I would like to buy a gift for my baby niece's Catholic baptism. Unfortunately, I won't be at the baptism. Also, I live outside the US (where the baptism will be taking place). I had thought about buying something here and shipping it, but shipping from here can get expensive. I wondered if there might be something I could buy for her online and have shipped within the US. I would like something unique and appropriate, but as I'm not Catholic, it shouldn't be overly zealous in terms of religion (I don't want to appear hypocritical or to make people think I've converted!) Any ideas?

Is this a child baptism?

Infant?

How about a CD (money bond) that will acrue value until she can cash it later.. perhaps for college? It doesn't have to be a huge amount, and it lets her invest in her future without immediately spending it.

Sarai, I don't think that a religious item would imply that you were hypocritical or had converted. I would see it as an acknowledgement of the faith in which the child will be reared. A Catholic Bible would be appropriate gift, I think, or possibly a few children's religious books, purchased from a Catholic bookstore, of course. Remember, this isn't a birthday, it is a religious event. As I recall, it is one of the 7 Sacraments of the Catholic church.