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A baby announcement can be one sentence or a full card. Start with what your family wants others to know, then choose a tone that sounds like you. The examples below are original editorial suggestions with placeholders; they are not messages from real families.
Pick the details you want to share
Emily Post lists a baby's name, birth details, parents, siblings, and a photograph as traditional announcement elements. They are options, not a checklist a family must complete. You can omit a photo, measurements, exact birth date, location, or family names for privacy.
Draft the message after the people directly involved agree on names, spellings, and which details may be shared. If you plan to post publicly, think about whether the child will later be comfortable with the information remaining online. A mailed card can also be photographed and reposted by a recipient, so leave out details you would not want circulated.
Sources: Emily Post Institute: Announcing a New Baby
Try a simple introduction
Original example: 'Hello, [Name]. We are delighted to welcome our baby and grateful for all the kindness around us. With love, [Parent or family names].' This version works without a photo or birth measurements. If you want to include a date, add 'Arrived [month and day]' only after checking it.
Another original version: '[Name] is here! We are settling in, getting to know our newest family member, and looking forward to introducing [Name] when the time is right.' It shares joy while gently setting expectations about visits.
Include siblings or a wider family
Original family example: '[Name] is now a big sibling to baby [Name]. Our family is growing, and we are glad to share this news with you.' Ask an older child how they would like to be described; do not assign feelings or a quotation they did not express.
For adoption or another path to parenthood, you may prefer to emphasize welcome rather than a birth date: 'We are happy to introduce [Name], who joined our family in [month]. We are grateful to share this moment with you.' Share only the child's story and personal history that the family has chosen to make public.
Make the message easy to receive
Emily Post advises keeping gift requests out of birth announcements. An announcement need not mention a registry or assume that every recipient will send something. A closing such as 'Thank you for thinking of our family' is enough.
Before printing or sending, proof each name and address and make sure the photo, if any, has consent from the people pictured. Send a personal message first to anyone who should hear the news privately. Then use the announcement to reach the wider circle on your own schedule.
Sources: Emily Post Institute: Announcing a New Baby
Keep a short final checklist
Read the card aloud. Does it sound like your family, convey only details you want shared, and avoid an unintended invitation to visit immediately? If you need quiet time, say so kindly in a separate personal note. There is no need to fit every explanation on the card.
- Approved name and details.
- Audience and privacy preference.
- Photo consent, if used.
- Proofed addresses and a gift-free closing.
Sources and context
This guide replaces an earlier journal article at the same address. The earlier article was dated 2025-05-11; this is source history, not this guide’s publication date.
Source links provide context for specific claims. This guide does not claim hands-on testing or review by a named human expert.