leBébé for Baptism: What Do the Godfather and Godmother Give?

In brief. Godfather and godmother typically choose a gold charm with the right chain for the child's age, and the leBébé Classici boy and girl models are the most iconic pieces of this tradition. The smooth back allows for engraving a name and baptism date, turning the gift into a family heirloom. Increasingly, a coordinated piece for the mother accompanies the newborn's jewel, so the two pieces echo each other through the years.

There is a precise moment — usually about ten days before the ceremony — when godfather and godmother realize that a baptism gift is no more a formality. The child will remember nothing of that day: he will remember the object, when he is twenty and opens a drawer. And that is why the choice weighs more than expected.

September and October baptisms have a rhythm all their own. Families who gave birth in spring arrive at autumn with a four- or five-month-old baby, old enough to handle a full day between church and lunch, and the good weekends are few. Those who need to find a gift end up deciding quickly, often without knowing what sets one charm apart from another or what chain length is right for a neck that size.

This guide is here for exactly that: understanding what you are really buying, how to personalize it, what sizes are needed, and how to build a double gift — for the newborn and for the mother — without spending twice at random. If you need a quick overview, the selection dedicated to baptism gifts gathers the pieces we choose for this occasion.

What Do Godfather and Godmother Give at a Baptism?

The classic godparent gift is a gold jewel to be kept: a chain with a charm, or a delicate bracelet, personalized with the child's name and the date of the ceremony. It is the gift that remains long after the little outfits are forgotten, and it is also the only one the child will be able to wear as an adult.

Over the years, legitimate alternatives have gathered around this tradition: a savings account, a practical household gift, a voucher. None of these is wrong, but none survives through time in the same way. An 18kt gold charm engraved with the date of October 4th remains legible forty years later, and typically passes to the next child.

The most common arrangement, when the family agrees in advance, is this: godfather and godmother choose the wearable piece, grandparents a keepsake — a frame, a decorative object, something to display in the nursery. If several people are giving a gift together, agreeing beforehand avoids the classic outcome of two nearly identical chains.

Which leBébé Charms Are Chosen for a Newborn, and What Do They Mean?

The signature of leBébé is the stylized silhouette of the boy and girl: two simple, instantly recognizable profiles, designed to be worn by both child and mother. These are the charms most often seen at Italian baptisms precisely because they say one thing and say it clearly.

In the Classici line, the LBB044 charm in yellow gold, 1.00 cm tall and its twin, the LBB045 in white gold, are the most straightforward choice. One centimeter is the right size for a newborn: visible, yet light enough not to weigh on a onesie. The solid surface, without openwork, also accepts an engraving on the back most beautifully.

Alongside the child's silhouette, the symbolic vocabulary of baptism is timeless and worth knowing, because each subject says something different.

• The angel: the guardian, the reference to protection. It is the most chosen subject when a religious reference is desired but not explicitly liturgical.
• The cross: marks the sacrament directly. It makes sense if the family experiences baptism as an act of faith and not merely a celebration; when in doubt, ask the parents.
• The heart: the secular subject par excellence, one that works even in non-practicing families and is worn naturally into adulthood.
• The boy or girl silhouette: not a religious symbol, but a symbol of belonging. It says "this child is part of this family," which is precisely why the mother often wears the same figure at her own neck.

In our selection of charms you will find both registers, the devotional and the affectionate. If you are unsure which to choose, the most reliable criterion is not aesthetic: it is knowing what that family will wear gladly.

Is a Chain Needed Too, or Is the Charm Enough?

The charm alone is an incomplete gift: it needs a chain, and for a child the chain must be chosen with different criteria than for an adult. You need a closed, regular link, a modest weight, and above all a length that grows with the child rather than being replaced every two years.

The rolò link is the most suitable: round rings joined one to another, which do not tangle and do not knot. The leBébé LBBA001B chain in 18kt white gold, adjustable from 40 to 45 cm is designed precisely to last: worn short at first and lengthened over the years by moving the clasp to the next ring. It should be said clearly that 40 cm is not a newborn size — this is a necklace the mother wears in the early years, often with her child's charm, and which then passes to the child when old enough.

For the newborn, if you want the baby to wear something right away, a bracelet makes more sense than a necklace: it stays away from the face, is visible when you hold the baby, and does not end up in the mouth. Many parents, out of caution, keep the chain and charm in the box until the child is two or three. There is no problem with that: the gift is designed for the long term.

If you would like to consider other chains, the choice of link and length is best made in person, holding the chain against the neck.

Can the Name and Baptism Date Be Engraved?

Yes, and it is what transforms a jewel into a family memory. On the solid back of a charm approximately one centimeter across, a short name and a date in numerals will typically fit; if the name is long, the initial can be engraved on the front and the date on the back, or the text can be moved to the chain's tag or the bracelet's plate.

