If you’ve got a party etiquette dilemma (whether it relates to a wedding, birthday party, baby shower or any other event) we can help! We’ll answer one of your etiquette queries each week. Submit your question here.

• This week’s question:

• Q. I’ve been invited to a christening for a friend’s baby. Is a gift required?

  A. No, it’s not mandatory. Christenings or other forms of naming days are much less about gifts and far more about celebrating a child’s arrival in the world. Considering that most people being christened are babies, it’s likely they have already received a truckload of presents when they were born. So as a guest, there is no compulsion to bring a gift. Unless, of course, you’re a godparent, in which case you should take time to choose a meaningful present they can keep for always (e.g. engraved silverware, jewellery, children’s fine china, artwork). If you’re the parents of a child being christened, and you don’t want your guests to feel pressured into bringing gifts, consider putting ‘No presents please’ on the invite to reassure them.