Christening & Blessing Day Gifts
Christening gifts are meaningful, often personalized keepsakes given to a baby on their baptism or blessing day — traditionally items the child keeps for life, like a soft heirloom blanket, a stuffed animal Lovey, or a piece marked with the baby's name or date. The best christening gifts are the ones the family reaches for long after the ceremony ends: the blanket that drapes the crib rail, the Lovey that rides in the car seat, the piece that becomes part of everyday moments.
For twenty years, we've helped families choose gifts for these sacred days — the ones grandparents give, the ones godparents wrap, the ones that show up at the luncheon after the service. What we've learned is simple: the christening gift that gets remembered is the one that becomes part of the child's daily rhythm. Something soft. Something the family reaches for.
Below, we'll walk through what to give, what to spend, and how to make the gift feel as intentional as the day itself.
Key Takeaways
- The Lush Receiving Blanket ($55, 30" x 40") is the most-given christening gift — buttery soft, embroidery-eligible, and used from birth through age three or four.
- Godparents traditionally give a keepsake with the baby's name or blessing date; a Stuffed Animal Lovey ($32) or embroidered Lush blanket ($55 + $15 = $70) fits beautifully.
- Typical christening gift budgets fall between $50 and $150, depending on the giver's relationship to the family.
- Embroidery adds $15 to any eligible Lush, Dream, Satin Border, or Minky Stretch blanket, completed in 2–3 business days in addition to regular processing time.
A christening or blessing day carries weight most gift occasions don't. It's a moment the family will photograph, remember, and talk about at every milestone that follows. Here's how to choose a gift that fits.
What Makes a Traditional Christening Gift
Traditional christening gifts are keepsakes — items chosen for their meaning and their longevity. Historically these have included silver cups, engraved frames, cross necklaces, or bibles inscribed with the child's name. What connects all of them is the idea that a christening gift should last long past the ceremony itself.
The soft goods that fit this tradition are the ones the family actually uses. A Lush Receiving Blanket ($55, 30" x 40") knit to our exact specification is our most-given christening gift for a reason — it carries the child from the day of the blessing through age three or four, and it earns a place in family photos long after.
The christening gift that gets remembered is the one that gets used.
Parents tell us the blanket from the blessing day becomes the one their five-year-old still reaches for at bedtime. That's the keepsake trajectory that matters.
If you want to lean fully into the heirloom tradition, our keepsake baby gifts guide walks through the pieces designed to be held onto — the blankets, loveys, and personalized items chosen for their staying power.
Godparent Gifts: The Keepsake Role
Godparents hold a specific place at a christening — they're stepping into a role that extends past the ceremony. The gift a godparent gives traditionally reflects that role: something the child will grow up knowing came from them.
The most given godparent gifts we see are personalized. A Lush Receiving Blanket ($55) with the baby's name embroidered ($15 add-on, total $70) sits at the heart of that tradition — soft enough for the ceremony photos, durable enough to last through years of daily use.
A Stuffed Animal Lovey ($32) — available in lamb, elephant, bear, bunny, or puppy — makes a beautiful companion gift, especially when embroidered with the child's initials for a total of $47. The lamb, in particular, has a lovely connection to blessing day imagery. Parents tell us the Lovey travels everywhere — car seat, grandma's house, grocery store — and becomes the piece the toddler insists on at bedtime.
Personalized Gifts for a Blessing Day
Personalized christening gifts are absolutely appropriate — and often preferred. A monogram, a name, or a blessing date turns a soft item into a keepsake tied to one specific child and one specific day.
Our in-house embroidery team stitches directly onto the blanket in our Logan, Utah facility. Embroidery is a $15 add-on to any eligible Lush, Dream, Satin Border, or Minky Stretch blanket. It is completed in 2–3 business days in addition to regular processing time. Bamboni® blankets are not currently embroidery-eligible.
Christening Embroidery Ideas
The embroidery options that work best on a blessing day gift are the ones that keep the design simple and timeless. A few we recommend:
- The baby's first name in a classic script
- A 1 to 3 letter monogram of the child's initials
- A single word: "Blessed," "Loved," or "Grace"
Our favorite thread color choices are tone-on-tone (thread that matches the blanket) or a soft neutral like tan or cream that blends gently. Both photograph beautifully and age well — high-contrast blocks tend to date the piece.
Insider tip: Order embroidery as soon as you have the ceremony date.
Embroidery is completed in 2–3 business days in addition to regular processing time. Blessing days sneak up faster than parents expect — earlier is always better.
For a broader look at what personalization can do, our guide to personalized baby gifts walks through the pieces families keep in shadow boxes long after the child has outgrown them.
