Sending Birth Announcements

Ebiejay · December 2015

I'm trying to be organised, and I've read that if you're planning on sending out Birth Announcements that it's a good idea to prepare them as much as you can before the birth, address the envelopes, etc. so that there is less to worry about when baby comes.

I don't know if Birth Announcements are less common in the UK and I've never received one from someone before, but now I live in the US I feel like it might be expected from some family members. That said, I don't really know the etiquette for sending them out. I'm thinking of doing hard copies with a professional Newborn photo to close family and friends (who will probably want them as keepsakes), and e-cards to extended family and others. I'm also wondering if social media might make e-cards rather redundant. So, questions:

Who else has thought about Birth Announcements?

Who are you planning on sending them to, if at all?

Are you going to make your own, use a site like Tiny Prints or Shutterfly, or send e-cards?

Mommyduclos · December 2015

I always do birth announcements. I'm a photographer so I order them from my professional lab but I recommend mpix for a high quality product. I send them to the same bunch of people I send Christmas cards too- probably too many people lol but they generally come in packs of 25 at minimum so if you can get your list at that number and then let anyone else rely on Facebook or whatever that's probably the way to go. I definitely don't do any pre work as most places include envelopes with your announcements. Newborn's nap a lot, so assuming this is your first I don't think getting them addressed, stuffed, stamped will be that difficult. I don't know who is doing your newborn photos but if you are hiring a private photographer they probably would be happy to design and order the announcements for you.

Monilee1017 · December 2015

I do them for my kids. I have ordered them for snapfish. I can't address them beforehand because the envelopes and annoucement come together, but I don't send as many as I do Christmas cards. I just sent over 80 Christmas cards, I'll do about 50 birth annoucements. I send them to family and close friends only. I order them about a week or two after birth.

Ljohn43 · December 2015

I will be doing them as well and agree with sending them to the same distribution as my Christmas cards / people who were invited to our showers. We will probably order 75-100. I usually use shutterfly for Christmas cards, but my photographer recommended mpix for announcements.

I highly advise getting one of those self-inking return address stamps too. That will save you a lot of time. I got mine off etsy.

Wicked4589 · December 2015

We won't be doing them. Social media and email pretty much cover everyone I would send them to anyway. I've gotten them and we just toss them after a week or two on the fridge. But I am not one to get into stuff like that. Kind of like photos. We will have newborn photos done but we won't be sending prints to anyone.

kmo8986 · December 2015

We will be sending them. We will have pictures taken in the first two weeks and then I will make them. I just ordered a groupon for $27.99 for 100 cards (I really need more like 125- I have a huge family) but like pp said I can't address them yet since the cards will Come with the envelope. My addresses are all ready to go and updated though since I just sent Christmas cards.

willashbaby · December 2015

I'm sending them as a combo for my shower thank you cards.

GinnyBarrette · December 2015

willashbaby said:
I'm sending them as a combo for my shower thank you cards.

That's a really great idea!! Dang! Why didn't I think of that

Cejiml · December 2015

I'll be sending them as well. Pictures on day 12 then my photographer gets me a couple to choose from then I will order and send. I usually use shutterfly or tiny prints. My DH has a huge family that lives away so I do it more for them.

mamabear89071516 · December 2015

I LOVE the idea of using them for thank yous! I have done wedding shower thank yous, wedding thank yous and Christmas cards so far this year!! I'm over it! One less thing to send a million people the better!

essentialpeace · December 2015

Is 6-8 weeks too long to wait to send thank you cards? Not sure when your showers are but mine has come and gone.

I love this idea!

littleloves3 · December 2015

I am no expert in etiquette and think writing thank you notes is one of the most painful tasks ever, but I think 6-8 weeks is too long, yes.

cawalp · December 2015

We won't be sending anything in hard copy. Between social media and email our families will see plenty of pictures of baby and know that he was born. To me it's not really worth the money and time for something that my family will prolly keep on the fridge for a little while then throw away.

Ebiejay · December 2015

Thanks everyone for your input!

I already wrote my Thank You cards so I'll have to do them separate. Also good to know I don't need to worry about addressing envelopes ahead of time.

I hadn't heard of mpix before, I'll check that out, thanks!

I have a large but close step family and I think most of them would probably hold onto a proper birth announcement, especially since we live on different continents and they won't see much of him. I still have pictures of my nieces and nephews (they never did announcements though). I think I'll stick with sending hard copies to our parents, siblings, Grandparents and best friends, and use social media for everyone else. I would like an official copy for myself too!

claireloSC · December 2015

I'm sending my thank you cards with my holiday cards, as my shower was only last weekend and I'll be getting my holiday cards delivered by Wed. Then I'll send birth announcements separately, as I'm due at the end of the month.

willashbaby · December 2015

happyandhopeful3 said:

I am no expert in etiquette and think writing thank you notes is one of the most painful tasks ever, but I think 6-8 weeks is too long, yes.

I told all of my shower guests that I was waiting to send out thank yous until after he was here so I could send a pic and no one seemed to bat an eye, it all depends I think.

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