New baby postcards: announcement wording and what to send new parents

A new baby means two kinds of cards. Parents send one to announce the news. Everyone else sends one to say congratulations. A postcard suits both: there is one photo that everyone wants to see, and nobody in that house has time to read or write a long letter.

If you are announcing

An announcement needs four facts and one feeling.

• The baby's name.
• The date they arrived.
• Weight and length, if you want to share them.
• Who the proud family is.
• One line in your own voice.

Wording you can borrow

"Meet Nora June. She arrived on October 4 with a full head of hair and strong opinions. We are tired and very happy. Love, Priya, Tom and big brother Eli."

"He is here. Leo James, born March 12, 7 lb 9 oz. Everyone is doing well. Visitors welcome after nap time, whenever that turns out to be."

"And then there were four. Welcome, Ada Rose, born on a snowy Tuesday. Our hearts and our laundry basket are full."

If you are congratulating

New parents are short on sleep. Keep it warm, brief and free of advice.

• "Welcome to the world, Nora. You picked excellent parents. We cannot wait to meet you."
• "Congratulations, you two. No need to reply. Dinner will be on your porch on Friday."
• "A whole new person. We are so happy for you. Sleep when you can, and call when you want company."
• "To the big brother: congratulations on your promotion. It is an important job."

For grandparents

"Congratulations, Grandma. You are going to be very good at this. Send pictures."

Choosing the photo

• Daylight, near a window. Skip the flash. Newborn skin looks best in soft light.
• Close up. A face, or a tiny hand around a finger, prints better than a whole room.
• Landscape. A postcard front is wider than it is tall, so turn the phone sideways.
• Leave a calm corner. A plain blanket gives a caption such as the baby's name somewhere to sit.

Sending a stack

Announcements go to a list: grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, the neighbor who watered the plants. Write the message once, then make a card for each address. A card can take a couple of weeks to get made in those first days, and nobody minds. An announcement that arrives a month later is still good news.

When you are ready, make a new baby postcard. We print it on thick 4×6 inch card stock, add the stamp and mail it.