Want to send birth announcements but I certainly do not want or expect gifts

[Anonymous]

We just had our third baby. We didn’t send Christmas cards (I always do!) and I really want to send announcements. I have some friends and family members who I know would love a card, even though we share plenty of photos with them. Plus we got beautiful family photos taken.

I don’t want gifts, of course not! I’d just like to send a card.

What can I write on the card, if anything, to make this clear? “Just sharing our news, no gifts!” some lame.

[Anonymous]

No. Just send the card with announcement and photos. It will actually seem more like you view the announcement as a gift grab if you put "no gifts" on it than if you leave it blank.
If it's your third child, you will not get as many gifts as before. Some people would send a gift even if you ask them not to. Just don't mention gifts at all.

[Anonymous]

Just send it without any mention of gifts.

[Anonymous]

Agreed with pp

[Anonymous]

Truthfully I would not think of sending a gift got a 3 rd child announcement.

[Anonymous]

I’d send a funny card mentioning why you didn’t send Christmas cards “busy having this one”. Announcements feel like gift-begs to me in this day and age where everyone knows you had a baby.

Or send a “can’t wait to see you” card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d send a funny card mentioning why you didn’t send Christmas cards “busy having this one”. Announcements feel like gift-begs to me in this day and age where everyone knows you had a baby.

Or send a “can’t wait to see you” card.

I agree with this, but it’s definitely regional/cultural.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

My mom (age 69) said that an announcement would result in gifts. Per Emily Post I’m sure, that’s the old fashioned norm.

I wouldn’t think of getting a gift either. I’d just hang up the card!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d send a funny card mentioning why you didn’t send Christmas cards “busy having this one”. Announcements feel like gift-begs to me in this day and age where everyone knows you had a baby.

Or send a “can’t wait to see you” card.

I have a few aunts and friends who would hang up the card, which is why I’d like to send one. I know they can see my photos on email but who doesn’t love a card?!

[Anonymous]

"We have everything we need but well wishes are welcome"

[Anonymous]

Definitely send the announcement!! I only received baby gifts for my first baby from everyone. For my second and third, only people very close to me sent gifts and they would have sent them regardless of the announcement.

I don’t send gifts when I get an announcement unless it’s a first baby of someone I’m close to and didn’t attend a baby shower.

[Anonymous]

I sent announcements for all my kids. Announcements aren’t a gift grab...they’re just an announcement.

Do not print anything about gifts on it. That’s actually rude. You should never dictate behavior when it comes to gifts.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think your mom is operating with etiquette rules from a different time. If I received a birth announcement from you, I would think "Oh how sweet, the Andersons had a third baby. What a cute picture." I would not feel obligated to send a gift at all. If we were going to be seeing you, I might remember pick up a little something for the baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent announcements for all my kids. Announcements aren’t a gift grab...they’re just an announcement.

Do not print anything about gifts on it. That’s actually rude. You should never dictate behavior when it comes to gifts.

Technically, that’s not true. I think officially Miss Manners would say that an announcement requires a gift.

[Anonymous]

Go for it, OP! I'm glad to get any happy news these days!