Christening Gifts by Budget
Christening gift spending varies by relationship. Godparents and grandparents typically spend more; extended family, friends, and church members choose gifts closer to a traditional shower range. Here's how to think about it.
Under $50 — Friends and Extended Family
A Stuffed Animal Lovey ($32) in lamb or bunny is a beautiful entry point. Add embroidery ($15) for a total of $47 and it becomes a personalized keepsake in the same range. A Mini Blanket ($25, 15" x 20") also works — small enough for the car seat, big enough to become a security blanket. Add embroidery for $40 total.
$50 to $100 — Close Family and Church Community
The Lush Receiving Blanket ($55, 30" x 40") is the sweet spot. Embroidered with the baby's name, the total comes to $70 — a personalized keepsake that photographs beautifully and lasts through age three or four. A Bamboni® Receiving Blanket ($55) is a cloud-like alternative for families who prefer that hand-feel.
$100 to $150 — Godparents and Grandparents
Pair a Lush Receiving Blanket ($55) with a Stuffed Animal Lovey ($32) and add embroidery to both ($30 total add-on) for $117 all-in. Or gift the Double-Layer Bamboni ($65) alongside an embroidered Lovey ($47) for $112. Grandparents often go one step further with an embroidered Toddler Blanket ($85 + $15 = $100) as a forward-looking gift for when the child is three or four.
Grandparents especially want gifts that carry the family forward — our grandparent gift guide covers the pieces that get passed down and pulled out at every milestone.
Presenting the Gift on the Day
Every Saranoni order ships gift-ready from our Logan, Utah facility. No rewrapping and no last-minute scramble the morning of the blessing — the box arrives styled and ready to hand to the family.
Card Message Ideas
The card is where the gift becomes personal. A few messages that work beautifully for a christening or blessing day:
- "Wrapped in grace, held in love."
- "For every blessing ahead."
- "A soft place for a special little soul."
When in Doubt
If you're choosing between products and can't decide, choose an embroidered Lush Receiving Blanket ($70 all-in) in a neutral color. It's the christening gift the family will photograph, keep on the crib rail, and reach for at bedtime for the next four years. It's our signature for a reason.
Emily and Nathan Peterson started Saranoni in 2006 in Logan, Utah, beginning as a gift-basket company before evolving to focus specifically on blankets, driven by a mission to bring comfort to individuals and families everywhere. Twenty years later, every fabric is still specified to our exact standard, and every gift still ships from Logan — embroidered, wrapped, and ready for the moments that matter most.
We've donated over 100,000 blankets to families in need, including patients at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. A blessing day gift carries some of that same intention — a soft thing given to mark a sacred moment.
"When there are no words, a blanket can be that comfort." — Nathan Peterson, Co-Founder
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a traditional christening gift?
A traditional christening gift is a keepsake chosen for its longevity and meaning — historically silver cups, engraved frames, cross necklaces, or bibles inscribed with the child's name. In modern practice, soft keepsakes like an embroidered Lush Receiving Blanket ($55 + $15 embroidery) or a Stuffed Animal Lovey ($32) fit the same tradition: gifts the child keeps and the family uses long past the ceremony.
What do godparents give at a christening?
Godparents traditionally give personalized keepsakes that reflect their lasting role in the child's life. Common choices include a name-embroidered Lush Receiving Blanket ($70 all-in), a monogrammed Stuffed Animal Lovey ($47), or a combined gift pairing the two. The idea is that the child grows up knowing this particular gift came from their godparent.
Are personalized gifts appropriate for a blessing day?
Personalized gifts are among the most popular christening and blessing day choices. Embroidery with the baby's first name, initials, or a single word like "Blessed" or "Loved" turns a soft item into a lasting keepsake. Saranoni offers embroidery on Lush, Dream, Satin Border, and Minky Stretch blankets for a $15 add-on, completed in 2–3 business days in addition to regular processing time.
How much do you spend on a christening gift?
Christening gift budgets typically range from $30 to $150, depending on the giver's relationship to the family. Friends and extended family often spend $30 to $50 (a Stuffed Animal Lovey at $32 or an embroidered Mini Blanket at $40). Close family and church community members typically spend $50 to $100 (an embroidered Lush Receiving Blanket at $70). Godparents and grandparents often spend $100 to $150 on a bundled gift.
What is a keepsake christening gift?
A keepsake christening gift is an item chosen because the family will hold onto it — used during childhood and saved as a memento afterward. Embroidered blankets are the most common modern example: the Lush Receiving Blanket ($55) with the baby's name and blessing date becomes both a daily comfort item and a piece the family keeps in a memory box after the child outgrows it.