Tacky or not?

alexisz523

My sister-in-law who recently had her second baby did not have a shower..instead she sent out birth announcements when the baby was born.  After she sent out the announcement she got TONS of gifts sent to the house.

Is it tacky to have a shower and still send a birth announcement? I was planning on doing both b/c we have a lot of family that live out of town. It's totally not for the extra gift by no means at all but I think they are nice to send out when the baby arrives. What are you all planning on doing?

MidwestTexan

Sending out birth announcements is not synonomous with gift-giving...it's a way to spread the good news!

DSteed-to-be

I don't think it is tacky at all. A birth announcement isn't traditionally thought of as a begging for gifts card...it is a way to share your news (and usually a photo!) of your new arrival with family and friends -- whether they were at your shower or not! 

I'm inviting about 20 to my shower (including myself and hostesses) but definitely plan on sending out announcements to a bigger crowd after the birth.

whitneyj988

I am sending out birth announcements and having a shower. I think it is nice for people who you don't see daily to see the new baby.

Pennylane824

I have never looked at a birth announcement as "asking for gifts." I love getting birth announcements from my friends with pics and info on their little one!

JCM083009

I don't think so.  Not everyone I know will be invited to my showers since my entire family is Jewish.  We are definitely doing birth announcements. I don't see them as a gift thing (showers are for gifts), just announcing the baby and sharing a pic usually.

fairychick77

I don't think it's tacky at all. Having a baby shower and announcing the birth of your child really have nothing to do with each other, so why can't you do both? I am sending out pregnancy announcements and birth announcements.....

patrickandkim

I will be doing both.  However, the birth announcement for me is not for gift purposes.  It's just to share the news and pics of our little one.

Mrs_mam

I plan on doing both. I don't expect to receive gifts for an announcement, I just figure it's a nice way to let people know the details and send them their first photo of the baby. If they want to send a gift, that's their deal. I never view an announcement as a gift mandate, more of a notice that the big event happened. Besides, there is no way I'm going to spend hours on the phone repeating the same information to everyone!

KitKat307

I'm planning to do both.  I also have a lot of family that will not be able to make the shower so it's a nice way to include them.  I wouldn't worry about it being tacky.  It's not like you're gift grubbing!  Plus, when most people get married they have a shower and send announcements!

ccole2127

I thought it was pretty customary to send out a birth announcement after the birth of a child whether you had a shower already or not. I think the tacky (as u say) part is sending them for the purpose of receiving gifts. You're not so don't worry about it.

I'm having a shower and sending announcements after the baby is born. Especially to those who live far and probably won't get to see the baby for a while.

nalah

I don't think its tacky at all!  I bring gifts to showers and the first time I see the baby.  When I get an announcement I think its cute and I stick the picture up on the fridge.  I've never sent a gift, though.  If you send announcements and people send gifts, then that is their own decision.  No worries.  I totally plan to have a shower and send announcements.  It never even occurred to me that you would get gifts by sending out the announcement - I just want to show off how cute my baby is!! 

cedens

i have gotten birth announcements before and never thought of it as a shout out for a gift~ nor have i given a gift when receiving one!

it's just a nice way to show off your baby!  everyone can't wait to see the baby once he/she is born so it's a great way to do this!

i will be doing a shower and a birth announcement

sharee

MidwestTexan:

Sending out birth announcements is not synonomous with gift-giving...it's a way to spread the good news!

 

ditto!! do both!

DarcyLongfellow

MidwestTexan:

Sending out birth announcements is not synonomous with gift-giving...it's a way to spread the good news!

Ditto this exactly.

I've received tons of birth announcements over the years.  Rarely have I sent a gift because of it.  (Often I sent a gift at another time, but never just because I got an announcement.)

McKenna81

No, not tacky -- it's a really nice way of introducing friends to the newest member of your family. I love birth announcements! I always feel honored to receive one.

2007wife

I see nothing wrong with a shower and a birth announcement. A birth announcement is just that and in no way requires or asks that people send gifts. Now including an "I'm registered at..." in the birth announcement.. that's tacky.

heathb21

We are sending out birth announcements, and really it's never even crossed my mind that people would send gifts.  We just want to share the good news with all of our friends & family!

rssnlvr

huh...I never associated birth announcements with gift-giving. I'll be having a shower AND sending out announcements...it's a good way to let people know the baby arrived (and to show off a cute pic, too).

robynlesley

MidwestTexan:

Sending out birth announcements is not synonomous with gift-giving...it's a way to spread the good news!

 

What she said. :-)

HDxNxJ

I agree with PP, birth announcements usually don't imply to send a gift.

However, if you are invited to meet the baby, I always bring an outfit or two!

melilani

 

One has nothing to do with the other. I say NOT tacky!

CalinsBride

We will send out birth announcements because people who live far away will want to know what the baby looks like. Its easier than sending out a billion individual pictures, and I think its a nice keepsake. I definitely wouldn't say a birth annoucement is asking for a gift.

juliett8

I dont think I have ever heard of birth annoucements symbilizing gifts! I think its a great idea to send them because you are happy about your new addition to the family.

Chelsi22

MidwestTexan:

Sending out birth announcements is not synonomous with gift-giving...it's a way to spread the good news!

My thoughts too.

babsrut

Definitely not tacky. In fact, my mother said that she thinks having a baby shower in this economy is tacky, at a time when people have less money to spend. I kind of see her point and have made it clear that I don't want a gift shower, just maybe a barbeque at someone's house to see people and celebrate the upcoming arrival of our new family mamber. But announcements are nice and not grubby, in my opinion.

heidismith

I am doing both and am sending out announcements so people can see baby, not to get gifts!

Mrs.DeliaMarieP

It's definitely not tacky, so long as you don't include your registry information on the birth announcement.  An announcement is exactly that, to let people know your baby has been born.  It doesn't mean people have to send you anything.