Etiquette Queston About Birth Announcements

Like others have said you really don't need to put anything. Most people don't feel the need to send gifts just because you sent an announcement.I agree it does look funny to mention it on an announcement. People will do what they will no matter what you put. If they really want to send something they will! Good luck with everything, and congratulations!

Hello
i wouldn't write anything. I sent out about 40 announcements and recieved only around 5 gifts. I don't think an announcement is for gifts and i didn't expect to receive gifts for an announcement, i just wanted people to know she was born and share my happiness.
my opinion..

if you have everything you need, then just state that on the announcement. ie.. we are excited to share the news with you of the arrival of our little bundle of joy.... baby info .... we have been blessed to have everything we need for this child, so please feel free to stop and visit, but no gifts please, your company is all the gift that would be needed.

or you could open a trust fund for the baby and state, no gifts are needed as everything we can imaging is provided, but if you feel you must, we have opened a trust fund for our childs future and you are more than welcome to participate in adding to the trust fund, but if they do provide a material gift, be greatful and put it away to gift it else where.

Hi R.,

You could say "in lieu of gifts, please donate to (your favorite charity)" perhaps a charity that helps children.

A.

In celebration Please send all gifts to your favorite charity....thank you.

We get many announcements and do not always send a gift. Lots of people give gifts for the first child and not necessarily the second. We sent announcements for both, and the number of gifts for our second child was dramatically smaller. I would be a little put off to see any mention of gifts on an announcement.

I always thought birth announcements were just that, annoucements. People don't normally send them out expecting gifts, and most people do not send gifts simply because they received an announcement. It's just a "see, here's our new baby" kinda thing. There is no need to put anything about getting a gift or not getting one on the announcements.

Just say :
In place of any gifts donations can be made to whatever charity.

announce your child with a gender appropriate announcement and say in lew of gifts hugs, kisses, and well wishes will only be excepted

What we did was we gathered items for a time capsule that our children will open when they graduate from high school. I'm not sure how you could do this given that this is your second child, but it is one way to not get baby gifts but still allow family and friends to give something to honor your child.

Hi there!!
Congratulations on the birth of your second child!

You may want to suggest on the announcement that in lieu of gifts, please make a donation to (a charity that you have an interest in) or a contribution toward baby's account. LAter , you can choose how to use the account-college, Bat Mitvah/Communion...etc. I have 3 children and although you "think" you have everything, there's always something or money is needed for something down the road.
I hope that helps a bit!!

How about cards? You could say something like, "Cards are welcome, gifts discouraged. Our baby collection is complete. Thank you!"

But...I'm all new to that! We've only got one!

Why not ask them to consider a toy donation to a charity of your choice, instead of to your baby? See a sample card here:
http://billiediscoverytoys.blogspot.com/2009/07/no-gift-b...

hmmm, that is tricky. people like to give gifts. you can tell people verbally and hope the word gets out.

Hi R.
Congrats on your upcoming new family member.
Do you know if it is a girl or boy yet?
Well, it is my experience that there is no polite way to do this nor does anyone pay attention to such a comment. When the twins were born, when my boys were 14 & 19 years old, we sent out birth announcements. I asked the same question. I didn't believe that people would not be pleased to know without having to send gifts. Everyone said don't worry about it. You are going to get gifts anyway.
I did. Everyone was so thrilled, surprised, and/or glad they were here healthy (after 19 weeks of bed rest, they were born at 38 weeks-- good for twins)
People that want to send gifts will and those that don't won't.
I did get a graduation card recently that said "In lieu of gifts, please send $ to ________ in her name" naming their favorite charity. Honestly I don't know how I feel about that but naming the hospital, or children's charity might work.
God bless you and all you do
K. -- SAHM married 38 years == adult children 38,33,and twins 19

Hi R.,
Congratulations on the soon-to-be-baby.
While many people will send a gift when they get a birth announcement, most of them will have heard about the birth of the baby and sent a gift anyway, if they were going to. A birth announcement isn't a party invitation, so I don't feel that it's appropriate to write anything on it about no gifts - it makes it sound like if you weren't thinking of sending a gift, you should have. People will do what they want anyway.
My suggestion would be to make sure that your mom and MIL (if you have them) know what your wishes are so that when more distant relatives ask them what you need, they can tell them. But some people will feel that they need to send a gift anyway, so I'd suggest that you let people know that a nice children's book for the baby's library would be sincerely appreciated.

to be quite honest, I've never felt obligated to give a gift when receiving birth announcements, unless they are very close friends of course. That being said, I supposed I would just say "no gifts please, your well wishes are all we need." Something like that.
Congratulations a little early! :) I hope everything goes well!
Lynsey