Parents have always wanted to share such wonderful news with their nearest and dearest. Fathers used to hand out cigars to commemorate the birth of their children, but now parents have a wide variety of ways to announce that their families have grown.
So what exactly is a birth announcement card? From the simple to the creative, birth announcement cards allow parents to share important information about their babies. Most cards contain the same general information, including the baby's name, date of birth, weight, length, and the names of the parents. The cards may also include such information as names of siblings, a description of the baby, or special verses or poems.
Some parents choose to send basic fill-in-the-blank birth announcement cards purchased from a crafts or stationary store. This is simple and easy; you simply fill in your baby's information on the correct line. Parents who are feeling overwhelmed with their new addition or who want to send the announcements out quickly may opt to go this route. The downside of these types of announcements is their lack of personality and personal flair.
If you are looking for a more creative or unique birth announcement card, you can do just about anything. You can make your own cards by hand or on the computer. The cards can include such things as pictures of your newborn, the baby's hand or foot prints, or pictures of "common" baby things like rattles, bibs, bottles, or diapers. Craft stores often have little baby accessories that can be glued onto the cards. Computer-savvy parents may look online for baby clipart or do-it-yourself sites.
The birth announcements cards may also be cut out using different shaped templates; for example, the card may be in the shape of a dress for a new baby girl, or a baseball for a little boy. One thing to remember is to try to reflect your family's personality. This will make the card much more meaningful and memorable for both you and the card's recipients. And have fun! This is probably one of the most exciting pieces of news you have ever been able to share!
Sometimes you may think you just don't have the time or energy to make beautiful birth announcement cards, but you know you that you do want to send them. If this is the case you can always have the cards professionally printed. You can still choose a card that shows the uniqueness of your family, without having to do the work. Beautiful, quality cards can be created, but others are just plain fun. You can even have a candy wrapper made up to include your baby's pertinent information.
One thing to remember is to plan your announcements as early as possible in order to send them out in a timely manner after the baby is born. If you want to make your own announcements, it is best to do as much of the creating before the birth as is practical; you probably won't have a lot of free time during the first few weeks of your baby's life. You can cut out the cards if needed and add any embellishments when the time comes. At the very least, buy all the supplies you will need.
Not sure of your baby's gender? You may want to send out gender-neutral birth announcement cards in order to be able to begin before your big day. Obviously you won't know much of the pertinent information yet, but you can fill in the baby's name if that has been decided, along with your own names.
Sending birth announcement cards will guarantee that those people closest to you will be able to share in the joy of welcoming your new baby. And you might just get to be creative and have fun in the process.