The baby is due any day now and you’re figuring out how to get the birth announcements right, aren’t you? Don’t worry, in this Buzzle article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about birth announcement etiquette.
It’s an extremely overwhelming feeling to be a parent. Once the bundle of joy is home, the mother is busy with all the feeding, changing, sleeping, and cleaning. It leaves her no time for anything else. For the first few weeks, it’s impossible to do anything else but take care of the baby. Hence, it is important that all the preparations for your baby’s birth announcement are done in advance. All these preparations, must be done keeping in mind expected etiquette.
How should I go about preparing the announcement?
With technology reducing distance everyday, many moms now prefer announcing the birth of their child through social media channels like Facebook. Though that isn’t entirely wrong, etiquette expects otherwise. Paper announcements are still the way to go. Most stationery shops have ready-made announcements that require you to only fill out the details of your child. You can select a template beforehand and call the shop after the birth of your baby to give them his/her details. If you know the gender of your baby, selecting the right color combination is easier. However, you can keep that for later or go for a neutral shade such as beige. Get the wording ready in the meantime and your mailing list as well.
What do I write in the announcement?
The wording for a birth announcement is very simple. Start the announcement with a meaningful phrase or quote as introduction. Follow it up by announcing the birth of your child, his/her full name, birthdate, birth time, height, weight, and place of birth. End the announcement by writing names of the parents and that of siblings (if any). Here is an example.
We Welcome With Love
Christine Richard Maria
Arrived: March 3, 2004
Weight: 8 lbs., 2 oz.
Height: 16 inches
Michelle and Richard Carter
Till when is it ideal to send the announcement?
You have six months to send the announcements. Though most people stick to the ‘earlier the better’ rule, we suggest somewhere around the end of the second month. With roughly 8 weeks behind you, you’re more at ease by then. Also, you have more time to understand the baby’s nature, which does play a part in designing the announcement at times. Around this time, you can get better photographs of the baby as well.
Who should it be sent to?
Relatives, colleagues, friends, and even a few acquaintances. Send it to as many people as you want; don’t hold back. It’s better to send it to more people than sending it out to a few, and missing out on someone. Get the mailing list in order so that you don’t waste time making it later.
What if the baby is adopted?
These announcements are not limited to your own baby. Even if you adopt a baby, ultimately it is a new entrant in your family; your near and dear ones have to be informed. You can mention the birthdate of the adopted child, even if it is a date reading a couple of years back.
Follow this etiquette to announce the birth of your child in style. Make sure everyone on your mailing list gets the announcement and that too in time.
