First Communion gift ideas?

I already sent Katty those messages for the congratulations 🙂
but I totally missed the window for this one tomorrow

Honestly, this whole thing gives me the creeps. We have an older kid heading toward his First Communion next weekend, and some of the younger ones are getting baptized...

When people ask me what they should get them, I feel ridiculous suggesting things like a TV for their room or a BMX bike.

Babies definitely need diapers, though I wish people wouldn't show up with those tiny little packs that run out in two seconds.😲

Personally, I don't believe in overdoing it with gifts. Everything you receive, you eventually have to return in kind.😁...plus, with how expensive everything is lately, blowing cash like that just doesn't make sense.

I’d honestly just love for the people we invited to actually show up to the church service and the lunch we're putting together. I wish they wouldn't go overboard with the presents—maybe just toss fifty bucks in a card and call it a day. But I know that's impossible because heaven forbid the neighbors talk.

It's not like I care what anyone thinks about whether my gift is the biggest one in the room anyway.😲😁

I mean, sure, returning a gift makes sense if they picked something out specifically based on what you asked for....
But if someone just decides to go rogue—without asking you first or checking what you actually wanted—and they end up overspending? Well, if you're short on cash, you aren't going to return it exactly as it was; you're just going to return whatever you can afford....
Take my brother, for example. When the guests finally left and he started opening everything, he realized one group had given him gold and $333 more besides....(Look, I know it’s fine to open gifts—even in front of people—but he wasn't some creep peeking inside envelopes while they were still sitting there....😁 ))
My family is heading to their little girl's First Communion now, and there is absolutely no way they can pay back that exact amount in cash....
So, what's gonna happen? They'll give her some gold jewelry and maybe an extra 200$100 in an envelope. With how things are right now, that's all they can swing....

shadowcrane91 said:- I just picked up some earrings for my daughter's First Communion tomorrow. I went with stainless steel since she loves wearing that stuff, and honestly, they look super fancy—like, totally high-end. I think they're perfect for her age, plus we'll be dropping some extra cash on the gift... + religious book
- For the next First Communion (a boy), we grabbed a baseball bat and a ball—that's what he really wants. We can't find a glove anywhere in all of Chicago, so he'll just have to go without one. I’m also planning to pick up a cool book (maybe a novel or a story) with some spiritual themes—not just strictly about God, because there are actually some really interesting and engaging ones out there
and more cash too
- For the third First Communion, I got a heart-shaped watch necklace (stainless steel again, and it's gorgeous) + cash... + religious book
And that's it... I'm officially broke this month...😁

That idea about using a gift card is actually pretty smart...

That being said, even if I'm trying to keep things simple, I always aim to include something spiritual, even if it's just a cool little book for ten bucks$6.75....(stores like Barnes & Noble have a great selection right now)
At the end of the day, it's a religious rite, and as such, we should show some respect with an appropriate gift... (or at least part of the gift should be)
I mean, it shouldn't all be purely material stuff; at least a portion of it should be something spiritual🙂....
Unless someone is sending a kid to these sacraments just for the sake of it...
And they don't know the first thing about faith... in which case, a gift like that wouldn't even mean much to them

I feel like I should jump on that too, so if anyone has any good ideas for children's books—maybe some titles or just general suggestions that actually fit what kids that age are into right now—please toss them my way, thanks for the inspo!🙏

shadowcrane91 said:I already sent Katty those messages for the congratulations 🙂
but I totally missed the window for this one tomorrow

Sending out those well-wishes feels like catching a perfect breeze on a summer afternoon—just smooth and easy. 🙏I actually asked her to write my name on it, just like those custom ones you see for baby showers.

silverskipper13 said:Honestly, this whole thing gives me the creeps. We have an older kid heading toward his First Communion next weekend, and some of the younger ones are getting baptized...

When people ask me what they should get them, I feel ridiculous suggesting things like a TV for their room or a BMX bike.

Babies definitely need diapers, though I wish people wouldn't show up with those tiny little packs that run out in two seconds.😲

Personally, I don't believe in overdoing it with gifts. Everything you receive, you eventually have to return in kind.😁...plus, with how expensive everything is lately, blowing cash like that just doesn't make sense.

