When Should You Send Birth Announcements? The Ideal Timing

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Birth Announcements: When to Send Them

Birth announcements are usually sent between 2 weeks and 2 months after your baby arrives. No one will be surprised if you send them within 3 months, and up to 6 months is still perfectly acceptable. The real secret to meeting that timeline without stress? Prepare everything during pregnancy, alongside the nursery. Here’s a step-by-step timeline.

When Is the Right Time to Send Birth Announcements?

The only real rule: send it when you’re ready

The first few weeks revolve around feedings, short nights, and recovery. Creating a birth announcement should be a pleasure, never a chore. Your closest loved ones will have heard the news by phone or message anyway.

Why not wait too long?

After a few months, the surprise fades, the newborn photo no longer looks like your baby, and some addresses may change. Aiming for the first 2 months is still the best compromise.

Birth announcements and official birth registration are not the same thing

Registering a birth at the town hall is a legal requirement in France and must be done within 5 days of delivery. A birth announcement has no required deadline: it’s a tradition, not an administrative procedure.

The timeline: from month 7 of pregnancy to mailing

The easiest approach is to prepare the birth announcement as you get ready to welcome your baby home. In the third trimester, you still have time and energy: it’s a good moment to get everything in place.

  1. Month 7 — Prepare the nursery. Choose furniture while you have time: a crib, changing dresser, and wardrobe. Check the delivery and assembly times listed on each product page. If you’re choosing between several pieces, a complete nursery furniture set ensures everything coordinates.
  2. Months 7–8 — Choose a birth announcement design. Format, paper, style: choose one that complements the nursery’s look (natural wood, soft tones, white…). Just leave space for the name, date, and photo.
  3. Month 8 — Write the wording. Prepare two versions if you’re keeping the baby’s sex or name a surprise. Need inspiration? Explore our original birth announcement wording ideas.
  4. Month 8 — Make your recipient list. Family, friends, coworkers: gather addresses, address the envelopes in advance, and buy stamps.
  5. Months 8–9 — Prepare your baby registry. Many loved ones will ask what to give when they receive the announcement. Prepare your registry in advance with our baby registry essentials, and find out how to share it tactfully.
  6. Birth — Share the news with loved ones. Call or message your closest loved ones in the hours after the birth.
  7. 2 to 4 weeks after birth — Take the photo, fill in the details, and order. All that’s left is to add your baby’s name, birth date, weight, length, and photo.
  8. 3 weeks to 2 months after birth — Send them. With the envelopes ready, all that’s left is to put them in the mail.

What Should You Include in a Birth Announcement?

The essential details

  • your baby’s first name;
  • their date of birth;
  • the parents’ names (and siblings’ names);
  • an address or a way to contact you.

The extra details

The time of birth, weight, length, birthplace, or a personal message. For help creating a birth announcement from start to finish, see our guide to creating a birth announcement.

The photo: make the most of the nursery

The most beautiful photo is often the simplest: your baby asleep in their crib, in natural light near a window. A wooden baby crib and solid-colored bedding create a soft, timeless setting. A few tips:

  • take photos during the day, without a flash;
  • remove unnecessary items from the crib;
  • use a soft color in the baby bedding or a rug to add depth;
  • keep safety in mind: no pillows, comforters, or stuffed animals in the crib while your baby sleeps, even for a photo.

Printed, Digital, or Both?

  • The immediate announcement (call, text, or message) is for your closest loved ones, right after the birth.
  • A printed birth announcement is a keepsake you can hold on to and your child can look back on later.
  • The hybrid approach combines both: an immediate digital announcement, followed by a printed birth announcement a few weeks later. It’s often the least stressful option.

Special circumstances

Premature birth

Wait until your baby is home, however long that takes. No one will hold it against you.

Twins or more

Send one announcement with both names and a photo together. For the nursery, start planning even earlier: a crib for twins or a nursery for two can make things easier to organize.

Adoption

Send an adoption announcement after your child arrives home, adapting the wording to their age and story.

FAQ

Generally, between 2 weeks and 2 months after birth. Up to 6 months is still perfectly acceptable.

Yes, but choose a card with a recent photo, or combine it with the baptism announcement.

Choose a design in the third trimester, then order after taking the photo, 2 to 4 weeks after the birth.

A brief, discreet mention or a separate link is better than enclosing a card dedicated to the registry.

Conclusion

The right time to send your birth announcements is between 2 weeks and 2 months after the birth—and, above all, when you feel ready. By preparing the announcement during pregnancy, alongside the nursery, you can fully enjoy those first weeks. And if you’re looking for a bed that will grow with your child for years, explore our convertible baby cribs.

Ready to welcome your baby? Explore our complete nursery furniture sets

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