Congratulations! You've had a baby! No doubt, you'll want to shout this joyous news from the rooftops. But hold on -- there are some specific things to know about birth-announcement etiquette before you begin!
When to Send
It's best to send announcements as close to the actual birth date as possible, but you can send them out up to six months later. You'll do yourself a huge favor if you pick out the design of the announcement, address the envelopes, and buy stamps in advance. You can even weigh your announcements and stamp them ahead of time. That way, you'll just have to pop them in the mailbox after the birth.
Who to Include
Chances are you'll be tempted to tell everyone (even strangers!) about the birth of your son or daughter. But the announcements are meant for family and friends. A good rule of thumb is to send them to anyone who you are sure will share your excitement.
What to Send
There are no hard and fast rules about what type of announcement to send; it's really a matter of taste. But, whatever your choice, you should include the following, according to birth-announcement etiquette:
- Introduction: A poem, a quote, or a more casual greeting
- Baby's Name: First and middle name, or full name
- Birth Statistics: Birth date, weight, length, time/place of birth
- Closing: Parents' and other family members' names
You can decide which of the birth statistics you want to include. For example, if your newborn is either large in weight or premature, it's absolutely acceptable to omit these details. Etiquette does not require that you include a photo of the baby, although this is a common practice. There is no need to include a handwritten message. Everyone knows new parents are overwhelmed and too busy to write personalized notes! Now that you know the basics of birth announcement etiquette, here are some trickier points:
- If you have twins, you can put one name on one side of the card and the other on the flip side to avoid any confusion. Everyone will know you're introducing two separate babies.
- If you and your husband have different last names, it's perfectly acceptable to use both full names in the closing. Example: Adam Belden and Sally Marshall.
- If the parents are divorced or separated, they have the option of sending separate announcements. In that case, each parent should include his or her name only in the closing.
- Gay and lesbian couples should include both of their first and last names, and the full legal name of the child.
If the mother is unmarried, she may choose to include just her name. If she's on good terms with the father, his name can be added. It's a good idea to spell out the baby's full name to avoid any confusion about which last name will be used. If you're sharing the news of an adoption, the etiquette is just the same. It's a neat idea to include the part of the country where your child was born.