I’d honestly just love for the people we invited to actually show up to the church service and the lunch we're putting together. I wish they wouldn't go overboard with the presents—maybe just toss fifty bucks in a card and call it a day. But I know that's impossible because heaven forbid the neighbors talk.

It's not like I care what anyone thinks about whether my gift is the biggest one in the room anyway.😲😁

For the baptism, you'll probably end up getting some cash anyway, and when people ask what the older kid needs, just tell them he's saving up for a new TV—I think that's a perfectly fine excuse. I actually asked this one mom if her daughter would be upset if she didn't get a big gift, and she told me straight up that she'd honestly prefer just getting some cash instead.
It feels kind of awkward to try and tell people what to buy when they don't even ask; they usually already have something in mind anyway.

So I grabbed this little book called God in the Subway for this girl tomorrow...
It’s actually pretty funny and an interesting read 🙂
I’m definitely gonna have to go for another walk later to review everything since my memory is a bit fuzzy 😁
Anyway, Confirmation isn't until May

And just so you know, my congrats are gonna be totally personalized 🙂

Do you still have that book, Honorable on a SKATEBOARD (or something like that)? I feel like it was pretty hilarious and witty...
ugh... nothing is coming to mind right now...
but they seriously have some really great books, both spiritual and funny🙂

We’ve already knocked out two First Communions—now we’re just waiting on another one and then Confirmation.

I asked my kid what he actually wanted for gifts and he went straight for cash. Apparently, he's saving up for something specific he wants to buy.
So, if you're stuck on what to get kids, honestly, just give them $17 instead of buying some random junk they won't care about. Looking at kids today, half the stuff we thought was cool is basically useless to them now.
Those religious books and prayer books are fine, I guess, but they usually get those for free from the church anyway. Mine used to read them all the time at first, but not so much lately.

Oh, please, prayer books? (I haven't really noticed them handing those out for other types of books, either) — sure, kids get them for their First Communion...
but they don't get anything for Confirmation (at least I never saw that happening, and I did my Confirmation singing in a choir)
however, there are some awesome comics and little books out there that are actually hilarious but still religious—they're perfect for all ages, from toddlers all the way up until you're old and gray...

shadowcrane91 said:Oh, please, prayer books? (I haven't really noticed them handing those out for other types of books, either) — sure, kids get them for their First Communion...
but they don't get anything for Confirmation (at least I never saw that happening, and I did my Confirmation singing in a choir)
however, there are some awesome comics and little books out there that are actually hilarious but still religious—they're perfect for all ages, from toddlers all the way up until you're old and gray...

Not sure about Confirmation—we haven't done any yet.
But yeah, there are some really cool religious books out there that aren't totally stiff; they're more like fairy tales or stories. They'd definitely dig that.
As long as a twenty-dollar bill is peeking out from inside...😛

shadowcrane91 said:So I grabbed this little book called God in the Subway for this girl tomorrow...
It’s actually pretty funny and an interesting read 🙂
I’m definitely gonna have to go for another walk later to review everything since my memory is a bit fuzzy 😁
Anyway, Confirmation isn't until May

And just so you know, my congrats are gonna be totally personalized 🙂

That's awesome!

I've got that book at my place, and honestly, it's one of those gems you find yourself revisiting over and over again 😉

Thanks for the heads-up.
I'm also thinking about whipping up a cake, though I'll have to see if I'm feeling up to the task when the time comes 😳

So, I just got an invite to a Confirmation today. It’s for the son of this mom whose kid was in preschool with mine. Over the years, we’ve actually become pretty good friends—we grab coffee all the time, help each other out with stuff, you know how it is—so we're definitely solid. But honestly, I’ve only ever met her son once, and now I'm heading to his Confirmation. I'm thinking about just putting $50 in the card. Does that sound reasonable to you guys? If it were a girl, I’d definitely be picking up something from Swarovski. I always go that route for girls' baptisms because moms seem to love it, and I usually just stick to the classic pieces.

