Birth Announcements: Proper Wording And Etiquette To Consider - By: Chris Harmen

The addition of a new family member is always cause for a celebration. Parents will want to plan ahead when creating their unique birth announcements since they will not have the time once the baby arrives. Unique photo cards are an excellent way to share this joyful news with as little trouble or expense as possible. Recipients will be delighted you thought of them when they receive your customized birth announcement in the mail, and you will want to be sure to follow all the rules of etiquette as you design your custom cards.

When To Send Baby Announcements

Baby announcements should be sent out as soon after the birth of your child as possible. Of course, sleep is a rare commodity for new parents, so preparing as much as possible ahead of time can make this process much simpler. First, create your mailing list. Then, select any family photographs you might want to include. Next, sit down, put your feet and browse the dozens of templates, color schemes, themes, and special touches you can include in your custom designed baby announcement. Preparing everything ahead of time means that all that is left to do after the baby is born is to add the pertinent information. Some families take as long as six months to send out birth announcements, but sooner than that is considered better etiquette.

Who To Include

Baby announcements are one of those things you are free to send to everyone. Not only should you include family and friends, but there are many other people in your life that will be happy to share your joyful news as well. They may get all the information directly from you, but your custom designed baby announcement will be a memento of this joyous occasion, and everyone is going to want a copy!

Birth Announcement Wording

As with any announcement, you will want to include an introduction. Here, you can use a simple verse, a poem, or some other build up to your exciting news. The next step is to share your infant's name with family and friends, neighbors and coworkers. Birth details come next, including birthday, weight, and length. Some families also include the time the infant was born, especially in the case of twins or triplets. Finally, the rest of the family is mentioned: mother, father, and siblings are identified and can be preceded with words such as 'proud parents' or 'proud family.'

Baby Pictures Or Not?

There is no set rule regarding photographs in birth announcements, but most recipients are delighted with their first peek at the infant. One of the advantages of creating online baby announcements is that parents do not have to go along with the traditional pinks and blues that may or may not suit their infant's coloration or the family's personal style or interests. Instead, parents can create something truly unique using practically any color of the rainbow. Earth tones, such as greens, browns, and yellows, actually offset the reddish tinge that most newborns exhibit. Families that are big sports fans can use the team colors to create a memorable baby announcement unlike any other.

Special Circumstances

One of the benefits of utilizing proper etiquette is that no one will be forced into situations in which they feel uncomfortable. This is true for birth announcements as well. Low baby weights, for example, can be omitted altogether if the parents feel any reservations about sharing this information. Adoptions are another case in which courtesy and thoughtfulness outweigh any outdated traditions. Proclaiming a new family member through adoption is just as valid a time to use birth announcements; the only difference is the time frame. The adopted child's birthday should be included, regardless of the child's age. If the adoption is international, the adoptive parents may wish to include the adopted child's native country. For families in which the mother has retained her maiden name, the birth announcements would still include both parents' names just as they do for other correspondence.

Are Hand-Written Notes Required?

No, hand-written cards do not need to be used. New parents are, quite often, sleep deprived and dealing with countless new routines. Hand-written notes are time consuming and unnecessary. Simply the fact that a birth announcement was sent indicates to the recipient that they were thought of, and that is enough. Of course, new parents can simplify life for themselves by ordering matching thank you notes, stationary, and calling cards at the same time they order the baby announcements. Personal notes are always required when sending a thank you. Proper thank you notes include first names and specific references to the gift received and how it will be used. Calling cards for the infant are a delightful way to build a network of friends for both the new parents and the infant. Utilizing proper etiquette provides guidelines for parents to follow and ensures loved ones will treasure the news for years to come.

About the Author

Chris Harmen enjoys sending custom photo cards, birth announcements, and baby announcements to share the joyous news with loved ones.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Chris-Harmen/89665

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