You've just become a godmother, or godfather, and the same question keeps popping up before every occasion: how much should you put into a godchild's gift? Thirty euros, is that stingy? A hundred, is that too much? You look at what other people give, you compare, and the anxiety creeps in. Take a breath. That figure says nothing about your true place in this child's life.
Marina wrote to us about this the other day. Her two-year-old goddaughter was having her first christening, and she was worried about getting it wrong. The truth is, no one ever teaches us this role. So here are some practical guidelines to help you choose without feeling guilty.
The budget for a godchild's gift doesn't measure love
Let's start by putting one worry to rest. A three-year-old doesn't read the price on the label. What they remember is who sat on the floor to play with them. They also remember the godmother who tells the same story every time, doing all the voices. That's what stays with them, never the amount.
A gift isn't only measured by its cost, but by the intention and the memory it leaves behind. Whether you're a godmother or godfather, what matters most is the relationship you build with your godchild through these meaningful gestures.
So ask yourself the real question before setting a budget for a godchild's gift: what do I want to leave behind? A trace, a ritual, an object they'll keep. A notebook you've doodled in together is sometimes worth more than an expensive toy forgotten within three days. A thoughtful gesture always beats an expensive one.
When you're a godparent, here are some budget guidelines
You still want a rough idea. That's only natural, it's reassuring. Here's how many godmothers and godfathers organise things, with no rule set in stone. So adapt it to your own situation, never to the pressure of what the neighbours do.
- Smaller budget (around 15 to 25 euros): a beautiful book, a shared sketchbook, a plant you watch grow together. What matters is the time you put into it afterwards.
- Mid-range budget (around 30 to 60 euros): something lasting, engraved or personalised, bearing their name. The sweet spot where you get it just right without stretching your budget.
- Bigger budget (beyond that): reserved for special occasions, and only if you can afford it. A godfather who gives little remains a godfather who's present.
None of these figures is a rule you must follow. If money's tight this month, stay at the lower end without a shred of guilt. Being a godparent is about giving over time, not all in one go.
A christening gift: meaning over spending
Christenings can feel intimidating because they seem so solemn. Many people think a christening gift has to be dazzling. Yet this is the perfect occasion for something that stands the test of time: something you pull out again at ten, at twenty.
A book where the child becomes the hero fits perfectly into that category. It grows with them. At two, you turn the pages together. Later, they read it alone and recognise their own face. That's the kind of gift that goes beyond its price tag, because it gathers memories over time.
Birthdays or Christmas: adjusting without overspending
For a birthday or Christmas, the trap is different. Gifts pour in from every direction. Your gift risks getting lost in the pile of presents. There's no point trying to win the race for the biggest gift.
Focus instead on what only you can give. For example, if Thiago loves dinosaurs, a story where he faces off against a T-Rex will mean more to him than a tenth toy. Does Sofia dream of the stars? Take her on an adventure written just for her. Birthdays or Christmas are the moment to aim for the right fit, not the highest price tag.
How to give a godchild's gift that lasts
Deep down, the question of how much to spend hides another fear: the fear of not mattering to this child. And no receipt can buy that. A note slipped into the parcel, a message written in your own hand, a regular get-together are worth more than an extra ten euros on the bill.
If you're looking for the gift that captures all of this, you can create a book for your godchild in which they become the hero. Their name, their face, their world, all woven into a story that's truly theirs. A gift that says "I see you", whatever budget you put into it.
To put your role into perspective beyond the gift itself, the French government website explains what godparenting really means under the law. Something else that puts the size of the figure back into perspective.
So, how much should you put in? Whatever you can afford, without stretching yourself thin. Your godchild will remember the rest long after they've forgotten the price.