Birth Announcements thru Mail?

[kelliekd]

So, in this day and age, are birth announcements still standard? I am expecting my first around May 11th, and don't know whether or not I want to send out official announcements. I know that I still have family that don't even know we are expecting, and so I want to let everybody know, but it seems like extra stress during a time that extra stress is a terrible idea. What are your thoughts, any of you planning on sending out official announcements? And if so, where are you planning to get them from?

[Newmom!]

I sent out announcements. It was "easy" for me because I have my all my addresses for Christmas cards already on my computer in a document ready to print out as labels. I just printed out the labels, slapped them onto the envelope, put on our return address label, stamp, put in the announcement, sealed it shut with water on a cotton ball and it was done. Took me 30-60 minutes to mail out 60 announcements.

For announcements I took a photo we took of our newborn, in a photo-shop program I wrote his stats on it (you know Name, Weight, length, proud parents, date of birth, time of birth). And then we printed it out through an online place (snapfish). It cost us less than 20 cents a photo with shipping. Then I purchased 4X6 envelopes from Wal-Mart, and used those to mail off the photo.

If you haven't had your baby yet, then work right now on pre-addressing envelopes, that way you don't have to do it when baby comes. If you plan on purchasing from a place that supplies the envelope with the announcement then write the addresses on labels, so all you have to do is peal and stick once you get the announcements.

I know lots of people who simply announce through e-mail (but my grandparents, etc don't have it), and others use a service that makes a cute surround, and another made it real cute with hand-tide ribbons and velum paper (now that had to be a lot of work).

According to etiquette books, you do have 6 months to send out the announcements. For you that would make it in November, so maybe you might just wait until Christmas and send out a Christmas letter with the announcement.

Do what feels right to you, but the earlier you start (pick out the announcement now, fill it in later, address envelopes now, etc) the less stress and easier it will be when baby comes.

[Jayney]

I don't think nearly as many people do birth announcements anymore. I sent them out with my son and it really wasn't stressful at all. I got a lot of compliments and thank you's for them also. A lot of the family actually framed them. We used www.tinyprints.com and they were adorable. You can get them with your baby's picture on them or without. I am also planning on using that site once the baby on the way is born. They have a TON of designs. I also use them for birthday party invitations.

If you don't want to send out invitations, you can always have your husband, mother, mother-in-law, sister, etc. make a friendly phone call to all of the people that you want to know about your baby's arrival. When my son was born, we didn't call any of the family to let them know that I was in labor (like all of my family always does...) we just made a phone call in the morning (he was born in the middle of the night) and told them the news. We had a list of phone numbers ready for the people we wanted to call. So, that could be considered your birth announcement.

Good luck to you, and congratulations on the baby!

[Cassagc]

My son is due 23 May. I'm doing most of our announcements by mail. I've already bought the cardstock, printer ink, envelopes, stamps and address labels. I've designed the birth announcement, so that all I have to do is add the pictures and information. I have pre-addressed and stamped envelopes for all my family and friends. As I write my thank you cards, I also address another envelope for an announcement. Once he's born I'll fill in the info and pictures, print it out on the cardstock, stuff the envelopes and mail them out. My friends/family might even have to help if they come visit.