If you are about to have a baby, chances are you are already thinking about how to announce the birth to your loved ones when the baby comes. A birth announcement card is used to send to friends and family after you have had a baby. The birth announcement card will have the date and time of the baby’s birth, weight, length, gender and name. The purpose of the birth announcement card is to let everyone know the happy news of the baby’s birth and to allow them to celebrate the joyous occasion with you.

Etiquette dictates that a birth announcement card should be sent as soon after the birth as possible. Prior to the birth, though it is advisable to pick out what birth announcement card you want from your printer and obtain the envelopes for the birth announcement card. You will want to compile a list of names and addresses of family members, friends and business associates who would want to know about the birth of the baby. Make sure to check with parents and grandparents on both sides of the family to see if they have any friends or associates who would also want the birth announcement card sent to them.

Once a complete list is compiled, you can start addressing the envelopes of the birth announcement card to each of the people on the list. This will help save a lot of time once the baby is born and things are a lot more hectic in the home. Traditionally, the birth announcement card envelopes should be hand written and addressed using the recipient’s name and address. It is acceptable to have the return address already pre printed on the envelope if this is more convenient for you. However, if it is not, the return address should also be hand written on the birth announcement card envelope.

In today’s modern society it is becoming more acceptable to use labels that were printed using a word processing program. This is not as time consuming as hand writing but it is also not as personal. If you use a label you should either use clear labels or labels that match the birth announcement card envelope color. Whichever way you decide to use to enter the addresses and return addresses on the birth announcement card envelope, doing it before the birth will save a lot of time and stress. Once all the birth announcement card envelopes are addressed, you should add a stamp to them. This way they are ready to be stuffed with the completed birth announcement and mailed off as soon as possible. If you go to the post office and look through their catalog of stamps you may find some nice ones suited to the occasion. It is not generally accepted to use a meter to mail the birth announcement card.

After the birth of the baby, contact the birth announcement card printer to give them al the pertinent details of the birth. What goes on the birth announcement card is typically the parents’ names, baby’s name, birth weight, length and date and time of birth. Some birth announcement card models will have a special area to include a picture of the baby and some birth announcement card models will have the picture printed on the card itself. This is simply a matter of personal preference. If you do opt for a photo birth announcement card, you will need to send a digital image to the printer as well.

The printer of the birth announcement card will add in all the details to the cards you already chose and get them back to you as soon as possible. Generally, the printer of the birth announcement card will send a proof for approval first. Look this over carefully for any errors or omissions. This process usually takes a week or less. Once you receive the completed birth announcement card you can stuff the pre addressed envelopes and mail them.

You can get birth announcement card choices from office supply stores, printing stores and online. The cost of the birth announcement card will depend on the style you choose and the quantity. Usually, the higher quantity you get, the less the birth announcement card will cost per unit. This is a great way of announcing to everyone you know the birth of your new bundle of joy.