When should I send birth announcements and what goes on them?

Printed birth announcements follow a few simple etiquette rules that keep the focus on celebrating the news.

• Timing. Send to close family and friends within one to three months of your baby's arrival.
• What to include. The baby's name, date of birth, weight, and length cover the essentials.
• What to leave out. Skip gift registry details. An announcement shares news rather than requests presents.
• Make it a keepsake. A thick stock or a die-cut shape turns the card into something recipients want to keep.
• Proof carefully. Double-check the spelling of the name and the date before printing a full run.