I finally got Katja's card in the mail this morning🙏, now I just need to track down a little prayer book👍

It actually got me thinking about what to grab for my younger sister🙂, what kind of stuff do you guys usually get for the other kids in the family?

Here are a few ideas if you want to lean into the religious side for the First Communion, but as for everything else, you guys can figure that out yourselves. 😉
I was browsing through some stuff online and stumbled upon this piece about First Communion gifts. Honestly, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you start looking into it. It’s one of those milestones that feels like a massive production in American families—everyone wants to find that perfect, meaningful thing to mark the occasion, but the pressure to pick something "just right" can be a headache. The article touches on how people approach these gifts, ranging from the classic religious keepsakes to more modern, personal items. It really makes you think about how much weight we put on these ceremonies. Whether it's jewelry or something more sentimental, it's all about capturing that specific moment in a kid's life. It’s definitely a lot to navigate if you're trying to stay traditional without being totally cliché.
I was checking out this piece on Verbum about walking through life with Jesus, and honestly, it really hits home. It’s one of those reflections that makes you stop and think about how much we try to carry everything on our own shoulders instead of just letting God take the lead. It talks about how life isn't just some smooth ride—it’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes feels like a total uphill battle. But the core message is that when you actually lean into that relationship, you aren't just surviving; you're being guided. It's about finding that sense of purpose even when things feel chaotic. I know some people might find this kind of stuff a bit "too much," but there’s something deeply grounding about the idea that we don't have to have all the answers figured out by ourselves. It’s an invitation to trust the process and trust Him. Definitely worth a read if you need a little perspective today.
Check this out: http://www.verbum.com/gifts/my-first-communion-2031/
Check out this silver gift set over at Verbum. It’s actually pretty stunning—looks like exactly the kind of thing you’d want for a big milestone like a First Communion or a Confirmation. Honestly, if you're looking for something that doesn't look cheap or tacky, this is a solid pick. It's got that classic, high-end vibe without trying too hard. Definitely worth a look if you need to step up your gifting game!
I checked out that link on Verbum about those silver gifts for girls, and honestly? It’s a bit much. I know people love their tradition, but some of these pieces feel like they belong in a museum rather than something a kid would actually want. I was reading what shadowcrane91 said earlier about jewelry, and I have to agree—it's all about whether it actually means something or if you're just throwing money at a shiny object. If you're looking for something for a First Communion or a Confirmation, you want it to be special, but let's not go overboard with stuff that's going to sit in a velvet box gathering dust for twenty years. Just my two cents.

There’s a little bit of everything... just Google VERBUM and you'll see they've already got all your religious gifts covered. 🙂

My daughter got a bunch of stuff for her First Communion: a watch from my maid of honor, $100 a gift from my godmother, $333 something from cousins out of town, a gold cross from family, an old gold bracelet from my aunt, a coral bracelet from my mother-in-law, a lapis lazuli ring from my parents, and a gold ring with a blue stone from me and my husband

In our family, we usually keep First Communion celebrations pretty low-key—just a small gathering with grandma, grandpa, and myself as the aunt... we’ll put together a nice, festive lunch, but we don't really do gifts.
I've actually never been invited to a First Communion celebration before 🤷

Confirmation is handled a bit more broadly within the family circle—so, grandma (even though she doesn't live with them), my dad's brother and sister with their families, plus the godparents, both the baptismal and the confirmation ones
This coming spring, my husband is going to be the godfather for our young nephew, and I am just so thrilled that he was the one chosen for the role... we're planning to just ask him what he'd like for a gift instead of guessing

Hey ladies 🙂

I noticed someone mentioned Katja making custom greeting cards here...
I haven't been able to track her down on these forums (not that I've been digging for hours) 🙈
If anyone could point me in the right direction or let me know where to find her—and if it's possible to see some of her work—that would be awesome. 😁

Hannah Wood45 said:Here are a few thoughts—just reflecting on what we used to receive a few years back...
smartphones, iPods, jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets... mostly gold, precious stones, or pearls; the guys even knew how to score a nice tie clip), bicycles, computers, laptops, maybe even some motorcycles, summer trips, cash, watches, TVs, full room speaker systems, phones, lamps, paintings... most things were easily $100 and up, which was roughly the baseline even when people were just handing out cash...
I have this feeling that those who ended up getting a Bible were probably pretty disappointed...

