; he's convinced that anything less than that price point just isn't worth buying. 😲
Another example—my cousin’s best friend was his best man, and as a gift, he received a watch (I'm not sure of the value), a Sony Xperia Mini, and some cash on top.
As for cakes or other small things, I really wouldn't know.
When I heard all of that, I felt like sitting down and just crying, especially since I was supposed to be a godmother the following year.
Well, my turn finally came this past Saturday, 🙂. My goddaughter is such a beautiful little soul; she doesn't ask for anything. She actually has everything she needs, but she truly understands the world we live in today. Plus, I have a mother who would never dream of allowing expensive gifts, and for her, the greatest gift was simply having me by her side. I traveled all the way from San Francisco to New York City, and she refused any grand gestures. I felt so restless, not knowing what to do, but we eventually settled on a pair of classic Converse sneakers ($150) and I tucked an extra $167 into an envelope along with a cake I baked myself. I could have easily bought one, but I really wanted to make it personally. And you know what? She is absolutely overjoyed, and so am I, especially with a child like her. I feel so incredibly lucky that she chose me... 😍

It’s pathetic, but let’s be honest: kids these days are only looking forward to their First Communion or Confirmation because they’re eyeing the gifts or the cash handouts.
We can try to run from this reality, but there’s no escaping it. I’ve already had parents come to me asking exactly what the kids want—whether it’s cold hard cash or a specific gadget. Honestly, as a parent, the idea of walking up and saying, "My kid wants a new MacBook," feels incredibly humiliating, and if I couldn't even afford that for my own child, the last thing I’d ever do is impose that expectation on someone else.
If it were up to me, I’d just bake a cake and buy a cheap little necklace—which would probably get lost in a week anyway—or maybe a Bible, though let’s face it, those usually end up being used as doorstops or something to whack people with, so what choice do I really have?
I don't even know anymore; the whole situation is becoming downright grotesque.
The way they approach faith nowadays is absolutely disgusting, especially when you hear about priests telling kids during their confirmation prep that they'll basically be getting a "gift card" tucked into their plate...
The whole thing makes me sick, truly.

So, my boyfriend is the best man at his nephew's baptism. Yeah, obviously I nearly passed out when they actually had the nerve to ask him to chip in, though part of me gets why they’d go to him since who else are you going to ask to cough up the cash $1000 for some ridiculous ritual... besides family, right?

I didn't mean to be disrespectful calling it "ridiculous," but the whole thing really did turn into a circus because it's being treated like a backyard wedding, and these kids are expecting the world. I can't even blame the parents... it's pretty rare to find kids raised with any sense of modesty where you could actually expect them to be okay with anything less than a massive gift pile.

Anyway, the little guy started off by asking for a MacBook. Then he and his older brother got into some kind of spat, and the older one ended up banning the laptop idea... which just made my boyfriend lose it and say he's giving him the money anyway, and he couldn't care less what the other kid thinks about it.

Honestly, these kinds of situations just make me feel sick, and I was thinking about skipping it entirely... but it turns out I have an excuse since I've got a huge exam that day!