Ready to introduce your new arrival to your inner circle?
Here's what you need to know about birth announcements from when to send them out to what they should say.
Mail a printed announcement, send an e-card, text it, Facebook it, Tweet it…there have never been so many ways to let your family and friends know when baby has arrived. The good thing is that there’s no bad or wrong way to spread the happy news, so choose what suits your personal style.
Here are some more tips to help as you put together birth announcements for your new little one:
Who gets an announcement?
Send birth announcements to family and friends that you think would like to celebrate the arrival of your newborn. Be sure to include anyone who came to your baby shower. If you’re working with a budget you can send printed announcements to just your immediate family and closest friends and then do an email announcement or a Facebook post to let everyone else know.
When should I send the announcement?
Send out your announcements as soon as possible, but if it takes you a little longer etiquette says you have up to six months to get them out. And don’t worry—if yours don’t arrive right away everyone will understand that you’ve had your hands full with baby.
If you do want to get your cards out sooner than later it helps to do a little prep while you’re pregnant. Whether you choose a printed announcement or an e-card, pick out your design before baby arrives. Once baby is here and you have his or her stats, get all that info to the site or store where you bought your announcements and they should be able to turn them around pretty quickly for you.
If you opt for printed announcements, figure out what you would like to write, buy your stamps and address your envelopes while you’re pregnant. This will speed things up so all you have to do once you get them is pop each one in the envelope and drop them in the mailbox.
What should you say in your announcement?
Decide whether you want to include a photo and think about what you want it to say. An announcement usually has an introduction that includes baby’s name, the birth details (baby’s birth date, weight and length, plus time and place of birth, if you like), and the parents’ names, followed by the names of baby’s siblings.
Digital Announcements
Sending an e-announcement might seem like it lacks formality for the occasion of a birth but with so many clever and adorable cards online, it’s actually a terrific (and thrifty) way to go. E-cards are as gorgeously designed as anything created by a high-end stationer.
New Mama Deck and Hack Decks™
A Great Gift for New Moms, New Parents, New Dads
Hack Decks™ are a perfect addition to include with a baby shower gift or send to a new mom once her baby arrives. The decks remind a new mom to take time to care for herself so that her energy and stamina stay high (a relative concept).
New Mama Decks also remind a new mom to ask for help in ways that make a difference. This includes asking for help from family, friends, a spouse, or anyone else who can offer support. Motivational prompts include reminding new moms to text a friend or schedule some alone time. These seemingly small prompts can make a world of difference in a new mama's life and ability to maintain her stamina during difficult days. Prompts remind mom that giving back to herself gives her baby that much more.
Remember, being a mom is hard! Every single day is an accomplishment.