There’s no bigger adjustment in life than during the weeks following the arrival of a new baby. Physically recovering from birth, learning to care for a baby, functioning on little sleep and dealing with visitors all take their toll. The last thing on your mind during this time is sending out baby announcement cards, and many mums find they later regret missing the opportunity to officially welcome their babe to the world in this way.
So what’s the trick? How does anyone get baby announcement cards sent out in those hazy weeks and months after a baby arrives? We’ve got the answers for you.
1. Plan Ahead
Baby announcements might not seem like something you can plan ahead for, since you kind of need…you know…the baby. I mean, without the picture of the baby, the birth date and time, the weight and length, what is there? Being prepared, though, is actually not as silly as it might sound.Think about your baby announcements while you are pregnant. Find a design you love and get in touch with the store to find out their shipping times and other details. Ask if you can order and pay in advance, so that you only have to provide the final photo and information after the birth.
Write a list of people you want to send baby announcements to and make sure your contact details for those people are all up to date.
2. Enlist Help
Choose someone close to you who can be responsible for helping you with the announcements. A willing sibling or close friend is the best option. Give them the login information or contact details for your supplier and ask them to add the information when it is available and place the final order. This is even easier if it’s already paid for in advance. You can also let the company know in advance that they will be dealing with your friend to make sure things run smoothly.You can have your friend simply place the order for you, or you can have them send the cards out too. Just leave them with a complete list of names and addresses, some stamps or even pre-prepared envelopes to make things easy for them.
3. Keep it Simple
Baby announcements are, thankfully, free from most of the etiquette rules associated with other important events. You can keep it to bare facts, and the cards do not need to be personalised for each recipient. Keeping it to a minimum will help keep the task manageable, a huge bonus whether you’re doing it yourself or having a friend help out.Usually, the information included is:
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- Name (usually the full name)
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- Birth date
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- Weight
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- Length
- Photo
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- Birth time
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- Parents names
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- Siblings names (if it’s not the first child)
- A brief, general thank you message
This is a card you want to try and get out quickly after the birth, as an announcement. If you try to include personalised messages for every recipient, the job can become overwhelming and take weeks or months. Consider waiting until things have settled down a little and then writing thank you cards to family and friends who helped, visited or gave gifts.
It may seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to be super-mum to get birth announcements out after your baby is born. Just a little bit of organisation and preparation can make all the difference, and leave you with more time to snuggle with your new bundle of joy.
Written by Maddison Wallace from Paperlust
Also check out our Top five baby shower invitation trends for 2o17
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Baby Announcement Wording Examples
Getting the wording right is often the hardest part. Here are templates for the most common announcement styles – adjust them to suit your voice and your baby’s story.
Classic formal:
[Parent Name] and [Parent Name] joyfully announce the arrival of [Baby Name]
Born [Day], [Date] 2026 at [time]
Weighing [weight] and measuring [length]
Warm and conversational:
“She’s here! [Baby Name] arrived on [Date] and immediately made herself at home. Tiny, loud, and completely perfect. We couldn’t be more in love.”
Sibling announcement (when there’s an older child):
“Big news from the [Last Name] family. [Sibling Name] has officially been promoted to Big Brother/Sister. Please welcome [Baby Name], born [Date]. The management requests patience while we adjust to the new team structure.”
Adoption announcement:
“Our hearts are full. After a journey that tested our patience and filled our lives with hope, we are overjoyed to introduce [Baby Name]. Born [Date], joined our family [Date]. Love doesn’t always arrive on schedule – but it always arrives right on time.”
Browse Paperlust’s full range of baby announcement cards and customize your chosen design with your wording, photo, and baby’s details. Designer proofs arrive in 1 to 2 business days with two rounds of edits included.
Printed vs Digital Baby Announcements
Most new parents send a mix of both – a digital announcement on social media or via text for immediate news, followed by a printed card for family members and close friends who deserve something tangible. Here’s how to think about each format.
Digital announcements: Immediate, free, and widely shared. A well-composed photo with a short caption on Instagram or a photo shared in a group chat does the job for casual announcements. The limitation: it disappears in a feed and is forgotten within days.
Printed announcements: Lasting, tactile, and genuinely treasured. Grandparents display printed baby announcements on refrigerators and mantels for years. A beautifully designed card with a professional photo and the birth details printed in quality typography is a keepsake – something the recipient may keep for decades.
The approach that works best: Post the immediate digital announcement for the wide circle, then take a week or two to choose a design, select the best baby photo, and order a quality printed card for the 30 to 50 people who will genuinely treasure it. The printed announcement doesn’t need to be hurried – it arrives after the initial news, which gives it a different, more considered quality.
Baby Announcement Timing and Ordering Guide
There’s no single correct time to send a baby announcement. Here’s a practical guide to timing that takes the pressure off.
Digital announcement: As soon as you’re ready. Some families post within hours of birth; others wait a few days until they’re home and settled. Either is fine.
Printed announcement: Order within the first 4 to 6 weeks. You’ll need a good baby photo (usually taken in the first 1 to 2 weeks), the confirmed name and birth details, and 10 minutes to customize a design. Printed announcements from Paperlust include digital proofing within 1 to 2 business days, giving you a chance to check spelling and details before committing to print. Browse the full baby announcement collection to find a design that matches your family’s aesthetic. For matching coordinated pieces like gift tags, thank you labels, or favor stickers for a welcome baby celebration, custom stickers from Paperlust Print Shop complete the welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be on a baby announcement card?
Baby’s full name, date of birth, weight, and length. Many also add time of birth and parents’ names. A baby photo is optional but makes it genuinely treasured.
When should you send them?
Within the first 4 to 6 weeks. Wait until you’re home, have a great photo, and have confirmed spelling from the birth certificate.
How many should you order?
Typically 30 to 75 cards. Order slightly more than you think – you’ll always think of someone. Reprinting small quantities later is expensive.
Is it rude to skip printed announcements?
Not rude, but older family members who aren’t on social media will genuinely appreciate a physical card. Grandparents often display them for years.
Baby Announcement Design Styles
Choosing a design that reflects your family’s personality makes the announcement feel genuinely personal rather than generic.
Photo-forward: The baby’s photo is the primary design element – a full-bleed image or large portrait with minimal text overlay. Works best with a great newborn photo (natural light, simple background, baby awake or sleeping peacefully).
Illustrated botanical: A designed card with illustrated florals, botanicals, or a monogram frame – the baby’s details printed in elegant typography within the design. Suits families who want a more artistic, less photographic announcement.
Minimal typographic: Clean sans-serif or serif typography on a plain background. The focus is entirely on the information – name, date, weight, and a single sentence. This style prints beautifully on textured paper and suits parents with a modern, minimalist aesthetic.
Whatever style you choose, a professionally designed and printed baby announcement is something recipients display and keep – a physical keepsake that a text message will never replicate.