Phones?! iPodi?! Jewelry is fine if it's gold or silver, but pearls and gemstones?
Bikes are okay, but nothing crazy expensive. Computers?! Laptops?! MOTORCYCLES 😲?!?! A summer trip?! Cash is alright if it's not a massive amount. Watches are cool if they aren't insane. TVs?! Whole room speaker systems?!
Spending $100 for a First Communion is honestly pretty weird.

Justin Allen81 said:Don’t crucify me just yet, but...

Please, stop buying gold jewelry for kids. Seriously.

Most kids can't stand gold chains. They’ll thank you later—they'll look like happy little angels while Mom forces them to wear it on special occasions... and they will absolutely hate it.

I have always hated those kinds of gifts, and from what I know, most of my friends feel the same way. Both when we were children and now that we're adults.

For those First Communions and Confirmations, there is a mass influx of tacky gold—chunky crosses, diamond hearts, gold animals, you name it. Not only is it ugly, but even if it weren't, there's a slim chance they'll ever actually wear it.

Do some research into what they actually care about. If they love books, buy them a book. If they play soccer, get them cleats. A gift doesn't need to be "fancy" or "appropriate for the occasion." What matters is that it's bought with genuine love and thought for the child—so buy based on their interests, not what you think the neighbors will approve of.

Personally, I made it crystal clear to everyone around my tenth birthday that I wasn't into gold jewelry. They kept buying it anyway, acting foolishly—thinking, "What does a kid know? They'll wear it when they grow up," and so on. (I ended up with a mountain of tacky, low-quality yellow gold that I despised with every fiber of my being!)
As soon as I moved out from my parents' place (who were quite stubborn about this issue—much like yours, though heaven forbid you try to change them)—I took it all straight to a jeweler and sold it for scrap. I got significantly less than what they originally cost. Then, I took all that cash and spent it on coffee and cigarettes.
Why?

Because those gifts weren't bought for me; they were bought for the sake of appearances. So, I turned those unwanted gifts into something actually useful.

P.S. I am an adult now. I only wear my engagement ring—which was bought specifically for me, according to my taste, after asking for my opinion—and one silver ring that holds sentimental value.
Believe it or not, zero gold.

It seems "adults" don't always have the best judgment after all!

And now you can tell me all you want about not looking a gift horse in the mouth. But if you give someone a gift without caring whether they actually like it, you should probably just keep it. And if you still insist on giving me some garbage that I've explicitly TOLD you I hate—well, then I'm perfectly entitled to throw that gift in the trash if I feel like it. Because that's exactly what it is.

Mine doesn't like gold crosses, but she absolutely loves gold rings and bracelets, and I don't
love gold at all.

Mine kid actually got a children's Bible too, which I think is such a sweet idea. Seriously, there’s so much cool stuff out there, as long as you don't break the bank!

For his First Communion, we went with-
a kid's Bible with this super sweet inscription... plus a keepsake book and an album specifically for his First Communion. It’s got spots to stick in photos, list who showed up, write down his little thoughts and all that. Really cute stuff.
And we tucked 50 bucks in the card... (back then he was saving up for a new bike 🙂).

I was the godmother at her baptism, and since I'm also her aunt, we went a bit bigger on the gift...
We picked out a cross, but not one of those flimsy little kid ones. (I actually second-guessed the symbolism for a second—wondering if I should go with a flower charm or maybe a medallion instead. But since it was a baptism and she’s being raised in the faith, we stuck with the cross)... I wanted her to have something she could actually wear once she hits late puberty, gets her first job, or even when she's older.
Something like this (not diamonds, just some "special" cubic zirconia) I found online http://www.amazon.com/White-Diamond-...3DB001G603ZO.. I didn't want some childish trinket; I wanted something for the long haul, something to remind her of her aunt and her baptism :auntie's gold:
I also grabbed a little dress and a top for the ceremony, plus a ribbon, a handkerchief, and a candle..