The formulas that work best are spare. Leonardo — 12.10.2026 is more beautiful than a phrase, because phrases age while dates remain facts. If the charm is a gift from both godfather and godmother, their two initials can be engraved on the back and the child's name on the front: thirty years from now, those will be exactly the details someone will be looking for.

Two practical points. Machine engraving is crisp and legible even on very small surfaces; hand engraving has a warmer character but requires a slightly more generous surface. In either case, the work takes time, so the decision should be made once the baptism date is set and not the week before — although, with a piece in stock, it can still be done in time.

18kt Gold, 9kt Gold, or Silver for a Young Child?

For a jewel a child wears on the body, gold is the right choice: 18kt gold is 750/1000 pure gold, 9kt is 375/1000, and neither oxidizes in contact with skin and saliva. Sterling silver 925 is excellent for objects to be kept and displayed, less so for everyday wear, as it tends to tarnish and leave marks on light-colored fabrics.

Between 18kt and 9kt the difference is more than just the hallmark. 18kt gold has a fuller, warmer color, is the traditional Italian choice, and holds its value over time. 9kt gold is harder, so it withstands small knocks better, and allows for a crafted piece at a more accessible price point: the Bimba charm in 9kt gold by Edoardo Mariani belongs to this family and is designed precisely for daily use.

On the topic of allergies, an honest clarification: no metal is "hypoallergenic" by definition. What matters is the alloy. Italian-made gold alloys comply with European limits on nickel release for objects in prolonged contact with skin, and traditional yellow gold contains minimal amounts compared to other metals. If there are known sensitivities in the family, mention it in advance: the choice can be made accordingly.

One last technical detail that nobody thinks of: the clasps. On a child's jewel the spring must be small but sturdy, and should be checked once a year. It is a minor service, and the repair service carries it out in the workshop in no time.

How to Put Together a Double Gift Box for the Newborn and the Mother

The double gift box is the most successful formula for a baptism: one piece for the child and a coordinated one for the mother, chosen in the same gold and with the same subject, so that the two jewels recognize each other from across the room. It is also the only gift that acknowledges the fact that, on that day, the mother receives nothing.

The simplest approach: the boy or girl silhouette for the child, the same silhouette in a slightly different size or in a complementary gold color for the mother. Yellow gold and white gold together work well precisely because they are distinct; rose gold and yellow gold tend to blend. If the mother already wears a chain every day, giving her just the charm to add is more elegant — and more practical — than presenting her with a new necklace she may not use.

To complete the package with a non-wearable keepsake, a pram keychain in 925 silver and enamel is the classic touch to place beside the gift box: it ends up in dad's bag or on the house keys and stays there for years. The other gift ideas follow the same spirit — small, recognizable things that do not need to be kept in a safe.

How to Decide Without Waiting Until the Last Week

There is only one criterion: ask yourself whether that object will still make sense in thirty years. A gold charm with a name and a date will. A piece chosen because it was the most eye-catching, much less so.

In practical order: decide the material first (18kt if you want the piece that lasts, 9kt if you want something the child can genuinely wear from the start), then the subject — silhouette, heart, angel, or cross depending on how that family experiences the ceremony — and only at the end whether to include the chain or leave that to the parents. The engraving should be arranged as soon as the model is chosen, because that is the part that takes time.

If you are torn between two pieces, bring them to the store in Genova and set them side by side: the difference is obvious in three seconds and disappears entirely in a photograph. And if the date is approaching, write to us before ordering: we will tell you exactly whether the engraving can be ready for the right Sunday.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a bracelet be for a newborn?

In the first months, 11–13 cm is the right range; by the first year the child can easily reach 14–15 cm. These are approximate figures: many models have intermediate adjustment rings, and a chain can always be lengthened or shortened in the workshop as the child grows.

Is the baptism charm given by the godfather or the grandparents?

By tradition, the chain with the medal or charm is the gift of the godfather and godmother, while grandparents tend toward a piece meant to last into adulthood. It is a custom, not a rule: it is common for families to agree in advance to avoid two identical gifts.

Can a date be engraved on the back of a small charm?

Yes — on a solid surface of about one centimeter, a short name and a date in numerals will typically fit. If the name is long, the initial can be engraved on the front and the date on the back, or the engraving can be moved to the chain's tag.

Can a newborn wear sterling silver 925?

Yes, sterling silver 925 is a suitable material and is widely used for keychains, frames, and nursery objects. For a jewel worn every day, gold remains preferable because it does not oxidize in contact with skin and saliva and will not leave marks on little outfits.

Is it better to give the jewel before or during the ceremony?

The gift is almost always presented after the ceremony, at the reception, so the package is not carried through the church. Some families ask the officiant to bless the chain together with the child: in that case, the box is brought already open and kept close at hand.

If the baptism is two weeks away, is there still time for engraving?

Generally yes. Machine engraving on an in-stock charm takes just a few business days; hand engraving and chain adjustments require a few additional days. It is best to write or stop by the store as soon as you have chosen the model, indicating the date of the ceremony.