Showers and Announcements Guide

Look what the stork brought you! Now that your bundle of joy has arrived, it's time to deliver the news to family and friends.

Announce your baby's arrival in style

Your newborn is so special and unique—the baby announcement or shower invitation should be equally so. To create an announcement card or invitation that reflects your individual style and your baby's personality, you can:

Find and download a template from a selection of announcement and invitation designs online.
Include all of your newborn's important details, such as name, birth date and time, weight and length—and, of course, a photo!
Create personalized stamps using your baby's photo.

Why not send a "special delivery" announcement card that family and friends will want to hold on to as a keepsake? It's easy to create one:

Digitally photograph your infant on a brown blanket or sheet of paper.
Print the image on note cards.
Stamp each card with a pre-inked "received" stamp with the date set to your baby's date of birth.

Keep family and friends up-to-date about the progress of the newest addition to your family by sending another announcement six months after your baby’s birth and a yearly update on how your entire family is doing. See the Keeping in Touch Guide for other great ideas about how to stay close with family and friends.

When to send announcements and invitations

It's customary to send announcements within a few weeks of your baby's arrival. Likewise, baby shower invitations should be sent two to four weeks before the event date.
Here are some tips:

Purchase extra cards and envelopes in case you add more people to your list or make a mistake when printing or addressing.
Buy or design non-gender specific announcements or invitations before the baby is born so you have them ready in advance.
Keep thank-you cards on hand for loved ones who send gifts or thoughtful notes.